Baseball lovers in the London region have something to look forward to this summer.
Tourism London has announced plans to offer public tours of Labatt Memorial Park, the world’s oldest continuously used baseball diamond, beginning this summer. The behind the scenes look will showcase the park's rich history, which dates back to 1877. It will feature artifacts and stories about the famous teams and players that have come through this facility, including Satchel Paige, Ty Cobb, Fergie Jenkins, Jesse Owens, and Deion Sanders.
The park spans 8.7 acres and is considered one of the country's prettiest ballparks because of its natural grass and close proximity to the Forks of the Thames. It was designated a historic site by the city in 1994 and is the home of the London Majors.
“Many people aren’t aware of the incredible history of Labatt Memorial Park, and we look forward to sharing these stories with Londoners and many others," said Zanth Jarvis, the city's director of sport tourism. "We believe this has the opportunity to become another key attraction for the city by providing a unique, memorable and educational experience."
The tours are being made possible through a collaboration between Tourism London, the City of London, and the provincial government.
It is part of a bigger effort to shine a light on southwestern Ontario's baseball heritage. Through a new Southwestern Ontario Baseball Heritage Pass, ball fans will be able to visit the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Marys and the home to one of the first ever recorded baseball games at the Beachville District Museum near Woodstock. The pass will grant patrons access to those two sites, in addition to Labatt Park.
More information about the tours can be found by clicking here.
