Simpsons' Matt Groening puts Springfield Isotopes on the map

One of the great mysteries in television history was put to rest after Simpsons creator Matt Groening finally revealed in which state the series' fictional city of Springfield lies in— Oregon.

For 23 years, Groening kept the location of the city— the only one bordered by a desert, canyon, glacier, beach and swamp— a secret.

The fictional city is also home to television's most famous AA baseball team— the Isotopes.

The perennial losers— whose roster has included such memorable players such as Flash Baylor, Fishbone Walker, Smash Diggins and Babe Ruth VI— only added more misery to buffoonish Homer Simpson's middle class life.

The animated show was usually pretty dead on in portraying a fan's frustration of saying "D'oh!" more than "yea!"  The most excruciating losses came against their bitter rivals the Shelbyville Shelby-villians.




Homer's happiest moments at Duff Stadium (or sometimes, the Springfield Stadium) probably came as Dancin' Homer until he was moved up to Capital City to replace their mascot Goofball.

Mostly it was misery.  There was Homer's hunger strike— after he found out the team was planning a move to Albuquerque, N.M.— and further humiliation after being turned into an outfield freakshow attraction.

In an interview with Smithsonian Magazine, Groening crushed the hopes of thousands of fans everywhere who actually thought his Springfield was their Springfield.

"Springfield was named after Springfield, Ore.," he said.  "When I was a kid, the TV show 'Father Knows Best' took place in the town of Springfield, and I imagined that it was the town next to Portland, my hometown.

"When I grew up, I realized it was just a fictitious name.  I also figured out Springfield was one of the most common names for a city in the U.S..  In anticipation of the success of the show, I thought, 'This would be cool; everyone will think it's their Springfield' and they do."

Whoever imagined that Groening's fictional city was based on their own, would probably not wish the Isotopes on anyone.

But, at least,  you would have had a chance to see their football team, the Springfield Meltdowns, play at Duff Beer Krusty Burger Buzz Cola Costington's Department Store Kwik-E-Mart Stupid Flanders Stadium.