Baseball could be returning to historic Luther Williams Field, as the Coastal Plain League is in discussions about placing a team at the ballpark.
Luther Williams Field opened in 1929, and hosted Minor League Baseball throughout much of the 20th century. The most recent affiliated team to occupy the ballpark was the Macon Braves (Low A; Sally League), who moved to Rome, GA after the 2002 season.
In the years after the Braves’ departure, Luther Williams Field has hosted a variety of independent league teams. It has also been used in the production of several films, including Trouble with the Curve and 42.
In the coming years, the ballpark might be active during the summer months. An expansion summer collegiate team would begin play at Luther Williams Field in 2018, if the Coastal Plain League can come to terms with local officials. More from 41NBC.com:
Coastal Plain League Commissioner Justin Sellers said, “We are looking to expand to 16 teams and we are looking at Macon. We plan on meeting with officials at the end of the month. Renovations need to be made that would keep the ballparks history but make it new and exciting for the fans.”
Macon-Bibb officials plan to allocate about two and half million dollars to upgrade the historic ballpark.
Luther Williams Field was added National Register of Historic Places in 2004.