Lambert Field (Purdue University)

This article is about the baseball stadium. For the airport in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, see St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
Lambert Field
Map
LocationWest Stadium Avenue east of David Ross Road, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
Coordinates40°25′50″N 86°55′29″W / 40.430493°N 86.924772°W / 40.430493; -86.924772
OwnerPurdue University
OperatorPurdue University
Capacity1,100
Field size340 ft. (LF), 375 ft. (LCF), 408 ft. (CF), 375 ft. (RCF), 340 ft. (RF)
SurfaceNatural grass
ScoreboardElectronic
Construction
Opened1965
Renovated1990, 1994, 1999
Closed2012
Tenants
Purdue Boilermakers baseball (Big Ten) (1965–2012)

Lambert Field was a baseball stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. It was the home field of the Purdue Boilermakers baseball from 1965 until 2012 and held 1,100 people. It was named after former Purdue baseball coach Ward Lambert.[1]

History

Opened in 1965, Lambert Field succeeded the Old Lambert Field (also known as Ross-Ade Field) as the home of Purdue baseball. The construction of Mackey Arena on the location of Old Lambert Field necessitated the move.[1]

In the 1990s, the university undertook three renovation projects on Lambert Field. In 1990, a new press box was added, and the seating areas were improved. In 1994, an electronic scoreboard was installed. In 1999, the university adopted a yearly renovation plan for Lambert. The annual improvements have added new fences in the outfield and foul territory, a new backstop, new bullpens, a screen to protect the parking lot beyond the left field fence, and an irrigation system.[1]

In 2002, the facility hosted the Indiana North-South All-Star Game.[1]

In 2012, Purdue won its first Big 10 Regular Season championship since 1909 in the field's final season.

Naming

The field was named for former Purdue basketball and baseball coach Ward Lambert. During three stints coaching the baseball program (1917, 1919–35, and 1945-6), Lambert compiled a 163–156–7 record.[1] For his success in coaching Purdue's basketball program, Lambert was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960.[2]

New stadium

Purdue built a new baseball venue, Alexander Field, which it began using in 2013. Although the field was planned to open for the 2012 season, construction delays led Purdue to use Lambert Field through the end of the 2012 season. At the end of the season, Lambert was razed to allow space for additional parking for the Student Fitness and Wellness Center.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Lambert Field (Baseball) at purduesports.com, URL accessed October 24, 2009. Archived October 24, 2009
  2. ^ Smith, Jeff (January 10, 2008). "This Little Piggy..." Big Ten.org. Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2012. Lambert was enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960.
  3. ^ Foley, Brian. "Purdue to Play at Lambert Field This Spring". College Baseball Daily. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  4. ^ "Purdue Baseball to Play at Lambert". WLFI.com. WLFI 18. January 24, 2012. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2012. Purdue's baseball team will have to play all their home games at Lambert Field this season, due to delays in the construction of Alexander Field.