September 5, 2006 > Dennis Eckersley Field dedication set for Friday at WHS

by Gary Leatherman

The Washington High School baseball field will be named Dennis Eckerley Field in a ceremony scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. Eckersley was a WHS student athlete who went on to a 24-year career in Major League Baseball and fame as the best closing pitcher in MLB history. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.

The naming of the WHS field in his honor will coincide with the Celebrate Fremont@ the Park festival scheduled at Lake Elizabeth on Saturday and Sunday to celebrate the 50th anniversary year of the founding of Fremont. Eckersley is scheduled to participate in the festival and will be on hand Friday for the field dedication.

Celebrate Fremont representatives requested that the Fremont Unified School District name the field in Eckersley's honor. The request was approved at the Aug. 23 Board meeting.

 The ceremony will begin at 12:15 p.m. at the baseball field, located on Eggers Drive behind WHS at 38442 Fremont Blvd.

Fremont Mayor Bob Wasserman is scheduled to present Mr. Eckersley with a key to the city; FUSD officials will formally announce the name change and unveil a new sign identifying the site as Dennis Eckersley Field.

Students, parents, staff and alumni of WHS are expected to attend the event along with local dignitaries and many of Eckersley's former classmates, teammates and coaches. The public is invited.