Bill Davis Stadium – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Bill Davis Stadium
Home of Ohio State Baseball
Bill Davis Stadium
560 Borror Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43210
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DRIVING DIRECTIONS
From the North – Take I-71 South to 270 West to SR 315 South. Take the Ackerman Road exit. Turn left on to Ackerman Road. Turn right on to Fred Taylor Drive. Bill Davis Baseball Stadium will be on your left.
From the South – Take I-71 North to SR 315 North to Worthington. Take the Ackerman Road exit. Turn right on to Ackerman Road. Turn right on to Fred Taylor Drive. Bill Davis Baseball Stadium will be on your left.
From the East (Airport) – Take I-70 West to SR 315 North to Worthington. Take the Ackerman Road exit. Turn right on to Ackerman Road. Turn right on to Fred Taylor Drive. Bill Davis Baseball Stadium will be on your left.
From the West – Take I-70 East to SR 315 North to Worthington. Take the Ackerman Road exit. Turn right on toAckerman Road. Turn right on to Fred Taylor Drive. Bill Davis Baseball Stadium will be on your left.
The Stadium Story
Bill Davis Stadium
It is safe to say that we would not be enjoying the comforts of Ohio State baseball’s gem of a ball park, Bill Davis Stadium, if not for the love, kindness and the benevolence of Ms. Dorothy M. Davis, who generously donated more than $1.5 million toward the $4.7 million final cost of the Buckeye venue.
Bill Davis Stadium is named in memory of Dorothy’s late step-son,William C. “Bill” Davis. He was chairman and president of Davis Enterprises, builder and developer of commercial and residential subdivisions, and a great fan of Ohio State athletics. A member of The President’s Club, Bill was a graduate of St. Charles Preparatory School in Columbus and Xavier University.
Dorothy Davis didn’t realize the size of the Stadium or its magnitude when she visited the construction site in November of 1996, just one week before she would pass away from complications from a brain aneurysm. The construction, visibly impressive with the cement pillars that would support the stands reaching high into the sky, caused her to remark to Bob Todd, “I can’t believe this is what we are building. I never imagined a real stadium. This is absolutely wonderful.”
| Seating Diagram |
Seating Diagram
Dorothy and her late husband, William H. Davis (B.S. Business Administration ’26), contributed more than $6 million to The Ohio State University, including gifts to support the William H. Davis Medical Research Center, and the establishment of several named endowments, including the Dorothy M. Davis Chair in Cancer Research, the William H. Davis Endowment for Basic Medical Research, and the William H. Davis Chair in the American Free Enterprise System.
In addition, Dorothy was a founding member of The Ohio State University Foundation Board, and was an active volunteer and advocate for Ohio State, both in Central Ohio and from her winter home in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Dimensions
A hitter’s park, the Stadium features dimensions of 330 feet down the lines, 370 feet to the power alleys and 400 feet to straightaway centerfield.
Seating Capacity The Stadium has 500 lower level box seats and 2,500 upper grandstand level seats. Additional bleacher seating was installed over the past year down both foul lines and with an overflow of handicapped seating, the increased capacity for the 1999 season totals 4,450.
Outer Concourse
The outer concourse is equipped with a Buckeye novelty shop, “Dugout Digs,” spacious restroom facilities and a full-service concession stand.
Clubhouses
The Buckeye clubhouse, located behind the third-base dugout, is 26 feet wide by 55 feet long. The visitor’s clubhouse is 26-by-44. Both feature wood paneled lockers, showers and heating and air conditioning.
Bullpens
Home and away bullpens are located just outside the fences down the first and third baselines. They feature two mounds each at field level for easy access.
Turf
The playing turf of Bill Davis Stadium is a mixture of Kentucky Bluegrass and Perennial Ryegrass. The normal manicured cut of both the infield and outfield grass is one and one-half inches. The field contains an automatic in-ground irrigation system, allowing the field to be watered on a regular basis with little monitoring. There is also a full underground drainage system that can enable play in inclement weather.
Infield Surface
The infield surface is comprised of red clay, calcite clay and crushed red brick. It is smoothed with a tractor and drag and watered before infield practice and play.
Warning Track
The warning track is made up of crushed red brick.
