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I revisited an old battle ground yesterday in Raymond. Joe G. Moss Field was named for the man who donated the land the field sits in 2001, and received it’s first make-over since 1984, including adding lights. Some of the landmark items of that day are a little old and weathered. It’s like going back in a time capsule. Great baseball memories. A lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears. But definitely time for some upgrades and perhaps a 21st century make-over. It’s way past due.
This sign on the back of the press box is new and great looking. It represents a pretty good tradition over the years. And there were some near misses in 1987, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2015 and 2022.
That Eagle “H” although edited a little from its original, was adapted from Russell Athletic’s “R” emblem and designed by Hinds’ graphic arts instructor Mike Hataway.
This was a state of the art scoreboard back in the day, striking in its appearance, however, it was installed just a year or so before they started using LED lights on the boards. It’s faded with some lights missing. The clock and MPH pitch display no longer work and the protective netting is no longer there.
Sid Askew welded this entire frame for the double wide batting cages. It’s a little weathered, but nothing is harder on these things as weather and time. Coach Temple had the cover built years later.
The 45 foot wide by 80 foot long concrete slab for that hitting range was poured and finished by me, Richard Kelly, his dad J.B. Kelly and my dad Bob Clarke. Unbelievable.
This is the center field wall frame. A tornado could not knock this thing down. The wall used to have some logos painted on it. Needs some sand blasting and paint. All in all it’s held up pretty good.
These are the old bullpen to dugout phones we put in over 20 years ago. They don’t work anymore. I can remember times when my bullpen wouldn’t answer the phone in emergencies. The answering machine said, “Please leave a message.” We eventually installed a tornado siren for game emergencies.
Loved the bullpen mound frame. There once was a tarp that was attached to the frame where you could just roll in off and roll in back on. The next one should be turf.
This fan was the old attic fan that came from parent’s house at 1728 Dixie Drive in Van Winkle. Tommy Groves‘ dad, Benny made it a box fan. It is 73 years old.
Bobby Picou of MDCC hit a bomb over these trees behind the hitting range in left field off Warren Guerriero to tie the game 9-9 in game 1 of the MACJC State Championship series in 1987. Still the best championship series ever.
Daniel Tackett hit a solo home run to the same place in the 11th inning of a 2001 sudden death playoff game which eliminated Co-Lin from playing in the D2 Region 23 Tournament after 8 straight years. It was the “shot heard around our world.” It was his first home run of the season. Timely. Clutch.
And last, but not least, the infamous Rick Clarke Urinal named in my honor in the men’s restroom at Joe G.
Rick Clarke's Diary of a Mad Baseball Coach 