BayBears Announce New Groundskeeping Partner

MOBILE, AL - The Mobile BayBears have announced a new partnership with Gulf Coast Sports Fields to become the new official groundskeepers of Hank Aaron Stadium. GCSF services many high schools in the region along with Ladd-Peebles Stadium.  

The partnership between the BayBears and GCSF marks the return of original Hank Aaron Stadium head groundskeeper, Pat White. He is a 25 year veteran of maintaining competition sports fields. His experience includes 11 years in professional minor league baseball with the Mobile BayBears and the Birmingham Barons of the Southern League. White was responsible for overseeing the construction of Hank Aaron Stadium field and has hosted many events including Major League Baseball exhibition games and the Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament in Hoover, Alabama. When asked what it was like to return to "The Hank," White said, "It is a dream come true to come back and oversee the field that I helped build from the very beginning." In terms of providing an improved experience for the Arizona Diamondbacks, White said, "I look at that field as the office for the coaches and players of the Dbacks. That is where they come to work everyday and it needs to be an environment they appreciate and enjoy."

Today, Pat is partnered at Gulf Coast Sports Fields with Kevin Grimes and consults with numerous high schools, colleges, municipalities and professional facilities. Grimes played baseball at Fairhope High School before playing collegiately at UAB. He spent the last 20 years working in the telecommunications industry, but the love of the game brought him back to baseball. On the idea of working in baseball, Grimes said, "Baseball holds a special place in my heart. When the opportunity came up to partner with Pat, it was a dream come true. I get to spend my work days at the ballpark. Can it get any better than that?"

The Mobile BayBears are very excited to have GCSF overseeing the grounds at Hank Aaron Stadium for the 2014 season. Pat White and Kevin Grimes will undoubtedly ensure that the field conditions will be given the utmost care and will be in the best shape in the history of the ballpark.

Gulf Coast Sports Fields will serve as the presenting sponsor of the 17th Annual BayBears High School Baseball Tournament beginning February 17th. This tournament gives high school baseball players a chance to play at a professional baseball stadium. Many of these players may not get a chance to play at the college or professional level. The Mobile BayBears are proud to provide an opportunity for young student athletes to cherish and remember forever.