Outfield Fence
The outfield fence is painted scarlet and is eight feet high with white trim along the top.
Lighting
Permanent lighting was installed in late November of 1997. The light towers are 120- feet high.
Batters Eye
A “batter’s eye” was constructed in centerfield in October of 1997 in order to provide a neutral hitting background from home plate. It is made of black canvas.
Scoreboard
Installed in March of 1997, the scoreboard of Bill Davis Stadium is a Trans-Lux Vision2pc. Capable of game-time animation, the 80 x 40 black and white matrix is located in right centerfield at the 370-feet mark.
Pressbox
Bill Davis Stadium has an elevator tower leading to the enclosed pressbox, located above the upper grandstand level. The working pressbox features heating and air conditioning, telephone lines and the capacity for home and away radio as well as television and print media.
Anne Hayes Memorial Room
Adjacent to the pressbox, the Anne Hayes Memorial Room is reserved for VIP use during games and tournaments and also for media overflow.
Player’s Lounge
Just across the hall from the Buckeye locker room is a player’s lounge complete with a refrigerator, television and radio and other home furnishings, easing the transition from student to athlete after a tough day of class.
Scouting Room
The Stadium features a scouting and video room directly behind home plate at field level. The umpires’ locker room is also located in this area.
For those fans that are interested in contributing to the stadium campaign, please write or call:
The Ohio State University Development Fund
c/o OSU Baseball Campaign
Room 235 St. John Arena
410 Woody Hayes Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Phone: (614) 292-9908
| Bill Davis Stadium Quick Facts | |
| Capacity | 4,450 |
| First Game | March 14, 1997 vs. E. Michigan |
| Dedication Game | May 2, 1997 vs. Penn State |
| Lighting Installed | November 1997 |
| First Night Game | April 3, 1998 vs. Michigan |
| Superlatives (following 2005 season) | |
| Ohio State Record | 169-67 (.716) |
| Extra Innings | 5-3 |
| Day | 94-33 |
| Night | 74-34 |
| One-run decisions | 34-16 |
| vs. Big Ten | 93-43 |
| G1 Big Ten series | 21-13 |
| G2 Big Ten series | 24-10 |
| G3 Big Ten series | 24-10 |
| G4 Big Ten series | 24-10 |
| Big Ten series sweeps | 6 |
| After winning G1 of DH | 19-7 |
| After losing G1 of DH | 5-5 |
| Big Ten Tournament games | 2-4 |
| NCAA Regional games | 3-2 |
| NCAA Super Regional games | 1-4 |
| Largest crowd | 5,360, vs. Minn., May 18, 2002 |
| Bill Davis Stadium Season Records and Attendance Figures | |||||||
| Overall Record |
Big Ten Record |
BDS Record |
Big Ten at BDS |
Attend. | Average | Dates | |
| 1997 | 42-18 | 18-10 | 25-7 | 11-5 | 24,295 | 971.8 | 25 |
| 1998 | 37-16 | 18-8 | 15-5 | 8-4 | 25,000 | 1,470.6 | 17 |
| 1999 | 50-14 | 25-3 | 27-5 | 15-1 | 62,601 | 2,235.8 | 28 |
| 2000 | 37-23 | 15-13 | 12-6 | 7-5 | 25,369 | 1,691.3 | 15 |
| 2001 | 43-18 | 20-7 | 22-11 | 12-4 | 40,868 | 1,459.6 | 28 |
| 2002 | 38-20-1 | 18-11 | 15-10 | 10-6 | 33,627 | 2,101.7 | 16 |
| 2003 | 44-21 | 20-12 | 22-7 | 11-5 | 43,131 | 1,960.5 | 22 |
