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 Interactive map of Luther Williams Field | |
| Location | Central City Park Macon, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Owner | City ofMacon |
| Operator | City ofMacon |
| Capacity | 3,500 |
| Field size | Left Field: 338 feet (103 m) Center Field: 402 feet (123 m) |
| Opened | 1929 |
| Tenants | |
| Macon Bacon (CPL) 2018–present Macon State Blue Storm (club) 2011–2012 Macon Pinetoppers (PSL) 2010 Macon Music (SCL) 2007 Macon Peaches (SEL) 2003 Macon Braves (SAL) 1991–2002 Macon Pirates (SAL) 1984–1987 Macon Dodgers (SAL) 1956–1960 | |
Williams, Luther, Field | |
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| Location | 225 Willie Smokey Glover Blvd., Central City Park,Macon, Georgia |
| Coordinates | 32°49′44″N83°36′51″W / 32.82889°N 83.61417°W /32.82889; -83.61417 |
| Area | 6.5 acre |
| Built | 1929 |
| Architect | Curran R. Ellis |
| Engineer | Watson Walker |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000627[1] |
| Added to NRHP | June 24, 2004 |
Luther Williams Field is abaseball stadium inMacon, Georgia. It was built in 1929 on an earlier ballpark site and is the centerpiece of Central City Park in Macon. It is the home of theMacon Bacon, a wood-batcollegiate summer baseball team in theCoastal Plain League.[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."
Luther Williams Field was home to the Macon Peaches (of the South Atlantic Association,South Atlantic League, andSouthern 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 theSouth 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. In 2007, the newSouth Coast League located its Macon Music franchise at Luther Williams.[citation needed] The team was managed by former major league playerPhil Plantier. The General Manager was Ric Sisler, grandson ofBaseball Hall of FamerGeorge Sisler.
The venue hosted the 1980 and 1982Atlantic Sun Conference baseball tournaments, won byGeorgia Southern andHardin–Simmons, respectively.[3]
Luther Williams Field was used for location shooting in the 1976 filmThe Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings in which it stood in for a fictionalNegro league ballpark inSt. Louis, Missouri.[citation needed] It was also used as a location in 2012 for two motion pictures, the Harrison Ford movie42, chronicling the baseball legend Jackie Robinson, and Clint Eastwood'sTrouble with the Curve. It was also used to film baseball scenes in the television showBrockmire.[4]
The stadium was named for Macon's mayor at its opening, Luther Williams, whose family had migrated from South Wales, UK, in the late 1800s. Having an ardent love for athletics, he worked to bring baseball to Macon and helped get the stadium built.[5] Initially unnamed and costing $60,000, the city council soon named the new park after Williams. The first game held there was on April 18, 1929.[6]
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:
The Bacon will play 28 home games at Luther Williams Field.
There was a baseball game that day at the city's brand-new (and unnamed) stadium in Central City Park. [...] Within two weeks City Council members named it Luther Williams Field, in the mayor's honor. It cost about $60,000 to build.
Media related toLuther Williams Field at Wikimedia Commons
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