The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Young Memorial Field
Jerry D. Young Memorial Field, the on-campus home of the UAB baseball team, has served as the home of the Blazers since the 1984 season.
The facility was dedicated in honor of Dr. Jerry D. Young on April 18, 1985. A host of dignitaries, including Hall of Fame third baseman and former Baltimore Oriole great Brooks Robinson, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch, were present for the dedication.
Young was an ardent supporter of UAB athletics, who served as the university's senior vice president for finance at the time of his death in 1983. He played a key role in the physical development of the UAB campus and the creation of the Blazers' athletic program and the development of the Sun Belt Conference.
The first game in the new facility was on Feb. 26, 1984, a 14-8 victory over Vanderbilt. Joey Cora of Vanderbilt got the first hit at Young Memorial Field, while Mike Goff of UAB got the first Blazer hit and homer at the new field. Former UAB assistant coach Frank Walton picked up the save for the Blazers.
Young Memorial Field was the host of the first Great Midwest Conference Championship (1992), as the Blazers won the league title on their home field.
Lights were installed at Young Memorial Field in 1993, with the first night game resulting in a 6-4 victory over Southern Miss on March 23, 1993.
Other additions to Young Memorial Field were the construction of the Harry “The Hat” Walker Press Box, dedicated March 4, 1997, which houses media members and game operations staff, and picnic tables and grills placed along the right field fence and along the outside of the field on the first base side.
One of the finest baseball facilities in the South, Young Memorial Field continues to evolve through a series of improvements designed to enhance the experience for UAB student-athletes, coaches and fans. The ballpark features dimensions of 335 feet down the LF Line, 385 feet to the left and right center power alleys, 400 feet to dead center field, and 330 feet down the right field line. In center field, the large “hitter's eye” at Young Memorial Field is a version of the “Green Monster” standing 30 feet high and 100 feet wide.
The park received major upgrades for the 2010 season with the addition of a state-of-the-art Daktronics scoreboard and covered hitting cages beyond the left-field fence. The scoreboard provides expanded information and video capabilities featuring LED technology, while the covered hitting cages provide additional opportunities for player development. In 2022, the dugouts were expanded, creating improved spaces for players and coaches.
A major transformation came in 2023 with the installation of a new turf playing surface, providing a consistent, durable field that improves playability and offers greater flexibility for practices and games. The 2023 improvements also included an expanded bullpen area and a new outfield fence with padded walls, enhancing both player safety and the overall appearance of the ballpark.
Most recently, a new sound system was installed in 2025, further improving the game-day experience for fans at Young Memorial Field. These continued investments have helped make Young Memorial Field a premier collegiate baseball facility and reflect UAB's commitment to providing a first-class environment for its student-athletes, coaches and fans.
