John Smoltz puts name behind new baseball field aimed at inner-city youth

What drew John Smoltz to such an ambitious project wasn’t necessarily the fact they wanted to put his name on it. Instead, it was the type of game taking place there, one very similar to what Smoltz played as a kid, throwing a rubber ball against a brick wall.

That helped Smoltz develop many attributes that would help the Waverly High School graduate eventually become a Cy Young winner, World Series champion and Hall of Famer.

Helping children develop healthy baseball habits that enable their love of baseball is a huge part of the mission statement for the John Smoltz Strikeout Baseball Stadium, which was made official Tuesday with a groundbreaking ceremony at its future home, Ferris Park.

“My whole career was in a baseball uniform and it gave me a platform,” Smoltz said. “But my career started here in Lansing against a brick wall and a rubber ball. It was there that I dreamed to be a Major League Baseball player that probably, statistically, had less than a 1% chance to make it. But I was given that opportunity by my dad and my family."

This field north of the Capitol building will be the first of its kind in the U.S., with the aim of bringing baseball to the heart of the inner city.

"I promise you that when this gets started, this will be a community that is vibrant with giving kids a chance to play pickup baseball," Smoltz said.

Smoltz has been on board with the project for a year and a half, and his participation helped stadium founder Jeff Lazaros land more than 40 sponsors for the project, which will cost more than $400,000. Fundraising is ongoing.

Smoltz gave a speech to the Lansing Regional Chamber Economic Club in April, which also helped drum up interest.

“He is not only allowing us to put his name on the John Smoltz Strikeout Baseball Stadium, but he is an integral part of all this in being deeply involved,” Lazaros said. “We know he brings knowledge and passion for the game and I think John has bought into that vision of what Strikeout Baseball can do for his hometown in Lansing.”

What is strikeout baseball

The stadium will be a miniature baseball field on the northeast corner of Ferris Park, somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 square feet. It’ll be located next to Beacon Field, which is the miniature soccer field at the park.

Because of the size, you don’t need nine people in the field to play defense. Players can play with anywhere from 2-10 players while simulating the experience of pitching, hitting and fielding in a baseball environment.

Smoltz compares it to Top Golf, which has become increasingly popular over the last decade or so.

“I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces,” Smoltz said. “I’m telling you, I think this will be an opportunity for kids to say, 'hey, let’s go 3-on-3, let’s 2-on-2, 1-on-1.' At max, this will be 5-on-5.

“When people go to play Top Golf, I guarantee their handicaps aren’t very good and they probably never play. So they can get a club, hit a ball and see a reaction. That’s what’s going to be here. They’ll hit a ball, and they’re going to get to see a reaction. That, to me, is unique in and of itself.”

The plan is for the field to look similar to Jackson Field, the home of the Lansing Lugnuts, a Single-A baseball team.

“We’re thinking it’s going to replicate Jackson Field because a lot of the kids in Lansing dream of playing on that field,” Lazaros said. “We want to tie into that hometown field.”

The project will begin construction on July 13, Lazaros said. It will take about two months to complete, and the plan is to be throwing pitches in the stadium by mid-September.

“I’ve dreamt of doing this a lot of years and now it’s come to life with John’s name attached to it," Lazaros said. "I think everyone will see the impact of what this project can do.”

Lansing Mayor Andy Schor was also on hand to give his blessing to the project. Lazaros reached out to Schor about the project as early as 2016. Schor on Tuesday recalled his own youth memories of playing whiffle ball in New York as to why he supported the project.

“(Jeff has) put his passion and energy into it,” Schor said. “He had an idea and we wanted to help him make that idea a reality.

“To see (Smoltz) supporting the project, it really means a lot when you talk about being from Lansing, (and then) go on and do wonderful in the world and remember the community. This is going to be great for our kids here in Lansing to be able to have this option. It’s just different, it’s unique and it’s exciting.”

Smoltz, who is the color commentator on the Fox baseball telecasts with fellow Greater Lansing native Joe Davis, says he envisions clinics being held at the field, teaching kids how to hold and swing a bat and field and throw a ball. And even though Smoltz is now 55, he says he’s ready to come back into town whenever necessary and estimates he’s ready to throw 2,000 pitches.

“I love this place and it will always be home,” Smoltz said. “This is going to be Lansing’s first version of what could be something big.

Crowdfunding campaign

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation on Tuesday announced it will launch a crowdfunding campaign for the stadium, with a goal of raising $50,000 for the project by Aug. 31.

If the campaign reaches its goal, the project will receive a matching grant from the MEDC's Public Spaces Community Places program.

For more details and to donate, visit patronicity.com/strikeout.

Contact digital sports reporter Phil Friend at 517-377-1220 or pfriend@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Phil_Friend.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: How John Smoltz plans to bring baseball to inner-city Lansing