Local Baseball Stadium Projects Receive Donations

Coca-Cola of the Lehigh Valley and IronPigs Charities will each make $10,000 donations to renovation projects at Limeport Stadium and Coplay's Balliet Stadium in an effort to support area youth baseball leagues and organizations. While additional funding is still needed for both projects to be completed, these donations will go a long way to help ensure future generations of local baseball players are able to compete at both of these historic parks.

"The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of the Lehigh Valley has been a proud partner with our community for almost 100 years," exclaimed Coca-Cola of the Lehigh Valley's Vice President and General Manager, Joe Brake. "We consider this donation as an investment in the future of our youth, and especially the future of our community's baseball teams with Limeport and Coplay's Balliet Stadium. Our pledge is further evidence of our confidence in this project. We encourage all residents and businesses to join us in providing the financial support needed to make Limeport and Coplay's Balliet Stadium projects a reality."

Added IronPigs Charities President Kurt Landes: "This investment will go a long way for many members of our local community that are looking for the chance to excel on the baseball field. IronPigs Charities is proud to partner with Coca-Cola of the Lehigh Valley on such a worthy initiative that will pay dividends for thousands of area youngsters for many years to come."

The donations will go directly to both the "Lights for Limeport" project - an initiative to bring new stadium lights to historic Limeport Stadium - as well as the overall revitalization of Coplay's Samuel Balliet Stadium. Please note that additional funding is required for both of these projects to move forward and interested donors are encouraged to visit LimeportStadium.org or contact Ron Helman at [email protected] in regards to the Balliet Stadium project.

Historic Limeport Stadium was constructed in the 1930's and while lights were added in 1984, members of Limeport Stadium Incorporated (LSI) are in the midst of raising the $275,000 necessary to replace the existing and deteriorating lighting system with up-to-date steel structure poles as well as more powerful and energy efficient lights. LSI is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.

Limeport Stadium has hosted a wide variety of teams over the years, including recently the Keystone State Games, the Blue Mountain League Championship Series as well as the Mutual Baseball Club of New York, a vintage baseball team that travels the country playing games under baseball rules of the past. The Mutuals were a professional team from 1857-76 and were one of the original teams in the National League in 1876.

Coplay's Balliet Stadium is also in need of a light renovation project after the originals were damaged by the remnants of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Other necessary improvements to the facility include a new scoreboard, backstop and warning track repair as well as equipment for field maintenance.

The stadium, which was built in the 1940's, has hosted high school baseball's league and district championship games as well as American Legion state and regional tournaments. Numerous big leaguers at one time or another have played at the famed venue, including Pat Kelly, Ted Wieand and Brian Schneider. The facility is named after legendary Coplay coach Sam Balliett, who guided seven Coplay American Legion Baseball State Championship teams.

Since debuting in 2008, IronPigs Charities has contributed a total in excess of $950,000 in cash grants to numerous local non-profit entities. IronPigs Charities, is a recognized 501(c) (3) non-profit organization on the state and federal level.