In its glory days more than a half-century ago, Pullman Park housed four minor-league baseball teams.

Now the city of Butler's Redevelopment Authority plans to spend up to $5 million on the Pillow Street ballpark in hopes that "a marque team" will rediscover it. Butler last had a minor-league baseball club in 1951.

Perry O'Malley, director of the authority, hopes the renovated ballpark will attract a minor-league affiliate or, perhaps, an independent team with an organization such as the Frontier League, whose members include the Washington, Pa., Wild Things.

"Everybody in baseball knows we're looking," Mr. O'Malley said. "We say we want a marque team because we don't want to be caught in a debate about whether an independent is considered a professional team."

Taxpayers will foot about $2.3 million of the bill to restore the ballpark. The Redevelopment Authority plans to cover the rest of construction costs with a $2.5 million bank loan.

Butler turned over ownership of the 72-year-old ballpark to the Redevelopment Authority last week, clearing the way for it to seek the loan.

It would be repaid from money generated by the ballpark and its renovated complex, which would have space for outdoor markets and indoor banquets, Mr. O'Malley said.

He said he expected the authority to receive the loan from Dollar Bank in the next three weeks, meaning all the financing would be in place.

A state grant accounted for $2 million and another $300,000 for site planning and architectural design came from the county and state.

The size and cost of the project could be scaled back if Butler cannot land a name team, Mr. O'Malley said.

So loose is the ballpark blueprint that it allows for between 1,500 and 4,000 seats. The smaller number would be sufficient for high school games and summer leagues, but more seats would be required if Butler secures a minor-league team.

Because the design and preparatory work have been done, construction should be finished by June, Mr. O'Malley said.

He estimated that the construction phase would employ 70 people. Once the ballpark is reopened, it would have 40 to 80 employees, though some jobs would be seasonal, Mr. O'Malley said.

Bill Lee, commissioner of the Frontier League, toured Pullman Park last year when Butler boosters were trying to gauge interest in their town as a baseball market.

"To be very honest, it needs a lot of work," Mr. Lee said in an interview last week. "They've got their hands full trying to turn it around that quick."

The Frontier League just expanded to 11 teams with a club in Marion, Ill., that will begin play next year. Mr. Lee said the league planned to add a 12th team, but no Pennsylvania town is in the mix for that spot.

The Washington Wild Things are the league's only team in the state.

Mr. Lee said his league might have an interest in Butler if the ballpark project turns out well, including access and egress improvements.

Another consideration is that Butler is in the same media market as Washington. The Frontier League, though, operates two teams in the St. Louis area, so Mr. Lee said that circumstance would not necessarily disqualify Butler.

Pullman Park had a brief run in the minor leagues when they were more plentiful, operating teams in Pennsylvania towns from Beaver Falls to Jeannette to Johnstown.

In 1935, Butler had a team in the old Pennsylvania State Association, for prospects in the low minors. That club was affiliated with the Cleveland Indians.

Then came the Butler Yankees, who played from 1936 until 1942. The team went into a hiatus because of World War II, but returned in 1946 as part of the Middle Atlantic League.

Butler stayed in the league until 1951. During its last three years, the club was called the Butler Tigers. It was affiliated first with Detroit's major-league franchise. In its last season, the club switched to an association with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but kept Tigers as its name.

Pullman Park remained a popular place to play after the minor-leaguers left town. It has hosted high school playoff games and Point Park University teams, among countless others.

Mr. O'Malley said renovation of the ballpark was a first step in what he hopes will be a Butler renaissance.

"It's the single most important project of the West End revitalization," he said.

After the ballpark is renovated, the city hopes to restore another 37 acres of old industrial property.