New baseball field dedicated to Ivan ‘Pudge’ Rodriguez
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| Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez speaks at the dedication of the ballfield named for him. [Vivianne Couts] |
Several local students were late for the first day of school Monday, but they had a good excuse: They are members of the Mason District Little League and attended the dedication of a new baseball field at Mason District Park, where they got to meet Baseball Hall of Famer Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez and Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman.
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| The Nationals characters Screech and Teddy on the new field. |
The new field, provided by the Washington Nationals’ Dream Foundation, is named for Rodriquez. He was the starting catcher for the Nationals during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, an MVP player, 14-time All-Star, 13-time Gold Glove winner, seven-time Silver Slugger, and the first player to have worn the National’s uniform before being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
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| Rodriguez signs a baseball for a fan. |
“Washington may not have been the place I played the longest, but I enjoyed every minute of my time with the team and in the D.C. area.” Rodriguez said. “I was honored when they approached me about the field project and am thrilled to help provide a place for D.C.-area children to play baseball for years to come.”
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| Ryan Zimmerman talks to reporters. |
Rodriguez said the new field is much nicer than the field where he started playing baseball at age 7 in Puerto Rico. “When you have goals in your life, you can accomplish them,” he told the young players at the event.
The $674,000 baseball field includes a new electronic scoreboard, batting cages, ball pen, dugouts, bases, turf, signage, and shaded seating area for parents. It will accommodate both regular Little League (46/60 feet) and Intermediate Division (50/70 feet) styles of youth baseball.
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| Rodriguez prepares to catch the first pitch on the new field. |
American Legion Bicentennial Post 1976 contributed a new flagpole and flag, and the Fairfax County Park Authority installed new LED lights with funds from a park bond.
This is the second ballfield provided by the Nationals’ Dream Foundation through its Legacy Fields program. The first one, Ryan Zimmerman Field near Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., opened in 2016.
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| Officials at the ribbon-cutting included Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo; Mason representative on the Fairfax County Park Authority Board Ronald Kendall, Mason Supervisor Penny Gross, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Washington Nationals Dream Foundation Chair Maria Lerner Tanenbaum, and MDLL board president Phil Headley. |
Zimmerman brought his family to the field dedication in Mason District Park. His wife, Heather, “actually grew up right down the street,” he told WJLA. “She used to come to this park all the time.”
“We are so overwhelmed at the generosity and sincere efforts by the Nationals organization – the ownership, staff, and players – to build up their surrounding communities and bring baseball to as many youths as possible,” said MDLL board president Phil Headley.
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| The new sign. |
Thanks to the Dream Foundation’s support for this field, the league will be able to attract and serve more Annandale, Falls Church, and Alexandria youths; support more teams; and enrich MDLL’s scholarship program, Headley said.
Noting that Rodriguez mentored younger players, Headley said, “he embodies the character we want our players to emulate. We will take great pride in playing on Pudge Rodriguez Field.”
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| MDLL players. |
