This report has been contributed by Jayla Moody, a student from Mercer University's Center for Collaborative Journalism
In April 1929, the second oldest minor league baseball field in the country opened in Macon’s Central City Park.
The field has become a staple in Macon and Central Georgia.
“We’ve had several movies filmed here,” said Macon Bibb-County director of recreation, Robert Walker. “Trouble with the Curve, 42 and Netflix series Brockmire.”
Walker said several hall-of-famers have played in the park, including: Chipper Jones, Pete Rose and Tony Perez.
Another important aspect of the park: its name. The park is called Luther Williams Field and we were just curious about who Luther Williams is and why the park was named after him.
“Luther Williams was a mayor of Macon,” said Kim Campbell, Director of Preservation Field Services at Historic Macon Foundation. “He played a large part in getting the baseball stadium built over the old field.”
According to Campbell, the Macon Telegraph reported that the stadium came to be named for Luther Williams after a city council meeting where Mayor Williams was asked to leave the room so the council could hold a vote.
The naming of the park occurred just before its opening day.
Williams was known to be responsible for bringing wholesome entertained baseball to Macon, Campbell said.
Several Macon teams have played in the park since 1929, including the Macon Pinetoppers, Macon Music, Macon Peaches, Macon Braves, Macon Pirates and Macon Dodgers.
The next team to play at the field will be the Macon Bacon.
They will begin June 1 as a part of the Coastal Plain League, a southeast regional collegiate wood bat league.