Duffy Bass Field

Duffy Bass Field
Location	Gregory Street, Normal, IL, USA
Coordinates	40°30′55″N 89°00′00″W / 40.515296°N 88.999949°W / 40.515296; -88.999949Coordinates: 40°30′55″N 89°00′00″W / 40.515296°N 88.999949°W / 40.515296; -88.999949
Opened	1988
Renovated	2008-09
Owner	Illinois State University
Scoreboard	Electronic
Architect	Browning Day Mullins Dierdorff Architects (Renovations)
General Contractor	McCoy Construction (Renovations)
Capacity	1,200 (1,000 seated)
Field dimensions	330 ft. (LF), 375 ft. (LCF), 400 ft. (CF), 375 ft. (RCF) 330 ft. (RF)
Tenants
Illinois State University Redbirds baseball (1988-present)

Duffy Bass Field is a baseball venue in Normal, Illinois, USA. It is home to the Illinois State Redbirds college baseball team of the Division I Missouri Valley Conference. It was built in 1988^[1] and has a capacity of 1,200 spectators, 1,000 of which is seated.^[2]

History

In both 1992 and 2003, the field was awarded the Professional Grounds Management Society's Honor Award for the excellent condition of its playing surface.^[1]

Prior to 2008, the facility featured little seating and other amenities to surround the field itself.^[1] In 2006, however, a $3.4 million renovation project was announced,^[3] and construction began on July 15, 2008.^[2] Part of then-athletic director Sheahon Zenger's initiative to improve Redbird athletic facilities, the project added 1,000 stadium seats, restrooms, concession stands, and ticket windows. It also upgraded the venue's press box and dugouts.^[3] An electronic scoreboard was added later.^[4] Browning Day Mullins Dierdorff Architects designed the stadium structure,^[5] while McCoy Construction built the new facilities.^[1]

Naming

The field is named for former Illinois State baseball coach Duffy Bass. During Bass's 1964-1988 tenure, the Redbirds went 713-457-18. This mark included a 1969 national championship in the College Division (the NCAA's now-defunct small school division).^[6]

Duffy Bass Field has been home to the Horenberger/Bass Baseball Classic, an annual game which commemorates Bass and Illinois Wesleyan University's (in nearby Bloomington) former baseball coach Jack Horenberger. First played in 2004, the game alternates between Duffy Bass and Illinois Wesleyan's Jack Horenberger Field. Illinois State has won four of six classics played. 2009's game was rained out,^[6] and 2011's was scheduled but not played.^[7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Duffy Bass Field". GoRedbirds.com. Archived from the original on 07-26-2011. http://www.webcitation.org/60TXqmuaZ. Retrieved 26 July 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Baseball Stadium Renovation at Duffy Bass Field". GoRedbirds.com. Archived from the original on 07-26-2011. http://www.webcitation.org/60TY4gUkj. Retrieved 26 July 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Kindred, Randy (January 5, 2011). "Kindred: Without Zenger, who can save stadium?". Pantagraph.com. Archived from the original on 07-26-2011. http://www.webcitation.org/60TYSGyij. Retrieved 26 July 2011. 
4. ^ Warren, Jack (September 16, 2010). "New scoreboard at ISU’s Duffy Bass Field". Cornbelt Baseball. Archived from the original on 07-26-2011. http://www.webcitation.org/60TYpOgv8. Retrieved 26 July 2011. 
5. ^ "Duffy Bass Field Renovation Illinois State University". Athletic Business. Archived from the original on 07-26-2011. http://www.webcitation.org/60TYwwhQL. Retrieved 26 July 2011. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Horenberger/Bass Baseball Classic - History". IWU Sports. Archived from the original on 07-26-2011. http://www.webcitation.org/60TZ1QCvD. Retrieved 26 July 2011. 
7. ^ "2011 Illinois Wesleyan Baseball Schedule". IWU Sports. Archived from the original on 07-26-2011. http://www.webcitation.org/60TZ6oAN6. Retrieved 26 July 2011.