Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium
Encyclopedia
Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium is a college baseball
stadium
in Tucson
, Arizona
, on the campus of the University of Arizona
. Until 2011, it was the home field of the Arizona Wildcats
of the Pac-10 Conference.
Opened in 1967 and originally called "Wildcat Field," the stadium was named after Frank Sancet (head coach from 1950–72) in 1986, and was renamed in 2004 to include former head coach Jerry Kindall
. Beginning in the 2012 season, the Arizona Wildcats baseball team will be playing in Hi Corbett Field
.
and The Arizona Daily Star
. Larger dugouts were added in 1990, and the stadium got its own "Green Monster" in 1995 with the installation of a wall designed to block traffic lights from adjacent Sixth Street during night games. A new, expanded press box was completed in 1997. Changes made in time for the 2006 season included an 11 x 20 ft videoboard, new batting cages and a lawn seating area (similar to those featured in some minor league, and major league spring training
, ballparks); the protective wall in right field was turned into the "College World Series
" wall, commemorating the Wildcat baseball program's fifteen appearances in the CWS in Omaha
, including three national championship titles in 1976, 1980, and 1986, all coached by Jerry Kindall.
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, on the campus of the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
. Until 2011, it was the home field of the Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats baseball
The Arizona Wildcats baseball team is the intercollegiate men's baseball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I. The baseball team had its first season in 1904...
of the Pac-10 Conference.
Opened in 1967 and originally called "Wildcat Field," the stadium was named after Frank Sancet (head coach from 1950–72) in 1986, and was renamed in 2004 to include former head coach Jerry Kindall
Jerry Kindall
Gerald Donald Kindall , is a retired professional baseball player who played second base in the major leagues from 1956-1965 for the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins. Kindall was originally signed up by the Chicago Cubs as a bonus baby...
. Beginning in the 2012 season, the Arizona Wildcats baseball team will be playing in Hi Corbett Field
Hi Corbett Field
Hi Corbett Field is a baseball stadium located in Tucson, Arizona. The stadium holds approximately 9,500 people. It was the spring training home of the Colorado Rockies, and is currently home to the Tucson Toros...
.
Stadium facts
- Surface: The outfield is Bermuda, while the infield is a Tifgreen (said to be durable in hot weather, a factor during the baseball season in Tucson). The infield consists of Stabilizer Red dirt, and Stabilizer Clay is used around home plate and on the mound. A new irrigation system was installed in 2007 for the infield grass and dirt. The grounds crews overseeds the field in November with a Perennial Rye, Arnold Palmer II, to prepare it for the season. The area in front of the dugouts is AstroTurfAstroTurfAstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
. - Field dimensions: 360 feet (110 m) down each foul line, 378 feet (115 m) to the power alleys and 400 feet (122 m) to center field.
- Through 2008, Arizona has posted a 32-year mark of 820-343-3 (.705) in more than 1,100 games at Sancet Stadium. UA has had just three losing records at Sancet Stadium and nearly reached perfection in 1974 with a 37-1 home campaign. The stadium has also been the site of four NCAA Regionals (1979, '80, '89 and '92).
- Ballpark traditions include the "Sixth Street Slam", when an Arizona player hits it over the right field fence and onto traffic on Tucson's 6th Street.
- The visitors' section of the stands is often occupied by members of the Hot Corner, the baseball contingent of the Zona ZooZona zooZonaZoo is the name for the official student section and student ticketing program for intercollegiate athletic events at the University of Arizona...
, Arizona's athletics student section.
Changes to Sancet Stadium
The field was first modernized in 1975. In 1988, a $160,000 scoreboard, complete with a computerized message center, was purchased through advertising contracts with GatoradeGatorade
Gatorade is a brand of sports-themed food and beverage products, built around its signature product: a line of sports drinks. Gatorade is currently manufactured by PepsiCo, distributed in over 80 countries...
and The Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Daily Star
The Arizona Daily Star is the major morning daily newspaper that serves Tucson and surrounding districts of southern Arizona in the United States. The paper was purchased by Pulitzer in 1971; Lee Enterprises bought Pulitzer in 2005....
. Larger dugouts were added in 1990, and the stadium got its own "Green Monster" in 1995 with the installation of a wall designed to block traffic lights from adjacent Sixth Street during night games. A new, expanded press box was completed in 1997. Changes made in time for the 2006 season included an 11 x 20 ft videoboard, new batting cages and a lawn seating area (similar to those featured in some minor league, and major league spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, ballparks); the protective wall in right field was turned into the "College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
" wall, commemorating the Wildcat baseball program's fifteen appearances in the CWS in Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, including three national championship titles in 1976, 1980, and 1986, all coached by Jerry Kindall.
External links
- Arizona Wildcats athletics website - Sancet Stadium