SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Sho-Me Baseball and the Sports Facilities Companies have announced the grand opening celebration of the revitalized baseball camp facility, featuring an upgraded playing surface and facilities and a line-up of new tournaments, camps, and opportunities for youth of all ages.
The May 6 grand opening event will feature the dedication of Sho-Me’s showcase field to former MLB player and manager, the late Bill Virdon, and an All-Star game from the Springfield-based Grip’ N’ Rip men’s baseball league.
The schedule of events also includes youth baseball games on multiple fields from Greater Midwest Baseball’s Dinger de Sho-Me tournament.
By naming the field after Virdon, this celebration will honor the baseball career and legacy of a southwest Missouri resident who won the National League Rookie of the Year for the St. Louis Cardinals and who was named both the AL Manager of the Year (New York Yankees) and the NL Manager of the Year (Houston Astros).
Sho-Me Baseball Camp was one of the oldest and longest-operating baseball schools in the country, first opening to the public in 1958. In 2022, the camp was acquired by a group of Springfield-based investors, led by Ballparks of America investor Paul Satterwhite, with the goal of revitalizing and restoring the historic complex. Located off DD Highway on the shores of Table Rock Lake, the facility features four all-grass fields, an updated cafeteria and dormitories, retail spaces, and baseball memorabilia displays.
“We are thrilled to usher in this new era of baseball with the unveiling of our revitalized fields and facility and with an incredible schedule of events,” says Satterwhite. “We are grateful for the opportunity to honor Bill Virdon and to host his family, baseball fans, and teams from across the region at this historic celebration of baseball.”
Gate fees for the event are $7 for adults and $4 for kids 12 and under. For more information, please visit shomebaseball.com
