From the archives: Pilot Field
Buffalo's downtown ballpark opened in 1988 as Pilot Field, named for Pilot Air Freight of Philadelphia. That was the stadium's name during its iconic opening years, when the Herd sold more than 1 million tickets for the first six seasons the park was opened.
From the archives: Pilot Field
July 10, 1986: Gov. Mario Cuomo and dignitaries at groundbreaking of Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
July 10, 1986: Groundbreaking of Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
July 10, 1986: Robert E. Rich, Gov. Mario Cuomo and others at the ceremony for the beginning of construction of Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
Dec. 21, 1986: Plastic conduit is installed at Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
Dec. 23, 1986: Construction of the downtown ballpark.
From the archives: Pilot Field
March 4, 1987: Pilot Field construction continues.
From the archives: Pilot Field
March 16, 1987: Construction Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
May 1, 1987: Construction of Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
July 1, 1987: Council members David Rutecki, James Pitts and Norman Bakos at Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
Oct. 6, 1987: Pilot Field Stadium Board.
From the archives: Pilot Field
Oct. 7, 1987: Topsoil being spread at Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
Oct. 9, 1987: Electrician Amos Belk attaches lights over Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
April 14, 1988: Admission line at Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
April 14, 1988: Bisons Manager Rocky Bridges in a pregame motorcade to Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
April 14, 1988: Mayor Jimmy Griffin makes his first pitch from the mound at Pilot Field as Gov. Cuomo looks on.
From the archives: Pilot Field
April 15, 1988: Concession stand at Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
June 26, 1988: An impromptu grounds crew braces the lattice work against high winds as a wedding is celebrated at Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
July 31, 1988: Usher training at Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
Aug. 17, 1988: Lining up for tickets at Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
Feb. 8, 1989: Skaters enjoy an ice rink in Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
Opening day at Pilot Field, 1988: As the excitement swirls around them, Bob and Mindy Rich take a moment for themselves to celebrate the Bisons' 1-0 victory over the Denver Zephyrs.
From the archives: Pilot Field
Aug. 22, 1989: The Bisons, Bob Rich and Pilot Field attract national attention.
From the archives: Pilot Field
June 26, 1990: Old-timers baseball classic at Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
Aug. 27, 1990: Fans at Pilot Field.
From the archives: Pilot Field
Feb. 8, 1991: Manager Colleen Fintak stocks the shelves at the Bisons store at Pilot Field.
Sahlen Packing Co. landed a major league advantage when the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to make Sahlen Field their home base this season.
"A lot of us who were there since the beginning can't deny the nostalgia in all of this," Bob Rich says.