Grayson Stadium

Grayson Stadium
Historic Grayson Stadium
	Grayson Stadium in 2019
	Wikimedia \| © OpenStreetMap
Full name	William L. Grayson Stadium
Former names	Municipal Stadium
Location	1401 East Victory Drive; Savannah, Georgia 31404
Owner	City of Savannah
Operator	Savannah Bananas
Capacity	4,000
Field size	Left Field: 322 ft (98 m); Center Field: 400 ft (120 m); Right Field: 310 ft (94 m)
Surface	Grass
Construction
Broke ground	1925
Built	April 1926
Renovated	1941; 2009
Construction cost	$140,000; ($2.05 million in 2020 dollars)
Tenants
	Savannah Indians (SEL) (1926–1928); Savannah Indians (1936–1942) (SL); Savannah Indians (1946–1953) (SL); Savannah Athletics (1954–1955) (SL); Savannah Redlegs (1956–1958) (SL); Savannah Reds (SL) (1959); Savannah Pirates (SL) (1960); Savannah White Sox (SL) (1962); Savannah Senators (SL) (1968–1969); Savannah Indians (SL) (1970); Savannah Braves (SL) (1971–1983); Savannah Cardinals (SAL) (1984–1995); Savannah Sand Gnats (SAL) (1996–2015); Savannah Bananas (CPL) (2016–present)

William L. Grayson Stadium is a stadium in Savannah, Georgia. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Savannah Bananas of the Coastal Plain League collegiate summer baseball league. It was the part-time home of the Savannah State University college baseball team from 2009 to 2011.^[4]^[5]^[6] It was also used from 1927 until 1959 for the annual Thanksgiving Day game between Savannah High School and Benedictine Military School.^[7] Known as "Historic Grayson Stadium" it was built in 1926. It holds 4,000 people.^[2] It also served as the home of the Savannah Sand Gnats from 1984 to 2015.

History[]

Originally known as Municipal Stadium, it first served as the home field of the minor league Savannah Indians. In 1932, it hosted the Boston Red Sox for spring training.^[8] The park underwent major renovations in 1941, following a devastating hurricane in 1940.^[1] Spanish–American War veteran General William L. Grayson led the effort to get the $150,000 needed to rebuild the stadium. Half of the funds came from the Works Progress Administration (WPA). In recognition of Grayson's work, the stadium was renamed in his honor.

The first integrated South Atlantic League game took place at Grayson Stadium on April 14, 1953.^[9]

The park went through a two-year renovation process that started prior to the 2007 season.^[10]

Grayson Stadium was the venue for the 2017 GHSA Baseball Championships for Class 1A Private, Class 2A, Class 3A, and Class 5A,^[11] where Wayne County, Yellow Jacket fans set an attendance record for their doubleheader against Loganville on May 25 in the 5A Championship.^{[citation needed]} It was also used for the 2018 and 2019 GHSA Baseball Championships.^[12]^[13]

Timeline[]

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Passanisi, Mike. "History". sandgnats.com. Savannah Sand Gnats. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved September 25, 2008.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Crumlish, Paul (2002). "William L. Grayson Stadium". Ball Parks of the Minor Leagues. Retrieved September 25, 2008.
^ 1634 to 1699: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy ofthe United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700-1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How much is that in real money?: a historical price index for use as a deflator of money values in the economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
^ "2009 Baseball Schedule". Savannah State University Athletics. Savannah State University. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
^ "2010 Baseball Schedule". Savannah State University Athletics. Savannah State University. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
^ "2011 Baseball Schedule". Savannah State University Athletics. Savannah State University. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
^ "History of Grayson Stadium". sandgnats.com. Savannah Sand Gnats. March 3, 2009. Archived from the original on November 10, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
^ "Sox in First Drill Today". The Boston Globe. March 1, 1932. p. 24. Retrieved November 4, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
^ Loverro, Thom (May 20, 2005). "Good old Grayson". The Washington Times. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
^ Dominitz, Nathan (October 3, 2007). "Aging Grayson Getting $5 Million Makeover". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
^ "Baseball State Championship Schedule Is Now Finalized". GHSA.net. Georgia High School Association. May 16, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
^ "Congratulations to the 2018 GHSA Baseball State Champions". GHSA.net. Georgia High School Association. May 25, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
^ "Congratulations to the 2019 GHSA Baseball State Champions!". GHSA.net. Georgia High School Association. May 24, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2020.

External links[]

The Savannah Bananas
Ball Park Reviews: Grayson Stadium
Stadium Journey: Grayson Stadium

Coordinates: 32°2′41″N 81°4′44″W / 32.04472°N 81.07889°W / 32.04472; -81.07889

[sandgnats-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Passanisi, Mike. "History". sandgnats.com. Savannah Sand Gnats. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved September 25, 2008.

[littleball-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b Crumlish, Paul (2002). "William L. Grayson Stadium". Ball Parks of the Minor Leagues. Retrieved September 25, 2008.

[inflation-US-3] 1634 to 1699: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy ofthe United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700-1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How much is that in real money?: a historical price index for use as a deflator of money values in the economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.

[4] "2009 Baseball Schedule". Savannah State University Athletics. Savannah State University. Retrieved February 25, 2020.

[5] "2010 Baseball Schedule". Savannah State University Athletics. Savannah State University. Retrieved February 25, 2020.

[6] "2011 Baseball Schedule". Savannah State University Athletics. Savannah State University. Retrieved February 25, 2020.

[hist-7] "History of Grayson Stadium". sandgnats.com. Savannah Sand Gnats. March 3, 2009. Archived from the original on November 10, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2011.

[8] "Sox in First Drill Today". The Boston Globe. March 1, 1932. p. 24. Retrieved November 4, 2018 – via newspapers.com.

[9] Loverro, Thom (May 20, 2005). "Good old Grayson". The Washington Times. Retrieved February 25, 2020.

[10] Dominitz, Nathan (October 3, 2007). "Aging Grayson Getting $5 Million Makeover". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved May 30, 2014.

[11] "Baseball State Championship Schedule Is Now Finalized". GHSA.net. Georgia High School Association. May 16, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2020.

[12] "Congratulations to the 2018 GHSA Baseball State Champions". GHSA.net. Georgia High School Association. May 25, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2020.

[13] "Congratulations to the 2019 GHSA Baseball State Champions!". GHSA.net. Georgia High School Association. May 24, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2020.

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show v t Current Ballparks of the Coastal Plain League
East Division	Sparrow Stadium (Florence) Ting Stadium (Holly Springs) O'Neal Field at Big Rock Stadium (Morehead City) Buck Hardee Field at Legion Stadium (Wilmington)
West Division	McCrary Park (Asheboro) McNair Field (Forest City) Finch Field (High Point-Thomasville) Hooker Field (Martinsville)
North Division	War Memorial Stadium (Peninsula) Shepherd Stadium (Tri-City) Fleming Stadium (Wilson)
South Division	Luther Williams Field (Macon) Lexington County Baseball Stadium (Lexington County) Grayson Stadium (Savannah) Duncan Park (Spartanburgers)