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The Oakland Ballers, an independent league baseball team, announced Thursday that it will invest $1.6 million in West Oakland’s historic Raimondi Park as its home for the team’s inaugural 2024 season.
The Ballers, also known as the B’s, said in a press statement that the plan will renovate the park’s professional-grade baseball field with 2,500 seats and transform the park and its surrounding area into one of Oakland’s premier youth baseball and softball venues. He said he would change the venue. The investment comes from private funds, the research team said.
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Raimondi Park was originally opened in 1910 as Bayview Park and opened in 1947 in honor of McClymonds High School graduate Ernie Raimondi, who played for the minor league Oakland Oaks Baseball Club until his death in action in World War II. It was renamed to . The park was the practice field for baseball legends Curt Flood, Frank Robinson, and Vada Pinson, who also attended McClymonds High School.
The park is located in West Oakland’s Prescott neighborhood, an industrial area that is being transformed by new housing and further construction plans. The building, renovated in 2008, is adjacent to the expansive Wood Street homeless encampment, which was recently vacated and a new retail and housing development planned.
“As the Oakland Ballers, our mission has always been to revitalize Oakland’s ballparks,” Ballers co-founder Brian Carmel said in a prepared statement. “We are honored to be a part of baseball’s next chapter at Raimondi Park and look forward to working with the city and local residents to showcase the city’s potential.”
The team, which plays in the Pioneer Baseball League, has received permission from the city to host 48 home games at Raimondi Park, with the first home game being June 4, according to the Ballers. The park is open to the public on all other days. , the new equipment, including a video scoreboard, is intended to be used for community events such as movie nights and other gatherings.
“The opportunity for further revitalization has arrived.” [Raimondi Park] Penny Raimondi Isola, Ernie Raimondi’s daughter, said in a statement, “On behalf of the Raimondi family, I would like to support the Oakland Ballers’ efforts to revitalize Raimondi Park.” I would like to express my support.” Their team site will soon become “Our Team.” Let’s come together to help Oakland thrive as the baseball city it always has. ”
“Reviving Raimondi Park is not just about baseball; it’s about preserving Oakland’s rich sports history,” Curt Flood Jr. said in a prepared statement. “Together, let us honor our father’s legacy and enhance the legacy of our city.”
McClymonds High School Community Manager Brian McGee is excited to have the Ballers so close.
“It’s a great game. As they say, this is America’s game,” McGee said. “We want to bring it back to Oakland. The city where it all started.”
Although the school currently does not have a baseball team, McGee hopes the new development of the park will provide new opportunities for students to engage in sports and lead to business opportunities throughout the city.
“The return of baseball in Oakland is going to get people excited,” McGee explained. “And hopefully it will bring some revenue into the Oakland economy.”
Local student-athlete Jakari Thomas believes the team’s presence will be great for the area.
“I think it’s good to have more in the Oakland community,” Thomas said. “There were other teams, but they all left, like the Warriors and the Raiders.”
McGee hopes the team will reinvigorate the love of baseball in the East Bay.
“I want kids to be as excited about baseball as they are about soccer and basketball,” McGee said.
The Ballers said fans can now purchase tickets to the season opener https://t.ly/Ballers12pack. The Bowlers’ first game is scheduled for June 4, 2024.
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