Monsters were not invited to remain in affiliated baseball. The team was in discussions to continue as a professional baseball team for 2021 but ended up joining the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. Collegiate Summer Baseball The summer collegiate Northern League (baseball, 1934–1952) Burlington Cardinals played at Centennial Field from 1935 to 1941 and from 1946 to 1952. The league disbanded when it was not sanctioned by ECAC and NCAA member institutions due to its semi-professional status. Collegiate summer leagues since can include only amateur players. Among the many future major leaguers who played for the Cardinals, Johnny Podres made his professional debut at Centennial Field in 1950 pitching for Cardinals. In 2005, the Vermont Expos invited Podres back to Centennial Field to throw out the first pitch in honor of the 50th anniversary of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers World Series championship. The collegiate Northern League was revived in the late 1970s through the 1980s and Centennial Field was the home of the Burlington Expos, Burlington A's and the Queen City Royals. The first edition of the Burlington Expos collegiate team was led by current Clemson head baseball coach, Jack Leggett, a native of South Burlington who also was the coach of the UVM baseball team at the time. Future major league pitchers Kirk McCaskill and Mike Rochford hurled for the Expos during the summers. The Lake Monsters joined the Futures Collegiate Baseball League for the 2021 season. Historic marker The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation erected a marker at the ballpark in 1997. It reads, Named to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the University of Vermont's first graduating class, Centennial Field has been the home of UVM athletics since 1906. The three ballparks that have stood on this site have hosted semi- professional and minor league baseball, as well as exhibitions by visiting Major League and Negro League ballclubs. The current grandstand, constructed in 1922, is one of the oldest still in use. Among the outstanding players who have graced Centennial's diamond are Larry Gardner, Ray Collins, Tris Speaker, Jesse Hubbard, Robin Roberts, Kirk McCaskill, Barry Larkin, and Ken Griffey, Jr. Photo gallery References External links University of Vermont: Centennial Field Ball Parks of the Minor Leagues: Centennial Field Project Ballpark: Centennial Field Digital Ballparks: Centennial Field Minor league baseball venues College baseball venues in the United States Defunct college football venues Vermont Catamounts football Vermont Catamounts baseball Soccer venues