Luther Williams Field facts for kids
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Location | Central City Park Macon, Georgia |
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Owner | City of Macon |
Operator | City of Macon |
Capacity | 3,500 |
Field size | Left Field: 338 feet (103 m) Center Field: 402 feet (123 m) |
Opened | 1929 |
Tenants | |
Macon Bacon (2018–present) Macon State Blue Storm (2011-2012) |
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Williams, Luther, Field
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Location | 225 Willie Smokey Glover Blvd., Central City Park, Macon, Georgia |
Area | 6.5 acre |
Built | 1929 |
Architect | Curran R. Ellis |
Engineer | Watson Walker |
NRHP reference No. | 04000627 |
Added to NRHP | June 24, 2004 |
Luther Williams Field is a historic baseball stadium in Macon, Georgia. It was built in 1929 and is a main part of Central City Park in Macon. Today, it is the home field for the Macon Bacon. This team plays in a special summer league where players use wooden bats. The stadium still has its original covered grandstand. It even has a cool black iron gate that says "Macon Base Ball Park" at the front.
A Look Back at Luther Williams Field
Luther Williams Field has been home to many baseball teams over the years. The Macon Peaches played here on and off from 1929 all the way to the 1980s. Another team with the same name played in 2003. Other teams that called this stadium home include the Macon Dodgers (1956-1960), the Macon Redbirds (1983), the Macon Pirates (1984-1987), and the Macon Braves (1991-2002).
In 2007, a new team called the Macon Music played at Luther Williams Field. This team was part of the South Coast League. A former major league player, Phil Plantier, managed the team. The stadium also hosted the Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball Tournament in 1980 and 1982. These tournaments were won by Georgia Southern and Hardin–Simmons.
Luther Williams Field in Movies
This stadium has been used for filming several movies and TV shows! In 1976, it was a filming location for the movie The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings. For this movie, Luther Williams Field pretended to be a baseball park in St. Louis, Missouri, where teams from the Negro leagues played.
Later, in 2012, the stadium was used for two more movies. One was 42, which tells the story of the famous baseball player Jackie Robinson. The other movie was Clint Eastwood's Trouble with the Curve. You might also have seen it in the baseball scenes of the TV show Brockmire.
Famous Players Who Played Here
Many famous baseball players have played at Luther Williams Field. Some played here when they were just starting in the minor leagues. Others visited with their major league teams. Here are some of the notable players:
- Pete Rose (played for the Peaches in 1962): He holds the record for the most hits in Major League Baseball history.
- Tony Pérez (played for the Peaches in 1963): He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Vince Coleman (played for the Redbirds in 1983): He once set a professional baseball record for stolen bases in a single season with 145.
- Chipper Jones (played for the Braves in 1991): He is a Baseball Hall of Famer and was named the National League Most Valuable Player in 1999.
- Jermaine Dye (played for the Braves in 1994): He was named the World Series Most Valuable Player in 2005.
- Andruw Jones (played for the Braves in 1995): He won the Gold Glove Award nine times for his amazing fielding.