Al Worthington Stadium

Last updated
Al Worthington Stadium
LibertyBaseballStadium.jpg
LibertyBaseballStadium
Al Worthington Stadium
Former namesLiberty Field (1979-1986), Al Worthington Field (1986-1995)
LocationWards Road, Lynchburg, VA, United States
Coordinates 37°21′13″N79°10′49″W / 37.353588°N 79.180379°W / 37.353588; -79.180379
Owner Liberty University
OperatorLiberty University
Executive suitesYes
Capacity 2,500
Record attendance3,183 (March 28, 2008, vs. Coastal Carolina)
Surface FieldTurf collar around home plate, bermuda grass infield (1999-present), natural grass outfield
ScoreboardElectronic
Construction
Opened1979
Renovated1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008
Expanded2008
Closed2012
Demolished2013 [1]
Tenants
Liberty Flames baseball (NCAA DI Big South) (1979-2012)

Al Worthington Stadium was a baseball venue on the campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, United States. It was home to the Liberty Flames of the Division I Big South Conference. Opened in 1979, the facility was named for former Liberty baseball coach and athletic director Al Worthington. [2] It had a capacity of 2,500 spectators. [3] Plans for a new Liberty baseball venue were announced in August 2011, and Liberty Baseball Stadium opened prior to the 2013 season. [4] Worthington Stadium was demolished in 2013. [1]

Contents

History

The venue opened in 1979 as Liberty Field. Al Worthington was Liberty's head coach at the time. On May 3, 1986, the field was dedicated Al Worthington Field. [2]

In 1995, the venue's name was again changed, this time to Al Worthington Stadium. In 1998, the stadium won Sports Turf Magazine's "Diamond of the Year" award. [2]

Beginning in 1999, the stadium underwent a series of renovations. In that year, a 5,200 ft.² hitting complex was added, located down the left field line. Also, in 1999, the infield was resurfaced with bermuda grass. A new PA system and backstop were installed in 2000. 2003 construction added an indoor hitting facility, luxury boxes, and a clubhouse. Renovations completed in 2008 added stadium lighting and additional seating, which raised capacity by 600-700 spectators. [2]

With the addition of stadium lighting, Worthington Stadium's first night game was played on March 28, 2008. [2] On the same night, the stadium set a new attendance record of 3,183 spectators. [3] Liberty lost the game to Coastal Carolina 5-3 in 11 innings. [2]

In August 2011, the university announced plans for a new baseball venue. The plans called for the venue to be built near Williams Stadium, the university's football venue, and to hold 3,000 spectators. The project was projected to cost roughly $5 million. The announcement included plans for Worthington Stadium to become a softball venue. [4]

The stadium closed following the 2012 season. Its final game was played on May 13, 2012, in which High Point defeated Liberty 13-11. [5] It was demolished in 2013. [1]

Naming

The venue was named for Al Worthington. Following a fourteen-season major league career, Worthington came to Liberty in 1974. As the Flames' baseball coach from 1974 to 1986, Worthington compiled a 343-189-1 record. In each of the last 12 of Worthington's 13 seasons, the program had a winning record. [6]

After being named Liberty's athletic director in 1983, Worthington continued to coach baseball until 1986. On May 3, 1986, Liberty's baseball field was dedicated to Worthington during his final home game as baseball coach. The Flames defeated Maryland 19-3. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium</span> Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, originally named Memphis Memorial Stadium, and later Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, is a football stadium located at the former Mid-South Fairgrounds in the Midtown area of Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The stadium is the site of the annual Liberty Bowl, the annual Southern Heritage Classic, and is the home field of the University of Memphis Tigers football team of the American Athletic Conference. It has also been the host of several attempts at professional sports in the city, as well as other local football games and other gatherings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Providence Park</span> Sports stadium in Portland, Oregon, United States

Providence Park is an outdoor soccer venue located in the Goose Hollow neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. It has existed in rudimentary form since 1893, and as a complete stadium since 1926. Providence Park is currently the oldest facility to be configured as a soccer-specific stadium for use by a MLS team, and is one of the most historic grounds used by any United States professional soccer team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Worthington</span> American baseball player (born 1929)

