The Intramural Fields

Leslie Moore

The intramural fields located behind the Carleton Rec Center are home to Carleton’s two most famous games—Ultimate Frisbee and Rotblatt. Despite being a small school, Carleton boasts six competitive Frisbee teams. The Division I men’s team, CUT, was formed in 1977 and has the longest unbroken streak of national tournament appearances in college history, including three wins. Syzygy, their female equivalent, is also a national powerhouse. Eclipse, the women’s Division III team, won the national championship in 2011. Despite their goofy Hawaiian shirt uniforms, the “Gods of Plastic” (GoP) are also a force to reckon with; they snagged their latest men’s Division III national championship in 2012.

Countless other Carleton students play Ultimate on a less competitive level. Most years, more than thirty intramural teams sign up to play each other. And it is not unusual for students to have to duck for a flying Frisbee that is being thrown between classes. According to a survey taken several years ago, each Carleton student owns, on average, 2.3 Frisbees.

On the last weekend of spring term, the intramural fields get taken over by an annual school-wide softball game that began in 1964. Named after Chicago White Sox player Marvin J. Rotblatt, known as the worst Major League pitcher in the 1940s, the game begins at sunrise and continues until an inning has been played for every year the college has existed. In 2015, 150 innings will be played, likely lasting well past dusk. Sports Illustrated declared in 1977 that Rotblatt was the “longest intramural event” in the nation. Rain or shine, students enjoy gathering on the intramural fields for a playful Saturday before finals begin.

GoP team photo in Hawaiian shirts.

The Gods of Plastic

GoP poses with former Carleton President Bob Oden in 2011 in their traditional Hawaiian shirt uniforms.

Women's Ultimate Frisbee game.

The Early Years

A Syzygy player looks for a throw in 1990.

CUT talks out a play on the field.

The Early Years

Some of the first players of the Carleton Ultimate Team (CUT) in 1980. The team is now one of the most legendary and well-respected college teams in the country.

Students play Rotblatt.

Rotblatt on the Intramural Fields

Students play an inning of the softball game in the 1960s. The water tower and old Carleton farm can be seen in the background.

The Rotblatt Scoreboard.

Rotblatt Scoreboard

A student keeps track of how many of the 146 innings have been played so far in 2012. Students’ teams are determined by randomly distributed colored T-shirts.

Students playing Ultimate Frisbee on campus.

Reaching High

Members of the class of 1970 playing Ultimate Frisbee around campus.

Women's Ultimate Frisbee Team running through mud for game.

Muddy Play

Members of Syzygy play a muddy game during their Regionals Tournament in 2012. They won the game and continued on to the national championship.

Marv Rotblatt

Carleton’s famous softball game was named after Rotblatt because one of the game’s founders owned this baseball card.

Marv Rotblatt chatting with students outside at Rotblatt.

Marv Rotblatt at Rotblatt

In 1966, the former White Sox pitcher came to Carleton for the annual Rotblatt game. Here he sits and chats with students on the sideline of the game.