Hank Aaron Stadium is a baseball park in Mobile, Alabama. From 1997 to 2019, it hosted the Mobile BayBears, a minor-league professional team in the Southern League. The stadium opened in 1997 and has a capacity of 6,000. The ballpark was named after Major League Baseball's home run king (1974–2007) and Mobile native Hank Aaron. It also features a commemorative plaque outside the stadium to honor each Mobilian enshrined at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Hank Aaron Stadium is unique in that the luxury suites are at field level. Thus, infield seating for the general public is elevated from the field by approximately 20 feet.
 Hank Aaron Stadium from the outfield in 2009 | |
 | |
| Location | 755 Bolling Brothers Boulevard Mobile, AL 36606 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 30°38′45″N 88°07′01″W / 30.64574°N 88.11687°W |
| Owner | City of Mobile |
| Operator | Unknown |
| Capacity | 6,000 [6] |
| Field size | Left Field: 325 ft (99 m) Left-Center: 396 ft (121 m) Center Field: 400 ft (120 m) Right-center: 387 ft (118 m) Right Field: 310 ft (94 m) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | December 12, 1996[1] |
| Opened | April 17, 1997 |
| Construction cost | $8 million ($15.2 million in 2023 dollars[2]) |
| Architect | Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects[3] |
| Project manager | National Sports Services, Inc.[4] |
| Services engineer | Volkert and Associates, Inc.[5] |
| General contractor | White-Spunner Construction, Inc. |
| Tenants | |
| Mobile BayBears (SL) 1997–2019 | |
The BayBears played their final game on September 2, 2019,[7] before a relocation to Madison, Alabama, in 2020.[8] Mobile Sports and Entertainment Group (MSEG) was tabbed as operator of the stadium on December 11, 2019.[9] In 2022, the property owner took back control of the land and has permanently closed the stadium.[10] In 2023, the childhood home of Hank Aaron, which was a museum on the stadium property, was moved to another site in Mobile.[11]
History
editIn November 1995, Mobile's city council voted to allocate $4 million to a new ballpark in Mobile and name it Hank Aaron Stadium. The city committed to pay for half the cost of construction and match the contribution of new franchise owner Eric Margenau.[12] Architectural plans for the ballpark were unveiled in May 1996.[13] Mobile city council member Vivian Davis Figures had suggested that the new ballpark be named after Aaron. The ballpark opened on April 17, 1997. Aaron's number 44 was retired by the BayBears and he threw out the first pitch with his parents, siblings, and extended family in attendance.[14]
On July 14, 1999, the ballpark hosted the Double-A All-Star Game in which a team of National League-affiliated All-Stars defeated a team of American League-affiliated All-Stars, 3–0, before 6,174 people in attendance.[15]
In the stadium's final BayBears game, Mobile was defeated by the Tennessee Smokies, 5–4, before a crowd of 1,554 people.[16]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Cuhaj, Joe; Carraway-Hinckle, Tamara (2003). Baseball in Mobile. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing. p. 115. ISBN 0-7385-1582-5. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Stadiums". Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects. Archived from the original on March 8, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
- ^ "Facilities". National Sports Services. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
- ^ "Services". Volkert and Associates, Inc. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
- ^ "Hank Aaron Stadium Info". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
- ^ Gattis, Paul (September 3, 2019). "BayBears bid farewell to Mobile to become Rocket City Trash Pandas". AL.com. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
- ^ "MiLB Approves Mobile BayBears Move to Madison". Ballpark Digest. May 30, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
- ^ Spedden, Zach (2019-12-11). "Mobile Tabs New Hank Aaron Stadium Operator". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
- ^ "Hank Aaron Stadium in limbo: Stadium vacant, city to void lease". 31 March 2022.
- ^ "Hank Aaron's childhood home relocating to Mobile park". 5 April 2023.
- ^ "Hank Aaron Stadium Planned for Mobile". Boca Raton News. November 2, 1995. p. 2B. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
- ^ "Roosters' New Home in Mobile Unveiled". Wilmington Morning Star. May 30, 1996. p. 2C. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
- ^ "Aaron Stadium Opens in Mobile". The Robesonian. Lumberton, NC. April 18, 1997. p. B1. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
- ^ "Cammack Perfect in All-Star Stint". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton. July 15, 1999. p. 5D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Smokies vs. BayBears Box Score - 09/02/19". MiLB.com. September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.