Workers were still installing new seats along the third base line as the Pulaski rookie-league baseball team practiced in the background on Monday.
Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Thirty years ago, David Hagan was talking with his business partner, Larry Shelor, at Motor Mile Automotive about what they might like to do later in life.
Hagan told Shelor he would like to own a minor league baseball team. Turn the pages of the calendar to 2019 and Hagan is completing his sixth year as a part-owner in the Pulaski baseball franchise.
He had grown up playing baseball in Shawsville even having his own moments of glory on the diamond, being named to an all-district all-star team during high school.
“I just love baseball,” he said shortly after a chamber luncheon earlier this week to welcome the team and staff to Pulaski.
In 2015, before Hagan took over, the community was facing the fact there might not be baseball at Calfee.
The uncertainty changed on Day 1 as the New York Yankees announced they would field a rookie-league team there. The new ownership group then dropped a substantial investment (in both time and money) to bring the facilities up to standards for one of Major League Baseball’s historic franchises.
Calfee Park, which opened in 1935, is one of the oldest active baseball parks in the United States. In 1995, an ownership group worked with the town, which owned the park at that time, to add a new home locker room, scoreboard and indoor batting facility.
When approached by Hagan, they gave up ownership and the ball started rolling to what fans see today.
“I think that (deciding to sell) was big for this community,” said Hagan. “I feel it has been the catalyst to revitalize this community and especially the downtown area.”
Almost $4 million in work has taken place as the Motor Mile ownership has added more seats a visitor’s team locker room and an upgrade to concession stand areas. Hagan said they are attempting to add something new and improved every year.
“We want to do that every year, and I think that is important,” he said.
In 2000, the ballpark was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Essentially, the new ownership group has modernized the facility while trying to remain mindful of its rich history and “historic” status.
“That [keeping the historic appearance] was important and still is for us,” Hagan said.
But changes can be seen almost everywhere at Calfee.
Construction at the ballpark started the day last season was over and probably will continue into this summer’s season, with most upgrades taking place along the third baseline and in left field.
The team’s general manager, Betsy Haugh, said substantial changes were made to the design plans from what was announced last summer and they’re excited about the direction in which they are headed for the coming season.
Approximately 350 new seats have been added along the third baseline, including 30 accessible and companion seats and 11 new boxes. A new concourse can also be seen behind the existing seating section to improve accessibility for fans to the third base side of Calfee Park.
This section of the ballpark will also feature a new integrated sunshade canopy.
A three-tiered party deck is being added in left field, resulting in changes to the playing field itself as the amount of foul territory down the third base line will be reduced.
The party deck will be angled towards home plate, providing great views of the game and getting fans closer to the action. Additional concessions units will also be added near the deck.
“These new upgrades will enhance the fan experience at the ballpark for fans of all ages,” Haugh said. “We’re ecstatic to see the party deck come to fruition. Social areas like this are becoming more and more common in ballparks across the country, and we believe our fans will really enjoy this addition to Calfee Park.”
On the upper concourse, the existing souvenir trailer has been replaced by a walk-in souvenir store in the same location.
Hagan would not unveil any future plans, but already the organization has purchased additional properties around Calfee Park for more parking.
“There is a Phase II that might stretch into next year,” he said.
