Tyler Field at Eck Stadium
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History:
When Athletic Director Ted Bredehoft revived baseball in 1978, WSU had no facilities forpractices or games. After considerable evaluation of possible sites, the golf course driving and practice range was selected, a decision not popular with golfers. El Dorado Lake Resevoir was under construction at the time, and the earth moving contractor agreed to grade the new field on Saturdays as a donation, but he declined to haul the dirt from the site. University architect Bill Harrison turned the problem into a happy solution when he suggested using the dirt to form what has become famous as the outfield hill.
A flatbed trailer holding a few bleachers was parked behind a newly erected backstop, the infield was covered with Astroturf, and Shocker Field was ready for play. In the next few years, E.W. Johnson Construction Co., a firm that has erected many campus buildings, converted a couple of concrete box-culvert units into dugouts. More bleacher seats were added and the largest college scoreboard was erected. In 1984-85, lights, 3,000 grandstand seats, a press box, offices, a concessions stand, and public restrooms were constructed. The stadium was named for longtime baseball supporter, Rusty Eck.
In 1988, the turf was replaced, box seats were added, other major improvements were made, and the field was named Tyler Field.
The next improvement was the construction of the Michaud Pavilion which houses offices, the Joe Carter locker room, concessions stands and 1,400 new seats.
Finally, the millennium was greeted with a new grandstand designed by Schaefer, Johnson, Cox and Frey, featuring the Hap Bledsoe Plaza, the Virginia H. Farah All-American Club, the Southwestern Bell Press Box, skyboxes, and a new turf and warning track. Total seating was raised to 7,851. The Coleman Outfield Hill features two pavilions for large groups of fans.