Allan Fulton Worthington, nicknamed "Red", is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of 14 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York / San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox (1960), Chicago White Sox (1960), Cincinnati Reds (1963–64) and Minnesota Twins (1965–69). Worthington batted and threw right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centennial Bank Stadium</span>

Centennial Bank Stadium is a football stadium located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on the campus of Arkansas State University that is home to the Arkansas State Red Wolves football team. The stadium opened in 1974 as Indian Stadium named after the old nickname of the school, the Indians, until the 2007 season when it was renamed ASU Stadium. The venue was renamed Liberty Bank Stadium in September 2012 after Liberty Bank of Arkansas donated approximately $5 million to the university. The current name of the stadium is from Centennial Bank, the trade name of Home BancShares, who bought Liberty Bank in 2013. Since 2015, the stadium has a seating capacity of 30,406.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doak Field</span> Baseball venue in Raleigh, North Carolina

Doak Field is a baseball venue in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. It opened in 1966 and is home to the North Carolina State University Wolfpack college baseball team of the NCAA's Division I Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). It is named for Charles Doak, who was the head coach of the NC State baseball team from 1924 to 1939. The stadium is located on NC State's West Campus, behind Lee and Sullivan residence halls. The diamond is in the north/northwest corner of its block, which is bounded by Thurman Drive ; Dail Park and the residence halls ; Sullivan Drive ; and Varsity Drive. Its seating capacity is 2,500 spectators, with an overflow capacity of 3,000. The largest crowd at Doak Field since its 2004 renovation was 3,109 on April 28, 2007, in a series finale between NC State and its rival UNC. Doak Field hosted the Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament in both 1974 and in 1980. NC State won the championship in 1974, while Clemson won in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium</span> Baseball stadium on CSU Fresno campus

Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium, formerly Varsity Park, is a baseball stadium on the campus of the California State University, Fresno in Fresno, California, United States. It was built in 1966. The field is the home of the Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team and named after former Fresno State baseball coach Pete Beiden. The park was redesigned in 1983 and now holds 3,575 people. Prior to the 2002 opening of Grizzlies Stadium, the park also was the home of the Fresno Grizzlies minor league baseball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maverick Stadium</span>

Maverick Stadium is a 12,500-seat multi-purpose stadium on the western edge of University of Texas at Arlington campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium</span> College baseball stadium in Tucson, Arizona

Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium was a college baseball park in the southwestern United States, located on the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. Prior to 2012, it was the home field of the Arizona Wildcats of the Pac-10 Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Huskies baseball</span>

The Washington Huskies baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball team of the University of Washington, located in Seattle, Washington, United States. The program has been a member of the NCAA Division I Pac-12 Conference since the start of the 1960 season, preceded by the Pacific Coast Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberty Flames and Lady Flames</span> Athletics teams of Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Virginia, United States

The Liberty Flames and Lady Flames are the athletics teams of Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Virginia, United States. They are a member of the NCAA Division I level in 20 sports. As of July 1, 2023, LU is a member of Conference USA (C-USA) for most sports, joining that league after five years as a member of the ASUN Conference. Four sports that are not sponsored by C-USA are housed elsewhere. Women's swimming competes in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association. The field hockey team was a member of the Northern Pacific Field Hockey Conference before that league's demise after the 2014 season. After playing the 2015 season as an independent, the team joined the Big East Conference in 2016. Women's lacrosse remains in the ASUN Conference. Men's soccer competes in the Ohio Valley Conference. In football, Liberty had participated in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as an independent before joining C-USA. The mascot, Sparky, is frequently seen at events. Liberty University is the second youngest school in NCAA Division I, founded in 1971. As a member of the Big South Conference, Liberty regularly competed for the Sasser Cup, which is the trophy for the university which has the best sports program among the member institutions. Liberty won the Sasser Cup 14 times, the most in Big South Conference history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clay Gould Ballpark</span>

Clay Gould Ballpark, the home field of the UT Arlington Mavericks, is located on the campus of The University of Texas at Arlington. The stadium has a seat capacity of 1,600. Clay Gould Ballpark is located at the intersection of West Park Row Drive and Fielder Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Empire Field</span>

Empire Field was a temporary Canadian football and soccer stadium built at Hastings Park in the Canadian city of Vancouver, British Columbia. Located on the site of the former Empire Stadium, the 27,528 spectator venue was constructed to allow a new retractable roof to be installed at BC Place in 2010 and 2011. Empire Field was home to the Canadian Football League's (CFL) BC Lions for the 2010 and part of the 2011 seasons, and for Major League Soccer's (MLS) Vancouver Whitecaps FC for part of their debut 2011 season.

