Gene Hooks Stadium

Gene Hooks Stadium was a baseball stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It was the primary home field of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons baseball program from 1981 through 2008.

This article is about the ballpark that closed in 2008. For the similarly named ballpark still in use, see Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park.
Gene Hooks Stadium
Former namesLayton Field
LocationWinston-Salem, North Carolina
Coordinates36°7′54″N 80°16′16″W
OwnerWake Forest University
Capacity2,500[1]
Field sizeLeft field: 335 feet (102 m)
Center field: 400 feet (120 m)
Right field: 315 feet (96 m)
OpenedMarch 1981
ClosedMay 2008
Tenants
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (NCAA) (1981–2008)

History

The stadium was in use by March 1981, under its original name of Layton Field,[2] and was dedicated on April 18, 1981.[1] On April 23, 1988, it was renamed after former Wake Forest University athletic director Gene Hooks.[3][1] Wake Forest's final game at the stadium was a 9–4 win over the Duke Blue Devils on May 11, 2008.[4]

The ballpark was part of a complex sitting north of Faculty Drive (home plate / first base side) and a short distance east of Wingate Road (third base side). There were trees beyond right field, and a small practice golf course beyond left and center field. The ballpark sat less than a mile and almost directly west of BB&T Field and Ernie Shore Field.[5]

For the 2009 season, the team moved back on a full-time basis to their previous home, Ernie Shore Field, which was then renamed Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park,[6] and later renamed David F. Couch Ballpark.

Gene Hooks Stadium was subsequently demolished to make way for expansion of the golf practice course.[7] The walkway forming the boundary of the southwest portion of the practice course roughly outlines the outer edge of the site of the ballpark's grandstand.

References
  1. "Gene Hooks Stadium". wakeforestsports.cstv.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2006.
  2. Myatt, Al (March 11, 1981). "Merrifield Paces WFU". Rocky Mount Telegram. Rocky Mount, North Carolina. p. 16. Retrieved August 23, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  3. "Deacs dedicate Hooks Stadium". The News & Observer. April 20, 1988. p. 16. Retrieved August 23, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  4. "Deacons sweep out old stadium". The News & Observer. May 12, 2008. p. D4. Retrieved August 23, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  5. Campus Map at universityparent.com, URL accessed November 15, 2009. Archived Archived 2012-11-05 at the Wayback Machine November 15, 2009
  6. Wake Forest Releases 2009 Baseball Schedule at cstv.com, URL accessed November 15, 2009. Archived Archived 2012-11-05 at the Wayback Machine November 15, 2009
  7. Winston-Salem Journal at journalnow.com, URL accessed June 21, 2010.
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