Dozens Of Needles Found At Quigley Stadium Moments Before High School Baseball Game
- Dominic Konareski
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
New York Sports Show’s Dominic Konareski once stated that Quigley Stadium is a “Field of broken Dreams” as a little play of words referencing the iconic 1989 Field of Dreams movie starring Kevin Costner. That quote of his was heard by many and is still seen as a vocal point some 3-and-a-half years later on the current state of Quigley Stadium.
In 2026, another description may be appropriate: “Field of Drugs.”
August 2026 Update Video
A recent update video on Quigley Stadium was published on New York Sports Show’s YouTube channel, showcasing the conditions of the 79-year-old stadium. The video, recorded by Dominic Konareski, showcases trash dumped in several different areas, even including a mattress near the bullpen. The vandalized falling-apart ticket booth is still marked up and losing pieces as some type of unknown wire hangs detached from the press box.
Although the gates inside the stadium remain chain-locked, taking a glimpse inside the parts available from afar show a stadium largely left to rot by the City of West Haven.
Overgrown weeds poke out several inches to feet in the dirt basepaths, overtaking first and second base along with the majority of the infield. Meanwhile, the outfield walls and even part of the grandstand are either non-existent in several parts or in desperate need of trimming, with overgrown shrubbery and nature taking claim to the product of man. By the ticket booth stands a monument memorial of the stadium’s builder and namesake of Maurice P. Quigley, that is now unidentifiable due to overgrown weeds and shrubbery.
Despite the poor and seemingly unplayable condition of the infield, the outfield grass appeared to have been recently mowed, making it one of the few visibly maintained portions of the stadium.
Hypodermic Needles Found Inside Stadium
However, what was most concerning, was a photograph and statement provided to the New York Sports Show just days after the video posting of the August 2026 update.
The individual, who requested anonymity, provided photographic evidence of numerous discarded hypodermic needles inside Quigley Stadium’s dugout.
The photograph, taken in April 2025, shows multiple hypodermic needles scattered throughout the dugout. The individual told the New York Sports Show exclusively that they “found and removed” an estimated 90 needles, primarily in the right-field portion of the playing area before a Notre Dame-West Haven High School baseball game.
The game on April 16th, 2025, against Wilbur Cross, was nearly cancelled due to the amount of needles found. It would end up being played after the needles were cleaned up by a hero trio of players parents, coaches and even the umpires. NDWH would win, 4-2.
The risk of a puncture in any area of one’s body by a hypodermic needle (known as a needle-stick injury) comes with a risk of infection from blood-borne pathogens such as Hepatitis B and C, along with HIV and requires immediate medical treatment.
The photos and statement of drug use findings come after multiple photos and videos have surfaced over the course of the previous year and earlier parts of 2026, showcasing what can only be described as a makeshift mini homeless encampment.
On Tuesday, August 18th, the New York Sports Show reached out to West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer for a comment on the needles found at Quigley Stadium. The response from the Mayor’s office is that there are no longer any needles there. Per a representative from the Mayor’s Office, the West Haven Police Department had an officer conduct a search of the stadium and did not find any needles present earlier in the day before responding to the article.
Overall, the Mayor's office response is one that can be met with a sense of peaceful content. Although the Twilight League's season is over and high school baseball isn't starting up anytime soon, there has been no use of drugs in recent time -- or at least no showcasing of use.
Who Is Responsible For Maintaining Quigley Stadium?
The City of West Haven has owned Quigley Stadium since 1951, with Public Works being tasked with maintenance of the field and stadium as a whole.
Quigley Stadium is identified by the city as a municipal facility. West Haven’s own Public Works webpage states that its Highway/Park Maintenance division is responsible for maintaining a total of 19 ballfields and three soccer fields. This now raises a very legitimate question about the adequacy and frequency of the city’s current maintenance and inspection.
It is important to distinguish between legal liability and municipal responsibility. The discovery of an estimated 100 discarded needles does not, by itself, establish that the City of West Haven is legally liable for any potential injuries or criminal activity occurring on the property. However, the discovery raises legitimate questions regarding the condition of the facility, the frequency of inspections and the adequacy of its maintenance procedures.
It is also very important to ask this question though: If the City of West Haven owns and maintains the stadium and field, how could more than 100 discarded used hypodermic needles accumulate in a facility that continues to host baseball, that sees families, and players of all ages 13+ attend/play in games?
Notre Dame-West Haven has used Quigley loosely during this decade, as the Twilight League continues to be surrounded by relocation rumors. The West Haven Twilight League played their final game of 2026 at Quigley on June 29th, before playing the remaining games in Hamden, Orange and the nearby West Haven High School. Only 19 games (23.46% of the 2026 WHTL schedule) were played at Quigley Stadium this baseball season.
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