Kobs Field Receives New Playing Surface
12/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dec. 6, 2006
Kobs Field, the home of Michigan State baseball, has been the recipient of a facelift. Nestled in Old College Field along the Red Cedar River, the historic baseball field underwent summer renovations to resurface and make improvements to the playing area.
"I am excited to play on a new field and appreciate all the hard work Sports Turf Manager Amy Fouty and her staff have done," head baseball coach David Grewe stated. "I am proud to be coaching the Spartans on the best playing surface in the Big Ten, and I can assure all that we take great pride in upgrading our baseball field and maintaining it."
Funded by the athletics department, construction on the field began immediately after the conclusion of the spring season and continued throughout the summer. The entire field area was skinned, and several layers of old dirt and sod were removed. With a stripped surface, work was then done to level the field.
"Approximately one and a half feet of soil had to be balanced between the left field and right field foul poles to balance the difference and set the grades properly," Fouty said.
The hill in right field, one of the trademarks of Kobs Field, will remain, but has been cleaned up for smoother play.
The pitcher's mound and both bullpens were re-built and graded with fresh dirt, as was the infield. The home plate area also will have a new look. Concrete has been poured behind the plate, creating a halo, over which astroturf will be laid. Detailing of the astroturf halo will be done with newly painted Spartan logos at the beginning of the season.
Kentucky bluegrass grown at Michigan State's renowned Hancock Turf Research Center was used to re-sod the field.
"The soccer and softball fields have recently been refurbished and now we are bringing the baseball field up to the standards we like to have for our student-athletes," Michigan State Athletics Director Ron Mason said.
While the resurfacing had been planned as part of the athletics department initial contribution and commitment to ensure Kobs Field is a safe and competitive Big Ten facility, it is also a beginning step in the Old College Field project, which aims to make improvements to the entire complex, benefiting the baseball, soccer and softball programs.
National Co-Chairs for the "New Life for Old College Field" project, Kirk Gibson and Mark Mulder, are continuing to drive the fund-raising efforts. The campaign, which began last year, has currently raised $1.6 million.
"This is the very beginning of the Old College Field renovations. We have a long way to go, physically and through fundraising efforts. With the aid of private funding, through our alumni and donors, we can help our teams and facilities be competitive on a national level. We have currently raised $1.6 million for the Old College Field project and expect to be over $2 million heading into 2007," Senior Associate Athletics Director Chuck Sleeper remarked.
The latest milestone in the project is the approval for construction of the indoor pitching/hitting facility, which will feature four indoor batting cages with two clay mounds. Groundbreaking for the facility is expected in mid-April, and the target date for completion is September of 2007.
Scheduled improvements of the entire project include: a new grandstand for baseball and softball, new stands for soccer, new centralized concessions and restroom facilities, lighting for the complex, a Hall of Champions and an enhanced entrance way/plaza. The New Life for Old College Field project is a $6.8 million project, which is part of the university-wide capital campaign, The Campaign for MSU.
For more information on how to assist with the completion of this project, please contact the Athletic Development Office at (517) 432-4610.
