A semi-thorough picking of the internet’s cache of Marionberries will harvest some pretty interesting results. Many of those results pertain to the Salem area in some way, but there was once a mayor of Washington, DC, named Marion Barry. The marionberry is so famous locally that it could be Marion County’s official mascot. This hybrid blackberry, developed in Corvallis and tested in Marion County, is grown exclusively in Oregon to the tune of 33 million pounds a year, most of which is used locally in everything from pie to ice cream to wine. The Marionberry is more oblong and a bit firmer than other blackberries, and it has a taste-bud-smacking blend of juiciness and super-sweetness.
Aside from pies, wine, and mayors, the internet search for marionberries may also reveal that the band, The Marionberries, performed at the Marion County Fair in 2024. The group’s song entitled “Cherry City” may become a local favorite. Last but not least, the Marionberry internet search will also reveal that 2025 is the premier season of Salem’s summer collegiate baseball team, the Marion Berries.
The Marion Berries Baseball Team
The Marion Berries are the 17th member of the West Coast League, which has teams based in Washington, Oregon, and Canada. During home games, the Marion Berries play in Willamette University’s newly renovated John Lewis Field at Bush’s Pasture Park in downtown Salem. The Marion Berries mascot is a cute bear named Barry who wears green shoes and has a berry-purple tongue.
The team’s logo features two marionberries in a berry crate, one with dark shades, a playful grin, and a baseball cap, the other with a couple of spots of red promising a sweet/slightly tart burst of flavor. The general manager of the Marion Berries, Pat Zajac, said in a recent Everyday Northwest interview that the name of the team was chosen to reflect the story of the local city and county. Being that the marionberry is so loved and celebrated here, they seem to have made a good call. Pat Casey, coach of the 2007, 2008, and 2018 College World Series Champion Oregon State Beavers, is involved with the Marion Berries as part owner.
The West Coast Baseball League
The West Coast League was developed in 2005 and is comprised of college-level baseball players. The league recruits players from Division 1 and Division 2 universities and colleges all across the country. The league has approximately 150 alumni currently playing major league baseball. The short season of the West Coast League begins at the end of May, and the playoffs are held in August (around the same time that Oregon residents are filling their crates with plump, juicy Marionberries). The West Coast League is a summer collegiate wooden bat baseball league, and during the league’s short regular season, the Marion Berries will play 27 home games.
The Newly Renovated Ballpark
The newly renovated stadium is attractive to players and spectators alike. In a press release published by the Salem Business Journal, Marion Berries owner and president Luke Emanuel said, “Willamette’s ballpark will create the perfect conditions for top collegiate student-athletes from around the country to come and grow and thrive as baseball players and young men. We will offer a high caliber of play and a high level of entertainment for our community.”
The ballpark was initially built in 1989. The recent renovations include new synthetic turf, new field lights, a redesigned entrance, and new field netting. There will also be new concession stands and comfortable guest areas. The ballpark fare available at the games includes the traditional baseball game snacks, and marionberry treats of many kinds are also rumored to be among the offerings, as are food trucks. Whatever the fare, the baseball games are sure to be a treat for fans of all ages.
The Berry Pass for Kids
In line with supporting local businesses, the Marion Berries joined with their sponsors to offer a Berry Pass for children ages 14 and under. For only $50, the bearer of the pass will have free entry into several local kid-friendly businesses, including the Marion Berries baseball game.
Other venues on the pass include the Athletic Edge Adventure Park, the Best Little Roadhouse Mini Golf, the Enchanted Forest, Get Air, The Oregon Garden, Salem’s Riverfront Carousel, Salem Golf Club Hitting Range, The REC Bowling, Willamette Heritage Center, the Salvation Army KROC Center, and the Salem YMCA swimming pool. Rules and restrictions apply, but no matter how you slice it, the Berry Pass is an outstanding deal.
More Information About the Marion Berry Baseball Team
On the Marion Berries website, fans are encouraged to join the team’s cluster (receive the email list) in order to stay on top of the latest developments as the Marion Berries grow. Hear more about the Salem Marion Berries on this Apple Podcast. Want to host a Marion Berry baseball player? Host families help make this experience possible.
