Bailey–Brayton Field Explained

Stadium Name:Bailey-Brayton Field
Location:Washington State University
Pullman, Washington, U.S.
Broke Ground:1979
Opened:[1] [2]
Coordinates:46.735°N -117.155°W
Pushpin Map:USA#Washington
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the United States##Location in Washington
Pushpin Mapsize:240
Pushpin Label:Pullman
Pushpin Relief:yes
Owner:Washington State University
Operator:Washington State University
Surface:AstroTurf - (2017–present)[3]
FieldTurf - (2004–2017)
Natural grass - (1980–2003)
Former Names:Buck Bailey Field
(1980–1999)
Tenants:Washington State Cougars (NCAA)
1980–present
Seating Capacity:3,500
Dimensions:Left Field: 330feet
L. Center: 375feet
Center: 400feet [4]
R. Center: 385feet
Right Field: 335feet

It opened for baseball in 1980 on April 12 as new Buck Bailey in honor of WSU's head coach for 32 seasons except during World War II); the name was carried over from the previous venue, named for him in 1950.[5] Born and raised in central Texas, Bailey retired after the 1961 season at age 65. Three years later, he and his wife Frances were killed in an automobile collision in New Mexico in

Lights were added in 1984,[6] [7] as it became the first NCAA ballpark in the Northwest to install The field was renamed in January 2000 to also honor longtime Cougar baseball head coach Chuck "Bobo" Brayton, who led the Cougars from 1962 to 1994, and continuously improved

In the fall of 2003,[8] the natural grass surface was removed and replaced with FieldTurf, and WSU became the first Division I program to install FieldTurf in its home The only portion of the field that remained dirt was the pitcher's mound and home plate The basepaths and the "skin" portion of the infield are FieldTurf, colored reddish brown, while the outfield is green The home plate area was converted to FieldTurf in 2007, leaving only the pitcher's mound with dirt.[4] In fall 2013, the dirt pitcher's mound was replaced with a FieldTurf mound and the infield FieldTurf

The previous WSU baseball field, also named for Bailey,[9] was located at the site of the Mooberry Track,[10] the current venue for Home plate was in the northwest corner at approximately (46.734°N -117.1607°W), and the field was oriented southeast.[11] When Martin Stadium was renovated following the 1978 football season, its running track was removed to add seating nearer the lowered playing field.[12] The new track was originally planned for the site of the present-day baseball stadium, but inadequate settling of the excavated dirt from Martin Stadium caused a change The new track was built over the more stable ground of the old Bailey baseball field, north of Martin Stadium, and baseball was relocated to the former proposed

When Sick's Stadium in Seattle was demolished in 1979, its bleachers, fencing, and foul poles were moved to Pullman to construct the new The bleachers didn't fit and were later sold. Most of the other items from Sick's were bought for $60,000 in 1978 by the owner of the new Vancouver Canadians for use at Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver,

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Cougars face beavers at new Bailey Field . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho) . April 12, 1980 . 1C.
  2. News: Walker's homer helps Cougs slip past OSU . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho) . April 13, 1980 . 2D.
  3. Web site: Washington State Baseball. 24 August 2017.
  4. Web site: Baseball media guide. Washington State Cougars Athletics. 2010. 4. 2013-06-26. 2016-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111918/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/wast/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/2010MediaGuide.pdf. dead.
  5. News: Buck Bailey - great man, coach, tradition . Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Missildine. Harry. April 17, 1981 . 23.
  6. News: Doubleheader sweep brightens Cougars' night. Spokane Chronicle . Washington . Devlin . Vince . May 12, 1984 . 13.
  7. News: Preserving Cougar baseball history . Idahonian . Moscow . Meehan . Jim . March 23, 1989 . 1C.
  8. News: WSU installs new turf on baseball field . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). October 28, 2003. C7.
  9. News: Top crowds seen for Cougar Day . Spokane Daily Chronicle . Washington . April 24, 1969. 27 .
  10. News: Dedication scheduled Saturday . Spokane Daily Chronicle . (Washington). May 5, 1981 . 17 .
  11. Web site: Pullman, Washington: aerial photograph . Washington State University Libraries . Digital Collections . 1960s . September 11, 2017.
  12. News: WSU track . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). November 16, 1978 . 2B .