Gene Hooks Stadium

Gene Hooks Stadium was a baseball stadium in Winston-Salem, NC.[1] It was the primary home field of the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons college baseball teams from 1981 through 2008.

The stadium opened in April 1981.[1] It was originally named Layton Field. In April 1988 it was renamed after former Wake Forest athletic director Gene Hooks.[2] The stands held 2,500 people. Field dimensions were: Left Field - 335 feet; Left Center Field - ?; Center Field - 400 feet; Right Center Field - 370 feet; Right Field - 315 feet.

The ballpark was part of a complex sitting north of Faculty Drive (home plate / first base side) and a short distance east of Wingate Road (third base side). There were trees beyond right field, and a small practice golf course beyond left and center field. The ballpark sat less than a mile and almost straight west from BB&T Field and Ernie Shore Field.[3]

For the 2009 season, the team moved back on a full-time basis to their previous home, Ernie Shore Field, which was then renamed Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park.[4]

The old Gene Hooks Stadium has since been demolished to make way for expansion of the golf practice course.[5] The walkway forming the boundary of the southwest portion of the practice course roughly outlines the outer edge of the site of the ball field's grandstand.

References

  1. ^ a b Gene Hooks Stadium at wakeforestsports.cstv.com, URL accessed November 15, 2009. Archived 11/15/09
  2. ^ Ron Wellman, Director of Athletics at wakeforestsports.cstv.com, URL accessed November 15, 2009. Archived 11/15/09
  3. ^ Campus Map at universityparent.com, URL accessed November 15, 2009. Archived 11/15/09
  4. ^ Wake Forest Releases 2009 Baseball Schedule at cstv.com, URL accessed November 15, 2009. Archived 11/15/09
  5. ^ Staff Report, Winston-Salem Journal at journalnow.com, URL accessed June 21, 2010.