Tony Gwynn Stadium
Encyclopedia
Tony Gwynn Stadium is the home field of the San Diego State University (SDSU)
Aztecs college baseball
team. In addition, the San Diego Surf Dawgs
of the independent Golden Baseball League
use the park as their home field.
. The renovated stadium was named in honor of Tony Gwynn
, a Hall of Fame superstar for the Padres. As an undergraduate Gwynn played both baseball and basketball
for the SDSU Aztecs
. He became SDSU's head baseball coach after he retired from the Padres.
Among the amenities contained within the stadium itself are the following:
Two concession stands and two sets of restrooms located behind the seating area on the plaza level. There is also a novelty/souvenir shop located on the outer concourse, featuring SDSU merchandise.
A coaches' dressing room and adjacent players' meeting room located at the east end of the first base stands to be used for team functions as well as a lounge for SDSU athletes
The Stephen and Mary Birch Baseball Museum located at the north end of the third base stand. The museum features numerous items relating to the history of baseball at San Diego State.
Home and visiting team locker rooms with shower facilities. There is also an umpires' dressing room for officials to use before and after games.
A training room with a Jacuzzi and dry sauna.
An equipment room with storage space for uniforms, baseballs, bats and other items.
A modern press box with booths for radio and television. A state-of-the-art public address system is operated from the press box as well as the stadium scoreboard. A hydraulic elevator is available to take media and VIPs from ground level to the press box.
Four sky boxes adjacent to the press box for visiting dignitaries and groups to view games.
There is an alumni lounge near the elevator on the ground floor that serves as reception area and hosts various functions. The room has been provided through the generosity of former Aztec pitcher Bud Black and his wife, Nan, who oversaw much of the work on the project herself.
Covered sunken team dugouts with tunnels adjacent to each that lead to the team locker rooms.
Two large batting/pitching cages located down the left and right field lines. Each cage has space for two indoor batting practice areas or may be used as a bull pen with two mounds during games. An auxiliary batting cage/storage building has been constructed down the right field. All of these cages are fully lit for night use. In addition, a new outdoor bullpen was installed down the left field line just prior to the 2004 season.
The Arch Krejci Barbecue/Picnic Area is available between the end of the permanent stands and the batting cage buildings down right field line. Named for an individual who has spent countless volunteer hours assisting the SDSU baseball program, this area is available for special events and group outings.
Ticket booths are located behind the stadium along the first base side as well as down the third base side to serve fans' needs at all games.
Seating capacity of the stadium is 3,000, and that number could reach as high as 4,000 in the future. Of the 2,200 permanent seats installed during the initial phase of construction, 800 are armchair-style around the stadium at the field level. With the addition of new seating in May 2005, that number has increased to over 1,800, as more than 1,000 chair back seats were installed in the plaza level from first to third base. The remaining seats are composed of bleacher benches down both base lines. Additionally, bleachers seating are available behind the right field fence.
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
Aztecs college baseball
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...
team. In addition, the San Diego Surf Dawgs
San Diego Surf Dawgs
The San Diego Surf Dawgs are an independent professional baseball team representing San Diego, California, that play in the short-season instructional Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League, based out of Yuma, Arizona. They played for two seasons in the now-defunct Golden Baseball League,...
of the independent Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
use the park as their home field.
Stadium history
The stadium was originally named Smith Stadium in honor of Charlie Smith, the longtime San Diego State head baseball coach; the playing field is still called Smith Field. The stadium was extensively renovated and rebuilt in 1997 at a cost of $4 million dollars, funded mainly out of the pocket of John Moores, then owner of the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. The renovated stadium was named in honor of Tony Gwynn
Tony Gwynn
Anthony Keith "Tony" Gwynn, Sr. , nicknamed Mr. Padre and Captain Video, is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is statistically one of the best and most consistent hitters in baseball history. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the San Diego Padres...
, a Hall of Fame superstar for the Padres. As an undergraduate Gwynn played both baseball and basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for the SDSU Aztecs
SDSU Aztecs
The San Diego State Aztecs are the collegiate athletics and sports teams for San Diego State University .San Diego State has organized programs for baseball, basketball, football, soccer, golf, gymnastics, rowing , softball, tennis, track, swimming, diving, women's volleyball, and water polo.The...
. He became SDSU's head baseball coach after he retired from the Padres.
Facilities
The SDSU "Wall of Fame" is located just beyond the right field wall of the stadium.Among the amenities contained within the stadium itself are the following:
Two concession stands and two sets of restrooms located behind the seating area on the plaza level. There is also a novelty/souvenir shop located on the outer concourse, featuring SDSU merchandise.
A coaches' dressing room and adjacent players' meeting room located at the east end of the first base stands to be used for team functions as well as a lounge for SDSU athletes
The Stephen and Mary Birch Baseball Museum located at the north end of the third base stand. The museum features numerous items relating to the history of baseball at San Diego State.
Home and visiting team locker rooms with shower facilities. There is also an umpires' dressing room for officials to use before and after games.
A training room with a Jacuzzi and dry sauna.
An equipment room with storage space for uniforms, baseballs, bats and other items.
A modern press box with booths for radio and television. A state-of-the-art public address system is operated from the press box as well as the stadium scoreboard. A hydraulic elevator is available to take media and VIPs from ground level to the press box.
Four sky boxes adjacent to the press box for visiting dignitaries and groups to view games.
There is an alumni lounge near the elevator on the ground floor that serves as reception area and hosts various functions. The room has been provided through the generosity of former Aztec pitcher Bud Black and his wife, Nan, who oversaw much of the work on the project herself.
Covered sunken team dugouts with tunnels adjacent to each that lead to the team locker rooms.
Two large batting/pitching cages located down the left and right field lines. Each cage has space for two indoor batting practice areas or may be used as a bull pen with two mounds during games. An auxiliary batting cage/storage building has been constructed down the right field. All of these cages are fully lit for night use. In addition, a new outdoor bullpen was installed down the left field line just prior to the 2004 season.
The Arch Krejci Barbecue/Picnic Area is available between the end of the permanent stands and the batting cage buildings down right field line. Named for an individual who has spent countless volunteer hours assisting the SDSU baseball program, this area is available for special events and group outings.
Ticket booths are located behind the stadium along the first base side as well as down the third base side to serve fans' needs at all games.
Seating capacity of the stadium is 3,000, and that number could reach as high as 4,000 in the future. Of the 2,200 permanent seats installed during the initial phase of construction, 800 are armchair-style around the stadium at the field level. With the addition of new seating in May 2005, that number has increased to over 1,800, as more than 1,000 chair back seats were installed in the plaza level from first to third base. The remaining seats are composed of bleacher benches down both base lines. Additionally, bleachers seating are available behind the right field fence.