J. I. Clements Stadium is a baseball venue located in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. It is home to the Georgia Southern University Eagles college baseball team of the Division I Sun Belt Conference. It has a capacity of 3,000 spectators and opened in 2005.

Itchy Jones Stadium is a baseball venue in Carbondale, Illinois. It is home to the Southern Illinois Salukis baseball team of the NCAA Division I Missouri Valley Conference. The field, opened in 1964, holds 2,000 spectators. The field is named for former Southern Illinois baseball coach Abe Martin, and the venue was previously known simply as Abe Martin Field. In 2014 after a complete renovation, the larger stadium was dedicated "Itchy Jones Stadium" after head coach Itch Jones.

Williams Field at Carter Memorial Stadium is a baseball venue on the campus of Radford University in Radford, Virginia, United States. It is home to the Radford Highlanders of the NCAA Division I Big South Conference. The field opened in 1986 and underwent extensive renovations in 2011. Its capacity is 800 spectators, with a grass area down the left field line allowing for overflow crowds.

Erv Huether Field is a baseball venue in Brookings, South Dakota, United States. It is home to the South Dakota State Jackrabbits baseball team of the NCAA Division I Summit League. The field opened in 2008 and is named for former South Dakota State baseball coach Erv Huether. It has a capacity of approximately 600 spectators.

Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium is a baseball venue in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is home to the UIC Flames baseball team of the NCAA Division I Missouri Valley Conference. The facility has a capacity of 1,000 spectators and is named for Les Miller, UIC head baseball coach from 1949 to 1979, and Curtis Granderson, an alumnus of the program. During Miller's tenure, the program won over 500 games. Granderson was named conference player of the year with the Flames in 2002 and later played in Major League Baseball. On 17 September 2013, UIC broke ground on a new stadium on the same site, funded in part by donations from Granderson. It consists of a new structure housing a press box, dugouts, and grandstand, and was completed for the 2014 season.

Alexander Field is a baseball venue in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States. It is home to the Purdue Boilermakers baseball team of the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. The field hosted its first game in spring 2013. The venue has a capacity of 1,500 spectators that is expandable to 2,500 spectators. It is named for John and Anna Margaret Ross Alexander, Purdue alumni and the parents of former Purdue head baseball coach Dave Alexander

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberty Baseball Stadium</span>

Liberty Baseball Stadium is a baseball venue in Lynchburg, Virginia. It is the home field of the Liberty Flames baseball team, a member of the NCAA Division I ASUN Conference. Liberty will join Conference USA in July 2023. The stadium opened in February 2013 and has a capacity of 2,500 spectators. It hosted the 2013 Big South Tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albertsons Stadium</span> American football stadium at Boise State University

Albertsons Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in the western United States, located on the campus of Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. It is the home field of the Boise State Broncos of the Mountain West Conference. Known as Bronco Stadium for its first 44 seasons, it was renamed in May 2014 when Albertsons, a chain of grocery stores founded by Boise area resident Joe Albertson, purchased the naming rights.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Demolition at old baseball stadium makes way for new projects". Liberty University News Service. 2013-10-17. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Worthington Stadium". Liberty Flames. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Facilities Overview". Liberty Flames. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  4. 1 2 Foley, Brian (August 10, 2011). "Liberty set to open New Stadium for 2013 Season". College Baseball Daily. Archived from the original on 2012-03-30. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  5. "High Point Edges Liberty in Slugfest in Final Game at Worthington". Liberty.edu. 13 May 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  6. "Al Worthington (Baseball Coach: 1974-86/Athletics Director: 1983-89)". Liberty Flames. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.