Red McEwen Field
Encyclopedia
Red McEwen Field was a baseball
venue
located on the campus of the University of South Florida
in Tampa
, Florida
, USA. It was home to the South Florida Bulls
baseball
team from 1967-2010. The field has a capacity of 2,500 and was opened in 1967. It was also the home of the Tampa Yankees
, who played at the field from 1994-1995, before they moved to Legends Field
for the 1996 season. It was replaced by USF Baseball Stadium starting during the 2011 season.
. South Florida lost their first game at the facility 8-6 to Rollins College
on March 4, 1967. On March 18, 1967, the Bulls recorded their first win at the field, a 7-3 victory against St. Andrews College
.
The field was dedicated to James M. "Red" McEwen, a local sports benefactor, on March 30, 1977. Up to that point, the field had been known as USF Baseball Field.
After its 1967 construction, a lighting system, donated by New York Yankees
owner George Steinbrenner
, was installed, along with new seating. The field's first night game was played on February 25, 1977, a victory against the University of Tampa
. Concessions and restrooms were built in 1982, and a press box
followed in 1983. In 1997, a new lighting system was installed.
On March 26, 2010, Bulls pitcher
Randy Fontanez threw a no-hitter
at the field.
The Bulls played their final game at McEwen Field on May 16, 2010, losing to the UConn
Huskies
10-3. Former USF players and coaches participated in a pregame ceremony honoring the field.
Following the 2010 season, Red McEwen Field was demolished and construction began on a new baseball stadium complex. The new facility, USF Baseball Stadium, stands on the same site as McEwen Field, though its alignment was changed to accommodate a concourse area.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
venue
Baseball field
A baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The terms "baseball field" and "ball field" are also often used as synonyms for ballpark.-Specifications:...
located on the campus of the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
in Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, USA. It was home to the South Florida Bulls
South Florida Bulls
The South Florida Bulls are the athletic teams for the University of South Florida. The university competes in NCAA Division I, USF is a member of the Big East Conference, and has been since 2005...
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 from 1967-2010. The field has a capacity of 2,500 and was opened in 1967. It was also the home of the Tampa Yankees
Tampa Yankees
The Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
, who played at the field from 1994-1995, before they moved to Legends Field
Legends Field
George M. Steinbrenner Field , is a baseball stadium located in Tampa, Florida across Dale Mabry Highway from Raymond James Stadium, home of the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The ballpark was built in 1996 and holds almost 11,000 people with an addition in right field built in...
for the 1996 season. It was replaced by USF Baseball Stadium starting during the 2011 season.
History
The field was built in 1967, after the Bulls played their first season of baseball (1966) at Al Lopez FieldAl Lopez Field
Al Lopez Field was a spring training and Minor League baseball park in Tampa, Florida, United States. It was named for Tampa native and Baseball Hall of Famer Al Lopez....
. South Florida lost their first game at the facility 8-6 to Rollins College
Rollins College
Rollins College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida , along the shores of Lake Virginia....
on March 4, 1967. On March 18, 1967, the Bulls recorded their first win at the field, a 7-3 victory against St. Andrews College
St. Andrews Presbyterian College
St. Andrews University, formerly St. Andrews Presbyterian College, is a private, Presbyterian, four-year liberal arts college in Laurinburg, North Carolina....
.
The field was dedicated to James M. "Red" McEwen, a local sports benefactor, on March 30, 1977. Up to that point, the field had been known as USF Baseball Field.
After its 1967 construction, a lighting system, donated by New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
owner George Steinbrenner
George Steinbrenner
George Michael Steinbrenner III was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series...
, was installed, along with new seating. The field's first night game was played on February 25, 1977, a victory against the University of Tampa
University of Tampa
The University of Tampa , is a private, co-educational university in Downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2006, the University celebrated its 75th anniversary...
. Concessions and restrooms were built in 1982, and a press box
Press box
The press box is a special section of a sports stadium or arena that is set up for the media to report about a given event. It is typically located in the section of the stadium holding the luxury box. In general, newspaper writers sit in this box and write about the on-field event as it unfolds...
followed in 1983. In 1997, a new lighting system was installed.
On March 26, 2010, Bulls pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Randy Fontanez threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
at the field.
The Bulls played their final game at McEwen Field on May 16, 2010, losing to the UConn
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
Huskies
Connecticut Huskies
The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice...
10-3. Former USF players and coaches participated in a pregame ceremony honoring the field.
Following the 2010 season, Red McEwen Field was demolished and construction began on a new baseball stadium complex. The new facility, USF Baseball Stadium, stands on the same site as McEwen Field, though its alignment was changed to accommodate a concourse area.