Three ballparks at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers in Des Moines have hosted professional baseball since June 20, 1947. Pioneer Memorial Stadium, Sec Taylor Stadium, and Principal Park have been the site of a Triple-A all-star game, seven no-hitters, a rock concert, the state high school baseball tournament, and millions of dollars of improvements. Hall of Famers such as Harold Baines, Goose Gossage, Greg Maddux, Tony LaRussa, and Ryne Sandberg played or managed at Sec Taylor Stadium or Principal Park. Several members of the 2016 world champion Chicago Cubs played in Des Moiness before going up to Chicago: Javy Baez, Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras, Kyle Hendricks, Anthony Rizzo, and Kyle Schwarber to name a few.
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Steve Dunn Joined: Mar-06-2022 |
A baseball fan most of his life, Steve Dunn started watching baseball at Principal Park in the 1990s. When he retired and moved to Des Moines in 2014, he became an usher for the Iowa Cubs the next year and worked at the ballpark until the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out minor league baseball in 2020. The diehard Chicago Cub fan started going to Wrigley Field in Chicago with his dad in the mid-1950s to watch the Cubs play. Although they did not climb into the first division until the late 1960s, he was awed by Mr. Cub Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Fergie Jenkins -- all Hall of Famers. In retirement, Jenkins has made at least two appearances at Principal Park to promote his foundation. Steve and his wife, Cindy, have two daughters and three grandchildren. In his spare time, Steve likes to ride his bicycle, attend Des Moines Symphony Pops Concerts, volunteer in the Des Moines school system, play in the Greater Des Moines Community Band, and hang out with his grandkids.
