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History
When discussing the best college baseball facilities in the country, Baum-Walker Stadium is consistently among one of the first places mentioned. With room for more than 11,000 spectators, an impeccable playing surface and amenities that rival most minor league ballparks, it is the crown jewel of the collegiate ranks. Of course, the physical properties of Baum-Walker Stadium are only a portion of the baseball experience with the remainder in the form of fans that flock to the corner of Razorback Road and 15th Street to watch the Hogs take on all comers.
Officially named Baum Stadium at George Cole Field at its dedication on May 3, 1996, the facility derives its name from primary backers as well as from the history of Razorback baseball. Arkansas’ facility prior to Baum Stadium was George Cole Field, and the new ballpark has preserved the tradition with its current name. In 2018, the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation pledged $5 million in support of the recently opened J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Baseball Development Center. As a result of the commitment and pledge, Baum Stadium’s name was changed to Baum-Walker Stadium.
In 1998, Baum-Walker Stadium received a special honor, when it was named the nation’s No. 1 facility in Baseball America’s poll of the best college facilities. Five years later, it took second in the same poll, cementing its legacy as one of the best facilities in the nation. Since Baum-Walker Stadium’s construction, Arkansas officials have received numerous solicitations by coaches and administrators from across the country for blueprints and tours of the Razorbacks’ home ballpark in an attempt to capture some of its charm. Even though Baum-Walker Stadium has been replicated to some degree, no other place in the country has the atmosphere that the venue brings to college baseball, which is why it has played host to 11 NCAA Regionals and five NCAA Super Regionals.
Baum-Walker Stadium was one of the nation’s best facilities when it was constructed, but since then it has undergone four renovations, making it the envy of visiting teams. The first upgrade came prior to the 2003 season, when the hitting and pitching cages were enclosed to ensure a place for Razorback players to practice year-round. A total of 2,600 chair back seats also were added to the park, 1,300 of which reside on each foul line.
Baum-Walker Stadium’s second renovation came a year later as 12 luxury boxes, coaches’ offices, a new scoreboard and natural grass completely changed the feel of the park. A state-of-the-art scoreboard added full video, complete with a message center and an analog clock was added to the right-center field gap, which stood 45-feet high and 76-feet wide. The original turf field at Baum-Walker Stadium was torn out, and rye grass was grown for the 2004 campaign but replaced by a hybrid Bermuda in 2005. A portion of the upgrades were made possible by contributions from the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation, Bob & Marilyn Bogle, the Pagnozzi Charities, John Tyson and Stan Ley.
The next renovation came prior to the 2007 season as 20 luxury boxes were built, 1,000 chair back seats were added, restrooms were constructed and the Hog Pen and picnic area were expanded. A new ticket office, field lights and wall pads were added as well. The final set of upgrades to the park brought capacity to 10,737 seats with 8,237 of those coming from chair backs and 34 from luxury boxes.
New LED ribbon boards were added in 2013, and the Fowler Family Baseball and Track Training Center opened in the fall of 2014, providing Arkansas with the finest collegiate indoor facility in the country. The facility provides approximately 52,000 square feet of climate-controlled practice space, including a full-size practice infield, throwing area, batting areas and ancillary team spaces.
In 2016, the university’s partnership with South Dakota-based Daktronics produced the largest video board ever installed at an on-campus college baseball facility in the country. The massive 25-foot by 71-foot LED video board enhances an already memorable experience at Baum Stadium by providing 1,775 square feet of digital space for live high-definition video, instant replays, up-to-the-minute statistics, and game information, graphics and animations.
In 2018, the U of A Board of Trustees approved the construction of a baseball performance center at Baum-Walker Stadium. The J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Baseball Development Center, which sits beyond the right field foul pole, opened ahead of the 2022 season and is approximately 49,000 square feet and features coaches offices and upgraded amenities for student-athletes, including an improved and expanded locker room, team meeting room, training rooms, lounge areas and a nutrition center. The $27 million building, funded entirely by athletic revenues, gifts and bond proceeds from a bond issue, also includes a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning center, indoor practice area and pitching development center.
