Official Website of the 2009 FCSL Champions

Most Cherished Ballparks

Thursday, December 15, 2011 5:17pm

Here’s a unique Christmas gift that will score big with local baseball fans.

The City of Leesburg’s Pat Thomas Stadium and Buddy Lowe Field – one of the country’s most historic and beloved community ballparks - is featured in the new 2012 Great Parks Calendar created by Baseball America. The publication includes beautiful images of 13 favorite hometown venues from the Louisville Slugger Field in Kentucky and Campbell’s Field in New Jersey to Shaw Park in Winnipeg, Canada, and Smokies Park in Kodak Tennessee.

“The stadium has such a rich history and has had all kinds of teams play there over the years,” said Leesburg City Commissioner Sanna Henderson. “It’s an honor to be included in the new calendar.”

Pat Thomas Stadium, which seats up to 2,000 people, is home of the Leesburg Lightning baseball team – two-time champion of the Florida Collegiate Summer League. The facility opened in 1937 and originally was located on an island. It has a long history of great baseball moments and legendary professional players.

The Leesburg Gondoliers (the name was associated with boats along the scenic canals at Venetian Gardens) won the Florida State League Championship in 1938. Leesburg also hosted a locally affiliated team with the major league Pittsburgh Pirates in 1947-48.

Professional baseball greats who played or coached games at Pat Thomas include Hank Aaron, Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and Cal Ripken Sr.

The 2012 Great Parks Calendar is $14.95 and is available through the City of Leesburg and www.baseballamerica.com. For more information, call Leesburg’s Parks and Recreation Department / Venetian Cove Marina at 352-728- 9870.

Leesburg is a progressive city of more than 20,000 residents in northwest Lake County. The city government serves twice as many people with its electric, gas, water, wastewater and fiber-optic public utilities. Leesburg also is a central hub for commerce, attracting 50,000 people to work each weekday. For more information, visit www.leesburgflorida.gov.