OrthoGeorgia Park
OrthoGeorgia Park at Claude Smith Field is a 1,500-seat baseball stadium on the campus of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, United States.[1][2] The facility has a press box, concession stands, and additional berm seating along the right field fence. On November 11, 2014, Mercer announced plans to renovate and expand the stadium, which will include new seating areas, concession areas, press box, dugouts, and a new entrance plaza. Significant funding will be provided by OrthoGeorgia in return for future naming rights.[3]
Former names | Bear Field (1962–1976); Claude Smith Field (1977–2016) |
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Location | Adams Street, Macon, GA, USA |
Coordinates | 32.828471°N 83.653437°W |
Owner | Mercer University |
Capacity | 1,500 |
Field size | Left Field: 330 ft Left Center Field: 370 ft Center Field: 400 ft Right Center Field: 350 ft Right Field: 320 ft |
Surface | Natural grass with artificial turf halo around home plate |
Scoreboard | Electronic |
Construction | |
Renovated | 2003, 2017 |
Tenants | |
Mercer Bears baseball A-Sun Tournament (1994) |
The facility is named for Claude Smith, Mercer baseball coach from 1948–77. The field was named for him upon his retirement in 1977; Smith won 405 games as Mercer's coach and is the winningest coach in university history.[4]
The field is located adjacent to Mercer's other athletic facilities including the University Center (basketball arena and athletic department offices), Moye Complex (football and lacrosse), and Sikes Field (softball). There is a 101-room Hilton Garden Inn on university-owned land adjacent to the field. Large parking lots are available for visitors-spectators arriving via the Mercer University Drive exit off of Interstate 75.
References
- "Claude Smith Field (baseball)". mercerbears.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-11. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
- "Claude Smith Field". The Baseball Cube. Archived from the original on 2011-05-11. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
- "OrthoGeorgia Provides Significant Commitment Toward Construction of New Baseball Park at Mercer University". Mercer Bears. November 11, 2014. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- "History of Mercer Baseball". Craig Gibson Baseball. Archived from the original on 2011-05-11. Retrieved 11 May 2011.