Sho-Me Baseball To Host Grand Opening Celebration

Sho-Me Baseball, a Lakeshore experience by Ballparks of America, and the Sports Facilities Companies are proud to announce the grand opening celebration of the revitalized baseball camp facility, featuring an upgraded playing surface and facilities and a line-up of new tournaments, camps, and opportunities for kids of all ages play ball.  The May 6 grand opening event promises to be a family-friendly celebration of baseball featuring the dedication of Sho-Me’s showcase field to baseball legend Bill Virdon and an All-Star game from the Springfield-based Grip'N'Rip men’s baseball league. The opening marks a new era for baseball in Southwest Missouri.

Saturday’s schedule of events begins includes youth baseball games on multiple fields from Greater Midwest Baseball’s Dinger de Sho-Me tournament.  The excitement will build with a nine-inning tilt featuring The GRIP-N-RIP ALL STARS, with first pitch scheduled for 2:30 PM. The home run of an afternoon will be wrapped up by the official Bill Virdon Field Dedication Ceremony (approximately 5:30 PM).  By naming the field after Bill Virdon, this celebration will honor the remarkable baseball career and legacy of a Southwest Missouri legend who won the National League Rookie of the Year for the St. Louis Cardinals and who was named both the AL Manager of the Year (Yankees) and the NL Manager of the Year (Astros).

Sho-Me Baseball Camp was one of the oldest and longest operating baseball schools in the country, first opening to the public in 1958. In 2022, Sho-Me Baseball Camp was acquired by a group of Springfield, Missouri-based investors, led by Ballparks of America investor Paul Satterwhite, with the goal of revitalizing and restoring the historic complex. Located off DD Highway on the shores of the world-famous Table Rock Lake, the facility features four all-grass fields, an updated cafeteria and dormitories, as well as a retail space and baseball memorabilia display that will provide players and families with a one-of-a-kind baseball experience.

Sho-Me Baseball is dedicated to preserving the history of the facility and creating a space for athletes and spectators to #makehistory through new experiences.   “We are thrilled to usher in this new era of baseball with the unveiling of our revitalized fields and facility and with an  incredible schedule of events,” says Satterwhite. “We are grateful for the opportunity to honor Bill Virdon and to host his family, baseball fans, and teams from across the region at this historic celebration of baseball.”

Gate fees for this family-friendly event are $7 for adults and $4 for kids 12 and under. For more information, please visit Sho-Me Baseball’s website.