Vargas Field in Winslow is a grand old baseball stadium that has stood since 1937. It recently underwent a facelift that promises to improve player experience and a grand opening of the new and improved field took place last week.
City Manager Steve Pauken said, “We budgeted and spent about $140,000 on the project from the capital improvement fund.” The project included laser leveling of the playing surface, an improvement made for player safety and consistency in movement of the baseball. New turf was also installed, along with a new pitcher’s mound. In the outfield, a batter’s eye was installed. The batter’s eye is a dark colored visual backdrop directly in the line of sight of the batter as he waits for a pitch. The purpose of the batter’s eye is to reduce visual distraction for the hitter. Also part of the project was the addition of a windscreen and new paint. The entire set of improvements took city crews under the direction of Tim Westover about two months to complete.
Vargas Field hosts games played by the Winslow High School baseball team as well as senior level Little League teams. This summer, the stadium will also host two series’ of games for the Pecos League, a semi-professional baseball league from southern Arizona and surrounding areas.
Winslow has long been a respected destination for baseball. Vargas Field was built in 1937, as part of the New Deal putting local unemployed men to work. It took on the name Vargas Field in honor of Colonel Jay R. Vargas in June 1970. The Congressional Medal of Honor recipient was born and raised in Winslow and graduated from Winslow High School.
The next home game for the Winslow Bulldogs Baseball team is at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, March 26. The public is invited to attend and there is no admission charge. A full schedule of the season is available by visiting the high school located at 600 E. Cherry.
