Alex Box Stadium

History

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.

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.

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

The final regular season series at Alex Box Stadium was played between LSU and Mississippi State University in 2008. 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.

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.

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.

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

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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References

References

1. "Alex? Alec? or Elec?". theadvocate.com.
2. Baumgartner, Stan. (March 13, 1938). "New York Giants Beat Phils in 9th". Philadelphia Inquirer.
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.