Oakland Ballers baseball team announces $1.6 million investment into Raimondi Park to play home games
The Oakland Ballers independent league baseball team announced Thursday a $1.6 million investment into historic Raimondi Park in West Oakland as its home field for the team's inaugural 2024 season.
In a press statement, the Ballers - also known as the B's - said the plan would upgrade the park's field for professional-level baseball with seating for 2,500 spectators and transform the park and its surroundings into a premier venue for Oakland youth baseball and softball. The investment comes from private funding, the team said.
Raimondi Park was originally opened in 1910 as Bayview Park and renamed in 1947 in honor of Ernie Raimondi, a McClymonds High School graduate who played for the minor league Oakland Oaks baseball club before he was killed in World War II. The park was the training grounds for baseball legends Curt Flood, Frank Robinson and Vada Pinson, each who also attended McClymonds High.
The park is set in the Prescott neighborhood of West Oakland, an industrial area being transformed by new housing and plans for more construction. Renovated in 2008, it is adjacent to what was the sprawling Wood Street homeless encampment, recently cleared of tenants and where a new retail and housing development is planned.
"As the Oakland Ballers, our mission has always been to revitalize Oakland's ballparks," said Ballers co-founder Bryan Carmel in a prepared statement. "We are honored to be part of the next chapter of baseball at Raimondi Park and eagerly anticipate collaborating with the City and local residents to showcase the potential of our city."
The Ballers said the team, which will play in the Pioneer Baseball League, has permission from the city to host 48 home games at Raimondi Park, with the inaugural home game on June 4. The park will be available to the public on all other days, and the new amenities, which will include a video scoreboard, are being envisioned to be used for community events such as movie nights and other gatherings.
"The opportunity has come along to further revitalize [Raimondi Park] for the neighborhood and for the entire city," said Penny Raimondi Isola, daughter of Ernie Raimondi, in a statement. "On behalf of the Raimondi family, I would like to extend my support for the Oakland Ballers efforts to activate Raimondi Park as a site for their team, soon to be 'our team'. Let's unite to ensure Oakland thrives as the baseball town it has always been."
"Reviving Raimondi Park isn't just about baseball; it's preserving Oakland's rich sports history," said Curt Flood Jr. in a prepared statement. "Let's honor my father's legacy and enhance our city's heritage together."
Brian McGhee, the community manager of McClymonds High School, is thrilled the Ballers will be so close by.
"It's a great game. As they call it, it's America's game," said McGhee. "We want to bring that back to Oakland. To the urban city, where it all started."
The school does not currently have a baseball team, but McGhee hopes the park's new developments will provide the students with new opportunities to engage with the sport, and with overall business opportunities for the city..
"Baseball back in Oakland is going to get folks excited," explained McGhee. "And hopefully, bring some revenue to the Oakland economy."
Local student athlete Jakari Thomas believes the team's presence will be great for the neighborhood.
"I think it's good that we have more things in our community in Oakland," said Thomas. "We had other teams, but they all left: the Warriors, the Raiders."
McGhee hopes the team will re-activate love for baseball in the East Bay.
"I want kids to get excited about baseball as they do about football and basketball," said McGhee.
The Ballers said fans can now buy tickets to the inaugural season games https://t.ly/Ballers12pack. The Ballers first game is set for June 4th, 2024.
Loureen Ayyoub contributed to this story.
