The Bakersfield College Athletic Department has accomplished a milestone with the completion of the George Culver Baseball Clubhouse.
“It definitely is one of a kind at the community college level,” said BC baseball coach Tim Painton.
According to Painton, the idea came about 15 years ago from former baseball coach John Moncier and George Culver, who wanted to upgrade BC’s baseball facilities.
The money raised for the clubhouse came from Hot Stove dinners put on throughout the years by George Culver and the Hot Stove Committee.
“It has grown from a baseball dinner into a community event. In the process they have raised $125,000; put up lights in the ballpark, new dugouts and 10 years ago the money from the Hot Stove dinners was all earmarked toward this clubhouse.”
Total construction costs for the clubhouse were $300,000 in addition to equipment and labor donated according to the BC Public Information office.
The clubhouse opened on Gerry Collis Field on Jan. 25 after 10 years of fund-raising and four years of construction.
George Culver was a former BC baseball player and major leaguer.
Culver played for various teams and on July 29, 1968 he pitched a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies while playing for the Cincinnati Reds according to www.baseball-almanac.com.
Before the clubhouse, players had to dress in the dugouts or in the football locker room.
“During the fall we would have 60 or so players dressing in the dugout or wherever they could find some space,” Painton said.
The clubhouse, which is approximately 2,400 square feet, consists of a locker room, coaches’ locker room, players showers, restrooms, an office and a laundry room that is not yet complete.
“It is a great addition to our baseball facility,” said BC Athletics Director Jan Stuebbe.
He said it was the only clubhouse of its kind that he knew of in the community colleges in California.