Alex Box Stadium, pronounced Alec Box Stadium,[1] was a baseball stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. It was the home field of the LSU Tigers baseball team. The stadium was located across the street from Tiger Stadium, which is visible in right field. It was most notable for The Intimidator, a large billboard behind the right-field fence featuring the five years in which LSU won the College World Series.

Alex Box Stadium
The Intimidator behind the right field fence in Alex Box Stadium. Photograph – June 3, 2005.
Map
Former namesLSU Diamond or LSU Varsity Baseball Field (1938–1943)
LocationSkip Bertman Drive
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
 United States
Coordinates30°24′44″N 91°11′16″W / 30.4121°N 91.1877°W / 30.4121; -91.1877
OwnerLouisiana State University
OperatorLSU Athletics Department
Capacity7,760
Field sizeFoul Lines: 330 ft.
Power Alleys: 365 ft.
Center Field: 405 ft.
Outfield Fence Height: 10 ft.
Center Field Fence Height: 15 ft.
Surfacenatural grass
Construction
OpenedMarch 12, 1938
Closed2008
Demolished2010
Construction cost$50,000 (1938)
Tenants
LSU Tigers baseball (NCAA) (1938–2008)
New York Giants (NL) (spring training) (1938–1939)
Baton Rouge Red Sticks (EL) (1946–1955)

History

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LSU constructed the ballpark at a cost of $50,000 in 1938.

The New York Giants held spring training at the ballpark in 1938 and 1939. LSU dedicated the new field and the Giants played the first baseball game at the park on March 12, 1938, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5.[2]

The first LSU game was March 21, 1938. LSU led Minnesota, 4–2, after three innings when the game was halted due to rain. The first official LSU Game at the stadium was March 24, 1938, when Minnesota defeated LSU, 6–5.[3]

Alex Box was home to the Baton Rouge Red Sticks in the Evangeline Baseball League from 1946 to 1955.[4]

The final regular season series at Alex Box Stadium was played between LSU and Mississippi State University in 2008.[5] At the time, it appeared this would be the last series ever at Alex Box Stadium; however, LSU was selected to host a regional in the NCAA Tournament (which it won), and subsequently hosted a Super Regional as the #7 national seed.[6]

It appeared that Alex Box stadium would close on a sour note for the Tigers, as LSU dropped Game 1 to UC Irvine 11–5, and in Game 2, LSU was three outs away from elimination, trailing 7–4 in the ninth inning. However, UC Irvine was unable to close out the LSU Tigers and LSU came from behind to win the game 9–7.[7]

The stadium was thus given one final chance to close on a high note, which it did in Game 3 of the Super Regional played on June 9, 2008, as LSU defeated UC Irvine 21–7. As a result of the victory, LSU won the Baton Rouge Super Regional two games to one and advanced to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. In the final play at the stadium, Tyler Hoechlin hit a grounder to pitcher Anthony Ranaudo, who threw to first baseman Buzzy Haydel for the final out.[8]

The stadium was dismantled, and its remnants sold to fans.

It was replaced with a new stadium 200 yards to the south named Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. Both structures were named for Simeon Alex Box, an LSU letterman (1942) who was killed in North Africa during World War II. The stadium was called LSU Diamond or LSU Varsity Baseball Field when it first opened.

Tournaments Hosted

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LSU fans enjoyed one final regional in Alex Box Stadium during the 2008 NCAA tournament.

NCAA Regional Tournaments (18): 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008
NCAA Super Regional Series (4): 2000, 2003, 2004, 2008
SEC Tournaments (4): 1985, 1986, 1991, 1993

ABCA Hall of Fame Tournament (1): 1991

LSU record in Alex Box Stadium (1984–2008)

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Year Games W-L-T Win Percentage
1984 31 23-8 .742
1985 34 31-3 .912
1986 43 38-5 .884
1987 35 30-5 .857
1988 33 27-6 .818
1989 36 31-5 .861
1990 37 32-5 .865
1991 43 33-10 .767
1992 38 30-8 .789
1993 43 34-8-1 .802
1994 35 28-7 .800
1995 36 28-8 .777
1996 39 32-7 .821
1997 40 36-4 .900
1998 35 32-3 .914
1999 38 27-11 .711
2000 39 28-11 .718
2001 37 27-10 .730
2002 36 28-8 .778
2003 39 30-8-1 .782
2004 36 27-9 .750
2005 36 23-13 .639
2006 38 26-12 .684
2007 35 20-14-1 .586
2008 40 31-9-1 .768
Totals 932 732-197-4 .787

References

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  1. ^ "Alex? Alec? or Elec?". theadvocate.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19.
  2. ^ Baumgartner, Stan (March 13, 1938). "New York Giants Beat Phils in 9th". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. 5 (Sports).
  3. ^ "LSU Baseball Facilities". lsusports.net.
  4. ^ "Alex Box Stadium Baton Rouge, Louisiana". ballparkreviews.com.
  5. ^ "Storylines Aplenty as Baseball Plays Final Series at Alex Box". lsusports.net.
  6. ^ "Baseball Earns No. 7 National Seed, Faces TSU". lsusports.net.
  7. ^ "LSU beats UC Irvine 9–7 to stay alive". usatoday.com.
  8. ^ "Some "lasts" at Alex Box Stadium". the advocate.com.
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