B.O.B. Welcomes New Board Member
WATERLOO, IOWA (August 24, 2015) – Build Our Ballpark, the organization dedicated to providing today’s youth with quality spaces to play baseball and softball, is thrilled to welcome a new member to its Board of Directors. Jolan Cockrell is an Art Director at Hellman, an advertising agency in Waterloo, Iowa. He has been active with Build Our Ballpark since the very beginning, when Hellman Field in Waterloo was in its concept phase. “I’m excited to work more closely with the group and continue building ballparks across the country, getting kids on baseball and softball fields where they have...
Read MoreRiverfront Sports Park Restorations- Phase 1
Field restoration has commenced at the Riverfront Sports Park in Waterloo, Iowa. Build Our Ballpark has a Sports Field Specialist contractor overseeing the remodeling process. Josh Viet and crew from Midwest Athletic Fields have already made milestone progress on the ballpark updates. The fields are being revitalized, complete with new sod and reconstructed dimensions. It is inspiring to see all of these efforts bringing life back to the Riverfront Sports Park. Next on the lineup during this phase of updates are fencing additions, cement work for sidewalks, and sports park signage....
Read MoreTeam BOB to Raise Funds for More Ballparks
The Build Our Ballpark Board of Directors and staff are thrilled to announce that Team BOB will again be riding RAGBRAI to raise funds for our nonprofit organization building baseball/softball parks throughout America. Eight cyclists from across the United States will ride 454 miles across the great state of Iowa. As the cyclists come together for this historic ride, they will capture a glimpse of Iowa life and how the Midwest is keeping the spirit of baseball alive in the local communities. Along the route they plan to visit area baseball and softball fields, chat with Iowa youth about...
Read MoreTeam B.O.B. Fundraising Opportunity
The Build Our Ballpark Board of Directors and staff proudly announce that TEAM B.O.B., lead by Robert Hellman III, will be riding RAGBRAI this summer to raise funds for our non-profit organization building baseball/softball parks throughout America The five man team of cyclists are accepting donations via our website of any denomination. Your help is badly needed and greatly appreciated. Bob Hellman Sr Executive Director Build Our Ballpark To read Robert Hellman III’s introduction to Team B.O.B., please click here. To support Team B.O.B. donate now online or make a...
Read MoreOne Blown Call
26 hitters in a row – one to go and another perfect game in the record books. A hard-hit ground ball to the right side of the infield, pitcher covers first base in plenty of time – runner is easily out. But no. With one blown call, a perfect game becomes a one-hitter, and baseball, a game built on stats and history, loses another potential record – three perfect games in one season. And the career of one of Major League Baseball’s finest umpires will forever be stained by one call. Jim Joyce will join a very select fraternity of Umps, including Don Denkinger, a...
Read MoreAnatomy of an Autograph
This is the third post in the series “The Art of the Autograph.” I’m writing this post by leaning heavily on my graphic design experience, knowledge of the players and their backgrounds, and vivid imagination to make these observations about autographs. No empirical research, no in-depth study of Graphology, no founding in fact … just personal opinions. With an apology to Otto Preminger for taking liberties with his 1959 movie title: “Anatomy of a Murder.” Several years ago I began to notice the difference between the beautiful and carefully written signatures of yesteryear’s players and the...
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