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Landmark coming down in spring
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006 |
CLEARWATER – The wrecking ball will swing into the concrete facade of Jack Russell Stadium in the spring.
Ballfields and outfield bleachers won’t be affected by the decision to tear down the original stadium, according to Kevin Dunbar, the city’s parks and recreation director.
He said the city will continue to lease the park to the Winning Inning Baseball School which operates youth league baseball and softball programs in the park.
Dunbar said the stadium cement has deteriorated to the point where it is no longer safe.
“The last renovation was projected to last five years,” he said. “We’ve passed that lifespan.”
The last professional baseball games were played in the park in 2003 by the Clearwater Threshers who have moved, with the Philadelphia Phillies winter home, to the Bright House Networks baseball complex on U.S. 19 at Drew Street.
Jack Russell Memorial Stadium was originally built as the winter home of the Phillies in 1955. It was named after Jack Russell who pitched in the major leagues for 15 years before retiring to Clearwater. He spearheaded the drive for the city to build a major-league park for Spring training.
The stadium contained seating for 7,000 fans on ground level and upper deck aluminum seating. It was a state-of-the-art facility when it was built 52 years ago.
Besides having hosted the launch of many major-league Hall of Famers, the stadium’s organist once drew notoriety to Jack Russell Stadium. National attention was drawn to Clearwater in 1985 when organist Wilbur Snapp insulted the umpires.
After a particularly contentious call by the officials against the Phillies during a Spring training game, Snapp launched an angry rendition of “Three Blind Mice.” This brought him the “thumb” and he was believed to be the first organist ever ejected from a ballgame.
Snapp died two weeks after his beloved stadium was closed.
Dunbar said the city is looking into the possibility of selling or auctioning seats or other parts of the stadium to generate money for a local charity or youth sports organization. He said last week though, that no plans have been put in place yet.
Ancillary buildings adjoining the stadium that are mostly used for their restrooms are not part of the demolition project, Dunbar said. And, he said, the existing fields will continue to be maintained by the baseball school.
Aluminum stands along the outfield lines also will be saved and could be moved to the ancillary ball field on the property, he said.
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Article published on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006
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