“Planning to remove” echoes in the air around Maloney Field Restroom. This isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about a place connected to SF State baseball. Today, we’re not discussing baseball stats. We’re talking about the facilities that support the games.
Maloney Field opened in 1955. The field quickly became home to SF State’s baseball team. It’s located off State Drive near the campus parking garage. Many know Maloney Field as a tree-lined facility. It has a grass field that can seat about 1,000 people.
Before the 2017 season, Maloney Field received significant upgrades. These upgrades included field work. Workers constructed a new pitcher’s mound. They installed new sod and new windscreens. New foul poles completed the improvements.
Maloney Field has specific dimensions. It measures 355 feet to left field. Center field stretches 420 feet. Right field is a bit shorter at 345 feet.
However, change is on the horizon. SF State plans to replace Maloney Field. The plan includes the nearby tennis courts. The baseball team might move to a high school stadium. Lowell High School is a strong possibility because it borders the campus. The university could partner with any high school in the district.
The university assures Gator baseball fans that the team will continue. There are no plans to eliminate the baseball program. The university remains fully committed to sponsoring it.
A large grassy recreation area will replace the field and courts. There will be a creek and an amphitheater. These will be surrounded by freshmen housing. This part of campus is ideal for recreation. SF State sits partially in a valley. Water drains there from both sides. A stream used to run through it. Lake Merced once extended far into that valley.
The baseball coach, Tony Schifano, has concerns. He wonders how to schedule practices. He also worries about the fall season schedules for both teams. The current field’s location caused scheduling problems last year.
The team had to play its first 20 games on the road. The home field was saturated with rain and runoff water. A wet rainy season created pools of water. Eucalyptus trees next to Maloney Field worsened the issue.
These trees block the sun. The shade prevents right field from drying quickly. This often leads to muddy and unsafe conditions.
The President’s Office knows about the drainage issues at Maloney Field. They face limited options. They could install astroturf. They could also move the field.
So as we stand by the Maloney Field Restroom remember the echoes of baseball and coming changes. It’s a reminder that even familiar grounds can evolve. They adapt to new needs and visions.