Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Dan Hasko
MSU Baseball Alumni Fuel Reagan Field Home Plate Project
2/2/2021 10:21:00 AM | Baseball
Murray State Athletics announced a welcome upgrade to the home plate area of Johnny Reagan Field, the home of Racer Baseball.
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In a partnership with AstroTurf, the home plate circle and surrounding areas at JRF are receiving updates. The existing home plate, halo area, and walk-up paths will be removed and converted to a full synthetic turf playing area with accompanying "RACERS" word mark in the plate circle. AstroTurf will install their Diamond Series turf product.
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Work on the project is underway and will be completed soon.
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The majority of the needed funds to complete the project was given by Murray State Baseball alumni.
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"I've always said and truly believe, we have one of the best alumni groups in the country," said Head Coach Dan Skirka. "The way they stepped up to help get this project done shows it. The Murray State Baseball program is important to our former players and I want to thank them for their support on this project."
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"It was very humbling for me to connect with so many baseball alumni and supporters and learn what this program means to them," said Taylor Mudd, MSU
Athletics Director of Development. "People are very passionate about persevering this program's great tradition and are excited about what Coach Skirka is building. I think that passion is evident as we received gifts from folks all over the country from Northern California to New York City. We have big plans for Johnny Reagan Field and our baseball program in the months and years to come. We look forward to sharing those plans as a part our overarching facility master plan reveal soon!"
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The Diamond Series turf combines decades of research and experience with the latest technological innovations into a field that emulates the feel of a natural surface. The artificial grass is specifically designed to replicate the ball-bounce and underfoot feel of natural grass while the specialized turf produces the same traction and sliding distances as on clay. All told, the Diamond Series system delivers the high-end performance of a traditional surface but with less maintenance requirements, better durability, and better drainage.
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"We are very excited for this partnership with AstroTurf and enhancement to JRF," said Brock Rydecki, MSU Assistant AD for Operations. "This project will provide playability and aesthetic improvements for our baseball program and our student-athletes will benefit tremendously from the consistency of this playing surface."
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"AstroTurf is excited to assist in the upgrades at Johnny Reagan field," Garrett Bare, AstroTurf Regional Sales Manager "One of the greatest benefits of the Diamond Series ERA Turf System is it creates a consistent surface regardless of the weather conditions. The "RACERS" word mark is going to be a great look and the MSU players and fans will love it. We are proud to welcome Murray State Baseball to the AstroTurf family!"
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About Johnny Reagan Field
JRF is named in honor of Coach Johnny Reagan, who guided the Thoroughbreds' baseball program for 36 years from 1958 to 1993. He compiled 776 wins and 11 Ohio Valley Conference championships and nine OVC Coach of the Year honors. He served as Murray State's Director of Athletics from 1978-1987 and was chairman of the NCAA Baseball Committee from 1978-1986. As duel-sport athlete in baseball and basketball in the late 1940's, Reagan was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame in 1971 and the OVC Hall of Fame in 1988. The current location of JRF on the north side of the Murray State University campus is the second location for the field. The original site was on Chestnut Street where the MSU Collins Center for Industry & Technology now stands. The first Murray State game played on the new Reagan Field was March 11, 1989, when the Racers played Eastern Illinois.  On March 30, 1989, the field was the site of Reagan's 700th career coaching victory, in a game against Lincoln Memorial. The field was dedicated on April 15, 1989. Johnny Reagan's #36 was placed on the left field wall on April 12, 2019 before a doubleheader against Southeast Missouri. Coach Reagan passed away on Dec. 14, 2018.
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About AstroTurf®
For athletes and sports enthusiasts, AstroTurf® has redefined the way the game is played. The brand offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport, and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams, and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority, and safety. To learn more, visit AstroTurf's website at www.astroturf.com.
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In a partnership with AstroTurf, the home plate circle and surrounding areas at JRF are receiving updates. The existing home plate, halo area, and walk-up paths will be removed and converted to a full synthetic turf playing area with accompanying "RACERS" word mark in the plate circle. AstroTurf will install their Diamond Series turf product.
Â
Work on the project is underway and will be completed soon.
Â
The majority of the needed funds to complete the project was given by Murray State Baseball alumni.
Â
"I've always said and truly believe, we have one of the best alumni groups in the country," said Head Coach Dan Skirka. "The way they stepped up to help get this project done shows it. The Murray State Baseball program is important to our former players and I want to thank them for their support on this project."
Â
"It was very humbling for me to connect with so many baseball alumni and supporters and learn what this program means to them," said Taylor Mudd, MSU
Athletics Director of Development. "People are very passionate about persevering this program's great tradition and are excited about what Coach Skirka is building. I think that passion is evident as we received gifts from folks all over the country from Northern California to New York City. We have big plans for Johnny Reagan Field and our baseball program in the months and years to come. We look forward to sharing those plans as a part our overarching facility master plan reveal soon!"Â
The Diamond Series turf combines decades of research and experience with the latest technological innovations into a field that emulates the feel of a natural surface. The artificial grass is specifically designed to replicate the ball-bounce and underfoot feel of natural grass while the specialized turf produces the same traction and sliding distances as on clay. All told, the Diamond Series system delivers the high-end performance of a traditional surface but with less maintenance requirements, better durability, and better drainage.
Â
"We are very excited for this partnership with AstroTurf and enhancement to JRF," said Brock Rydecki, MSU Assistant AD for Operations. "This project will provide playability and aesthetic improvements for our baseball program and our student-athletes will benefit tremendously from the consistency of this playing surface."
Â
"AstroTurf is excited to assist in the upgrades at Johnny Reagan field," Garrett Bare, AstroTurf Regional Sales Manager "One of the greatest benefits of the Diamond Series ERA Turf System is it creates a consistent surface regardless of the weather conditions. The "RACERS" word mark is going to be a great look and the MSU players and fans will love it. We are proud to welcome Murray State Baseball to the AstroTurf family!"
Â
About Johnny Reagan Field
JRF is named in honor of Coach Johnny Reagan, who guided the Thoroughbreds' baseball program for 36 years from 1958 to 1993. He compiled 776 wins and 11 Ohio Valley Conference championships and nine OVC Coach of the Year honors. He served as Murray State's Director of Athletics from 1978-1987 and was chairman of the NCAA Baseball Committee from 1978-1986. As duel-sport athlete in baseball and basketball in the late 1940's, Reagan was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame in 1971 and the OVC Hall of Fame in 1988. The current location of JRF on the north side of the Murray State University campus is the second location for the field. The original site was on Chestnut Street where the MSU Collins Center for Industry & Technology now stands. The first Murray State game played on the new Reagan Field was March 11, 1989, when the Racers played Eastern Illinois.  On March 30, 1989, the field was the site of Reagan's 700th career coaching victory, in a game against Lincoln Memorial. The field was dedicated on April 15, 1989. Johnny Reagan's #36 was placed on the left field wall on April 12, 2019 before a doubleheader against Southeast Missouri. Coach Reagan passed away on Dec. 14, 2018.
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About AstroTurf®
For athletes and sports enthusiasts, AstroTurf® has redefined the way the game is played. The brand offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport, and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams, and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority, and safety. To learn more, visit AstroTurf's website at www.astroturf.com.
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