| 2004 | 36-25 | 19-12 | 15-9 | 9-7 | 42,563 | 2,128.2 | 20 |
| 2005 | 40-20 | 17-12 | 16-7 | 10-6 | 45,666 | 2,537.0 | 18 |
| 367-175 | 170-88 | 169-67 | 93-43 | 343,120 | 1,453.9 | 236 | |
| .677 | .659 | .716 | .684 |
The Legacy of Bill Davis Stadium
Big Ten Regular Season Championships: 1999, 2001
Big Ten Tournament Appearances: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
Big Ten Tournaments Hosted: 1999, 2001
NCAA Regional Tournaments Hosted: 1999, 2001
NCAA Super Regional Tournaments Hosted: 1999, 2003
| Bill Davis Stadium Attendance Records | ||
| Single Game Attendance Records | ||
| 1. | 5,360 | May 18, 2002 vs. Minnesota |
| 2. | 5,170 | June 7, 2003 vs. Missouri State (Super Regional) |
| 3. | 5,128 | May 21, 2005 vs. Minnesota (DH) |
| 4. | 5,090 | June 8, 2003 vs. Missouri State (Super Regional) |
| 5. | 4,702 | May 28, 1999 vs. Bowling Green (Regional) |
| 6. | 4,455 | May 23, 2004 vs. Michigan |
| 7. | 4,424 | May 15, 1999 vs. Indiana (DH) |
| 8. | 4,393 | June 5, 1999 vs. Cal State Fullerton (Super Regional) |
| 9. | 4,378 | June 4, 1999 vs. Cal State Fullerton (Super Regional) |
| 10. | 4,091 | April 24, 2004 vs. Michigan (DH) |
| Postseason Single Game Records | ||
| 1. | 5,170 | June 7, 2003 vs. Missouri State (Super Regional) |
| 2. | 5,090 | June 8, 2003 vs. Missouri State (Super Regional) |
| 3. | 4,702 | May 28, 1999 vs. Bowling Green (Regional) |
| 4. | 4,393 | June 5, 1999 vs. Cal State Fullerton (Super Regional) |
| 5. | 4,378 | June 4, 1999 vs. Cal State Fullerton (Super Regional) |
| 6. | 3,994 | May 29, 1999 vs. Mississippi State (Regional) |
| 7. | 3,242 | May 30, 1999 vs. Mississippi State (Regional) |
| 8. | 3,012 | May 20, 1999 vs. Michigan (Big Ten Tournament) |
| 9. | 2,629 | May 25, 2001 vs. Delaware (Regional) |
| 10. | 2,117 | June 6, 1999 vs. Cal State Fullerton (Super Regional) |
| Big Ten Four-Game Series Records | ||
| 1. | 11,015 | April 23-25, 2004 vs. Michigan (4,455/4,091/2,469) |
| 2. | 10,876 | May 20-22, 2005 vs. Minnesota (3,012/5,128/2,736) |
| 3. | 9,961 | May 14-16, 1999 vs. Indiana (2,836/4,424/2,701) |
| 4. | 9,677 | May 9-11, 1998 vs. Mich. St. (3,866/2,580/3,231) |
| 5. | 8,551 | May 14-16, 2004 vs. N’western (2,354/3,192/3,005) |
| 6. | 8,399 | May 11-13, 2001 vs. Michigan (2,643/3,594/2,162) |
| 7. | 8,210 | May 12-14, 2000 vs. Mich. St. (2,578/3,175/2,457) |
| 8. | 7,899 | May 2-4, 2003 vs. Michigan (2,833/2,571/2,495) |
| 9. | 7,782 | April 29-May 1, 2005 vs. Indiana (1,604/3,612/2,566) |
| 10. | 7,675 | April 30-May 2, 1999 vs. Purdue (2,291/3,128/2,256) |
| Regular Season Non-Conference Single Game Records | ||
| 1. | 3,956 | April 28, 2004 vs. Bowling Green |
| 2. | 3,930 | May 4, 2005 vs. Cleveland State |
| 3. | 3,515 | May 17, 2005 vs. Miami, Ohio |
| 4. | 2,439 | May 8, 2002 vs. Miami, Ohio |
| 5. | 2,319 | May 15 2002 vs. Cleveland State |
| 6. | 2,315 | May 12, 2004 vs. Akron |
| 7. | 2,256 | April 27, 2005 vs. Eastern Michigan (DH) |
| 8. | 2,237 | April 26, 2000 vs. Ohio Wesleyan |
| 9. | 2,131 | April 17, 2003 vs. Dayton |
| 10. | 2,013 | April 30, 2003 vs. Bowling Green |
