Roth Report
English Field
From the north or east, take Interstate 81 south to exit 118B, following US 460 west to Blacksburg.
From the south, take Interstate 81 north to exit 118B, following US 460 west to Blacksburg.
From West Virginia, take Interstate 77 south (West Virginia Turnpike) to exit 9. Exit and turn left onto 460 east. Follow 460 east to Blacksburg.
Once in Blacksburg, use the 460 bypass around the downtown area. Follow 460 bypass to the signal at Southgate Drive (Va. 314). Turn into campus, and proceed one-half mile on Southgate Drive. Turn left onto Duck Pond Drive, just before the VT hedge on the hill. English Field will then be on the right.
Scenic English Field continues to provide Virginia Tech with a first-class campus setting for college baseball, day or night. The field, which was officially dedicated during a special ceremony on April 8, 1989, is named for the late E.R. 'Red' English and his wife, Ruth, who provided financial support for construction of the field.
Located at the intersection of Rt. 314 and Duckpond Drive, English Field features 1,033 permanent chair-back seats in its concrete stands. The seats were made possible through a contribution by an anonymous donor. The stands also include easy-access handicapped sections, which are located at the top of the stands on each side of the center section.
One of the most popular features of English Field is "The Hill", a grass-covered bank along the left field line that is in the process of being terraced for improved access and comfortability.
A completely new drainage system was installed during fall 2005, along with a new eight-foot wooden outfield fence and a new net backstop behind the plate. The previous spring, a new scoreboard and message center were added along with additional landscaping and a concrete patio behind the stands.
Prior to the 2004 season, a new lighting system was installed. The Hokies played their first baseball game under the lights in Blacksburg on April 28 of that year, defeating VMI, 8-0.
A permanent press box was completed in January 1997. The two-story building located at the top of the stands behind home plate provides a working area for game operations workers and media, as well as two broadcast booths. It also houses a concession stand and restrooms, and a brand-new sound system was installed in 2008.
The field, which was constructed by the S. Lewis Lionberger Company, has dimensions of 330 feet down the lines, 375 feet in the power alleys and 400 feet to center field. The natural grass surface is composed of a mixture of rye and bluegrass.
Other features include spacious dugouts faced with Hokie Stone, bullpens that are located beside each dugout and a practice hitting cage along the right field line. Security fencing was added in January 2003. The landscaping also allows for further expansion of the facilities as needed, as evidenced by the renovations that got underway in early 2008.
E.R. English, a native of Altavista, Va., played as an offensive and defensive guard on Virginia Tech football teams from 1930-33 and graduated from Virginia Tech in 1934. English contributed to Tech athletics for over 50 years and was one of the founders of The Student Aid Association in 1949. He served as president of that organization two of its first three years. English received the most outstanding alumni award at Tech in 1984.
Through a generous gift from alumnus George Sampson, the home team dugout was named for long-time Tech baseball coach G.F. 'Red' Laird during a ceremony on April 12, 1991. Laird recruited and coached Sampson at Tech.
The Hokies opened play at their new home with a 7-2 victory against George Mason University on March 22, 1989, and went on to post a 17-7 home record during their first season in the facility. Heading into the 2008 season, Tech's 19-year mark at English Field is 309 wins, 152 losses and three ties.
Prior to the opening of English Field, Tech played its home baseball games at Tech Park, where it compiled a 431-122-1 record over 34 seasons.
