ROBERTO HERNANDEZ STADIUM
HOME OF THE USC AIKEN BASEBALL PROGRAM
Following several successful years at J.H. Satcher Field, USC Aiken Baseball
opened a new chapter in its storied history on September 18, 2003. The stadium
was completed with the help of generous donations by former USC Aiken
baseball player and current Major Leaguer Roberto Hernandez.
The 1,000-seat, state-of-the-art stadium features a beautiful grass surface
with all the amenities of a top-notch Division I ballpark.
A clubhouse, players’ lounge, coaches offices, modern press box with separate
radio broadcast booth, training facilities, top-of-the-line scoreboard with message
center, and 850 covered seats are among the highlights.
The crown jewel of the facility is the Roberto Hernandez Hall of Fame Room. Designed
to
display the program’s rich heritage, generous donations by Hernandez
himself, including uniforms from his teams in the Major Leagues,
got the
Hall of Fame off to a roaring start.
“It means a lot to me to give to USC Aiken,” said Hernandez, a two-time Major
League All-Star, on
the
day
of the stadium dedication. “Maybe there will
be
another
Roberto
Hernandez
to play at USC Aiken. If it wasn’t for this school, I would not be where I am
today.”
The inaugural game was played on January 31, 2004, when the Pacers hosted Carson-Newman.
On April 10, 2005, a record crowd of 1,185 spectators filled the stadium to watch USC Aiken defeat rival Augusta State 6-5. Later that spring in May, USC Aiken hosted the Peach Belt Conference Baseball Tournament at Hernandez Stadium. The venue was chosen to host the event after the conference's eight-year hiatus from the tournament.
