Luther Williams Field

Luther Williams Field
Location Central City Park
Macon, Georgia
Owner City of Macon
Operator City of Macon
Capacity 3,500
Field size

Left Field: 338 ft (103.0224 m)
Center Field: 402 ft (122.5296 m)

Right Field: 338 ft (103.0224 m)
Opened 1929
Tenants

Macon Pinetoppers (2010)
Macon Music (2007)
Macon Peaches (2003)
Macon Braves (1991-2002)
Macon Pirates (1984-1987)
A-Sun Tournament (1980, 1982)
Macon Dodgers (1956-1960)
Macon Peaches (1926-1983)
GSA Macon Giants

Williams, Luther, Field
Location 225 Willie Smokey Glover Blvd., Central City Park, Macon, Georgia
Coordinates 32°49′44″N 83°36′51″W / 32.82889°N 83.61417°W / 32.82889; -83.61417Coordinates: 32°49′44″N 83°36′51″W / 32.82889°N 83.61417°W / 32.82889; -83.61417
Area 6.5 acre
Built 1929
NRHP Reference # 04000627[1]
Added to NRHP June 24, 2004

Luther Williams Field is a baseball stadium in Macon, Georgia. It was built in 1929, and is the centerpiece of Central City Park in Macon. Today, it is the second-oldest minor league stadium in the country.[2] The original covered grandstand is still in place, though a new tin roof has replaced the former wooden one. A black iron gate surrounds the field, the front of which says "Macon Base Ball Park."

History

Luther Williams Field was home to the Macon Peaches (of the South Atlantic Association, South Atlantic League, and Southern League) on and off from 1929 to the 1980s, and another team by the same name from the Southeastern League in 2003. The Macon Dodgers of the South Atlantic League played at the stadium from 1956 to 1960; the Macon Redbirds in 1983; the Macon Pirates from 1984 to 1987; and the Macon Braves from 1991 to 2002.[3] In 2007, the new South Coast League located its Macon Music franchise at Luther Williams. The team was managed by former major league player Phil Plantier. The General Manager was Ric Sisler, grandson of Baseball Hall of Famer George Sisler.

The venue hosted the 1980 and 1982 Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball Tournaments, won by Georgia Southern and Hardin–Simmons, respectively.[4]

Luther Williams Field was used for location shooting in the 1976 film The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings. Luther Williams Field stood in for a fictional Negro League ballpark in St. Louis, Missouri.

Luther Williams Field was also used as a location in 2012 for two motion pictures, the Harrison Ford movie "42" chronicling the baseball legend Jackie Robinson and Clint Eastwood's "Trouble with the Curve".

Famous players

Numerous Major League stars have played at Luther Williams, whether on their way up the minor league system or as part of Major League teams' occasional stopovers to play their farm teams. Some notable players include:

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ Freeman, Scott. "The magic of the minors | Atlanta | News & Views | Cover Story". Atlanta.creativeloafing.com. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
  3. ↑ "Macon, GA - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
  4. ↑ "Atlantic Sun Recordbook - Baseball". AtlanticSun.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "macontelegraph.com | Opinion". Mindspring.com. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
  6. ↑ "Vince Coleman | BaseballLibrary.com". Baseballlibrary.com. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
  7. ↑ "Andruw Jones - Los Angeles Dodgers - Sportsnet.ca". .sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2008-11-20.

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