Oakland Tech’s ‘Field of Dreams’ to be Renamed for Rickey Henderson

Posted September 15, 2009

Sat Oct.3.2009
10:00am

Rickey Henderson to be Honored at October 3^rd Rededication Event in Oakland

Oakland native and recent Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Rickey Henderson-a 1976 graduate of Oakland Technical High School-will soon be accorded a more home-grown honor. On Saturday, October 3, Rickey and other distinguished guests will gather for a public ceremony to commemorate the formal rededication of Carter Field in North Oakland as “Rickey Henderson Field.”

The ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. at the field (gates open at 9:30 a.m.), located at 45^th St. between Telegraph Ave. & Webster St. in Oakland. In addition to the guest of honor, expected speakers include Ken Korach, the radio voice of the Oakland A’s. Korach is a major supporter of OAL (Oakland Athletic League) baseball through his Winning for the Community charitable program. Additional Oct. 3 program details will be announced in September.

Located on the site of the former Carter Middle School playground, the ‘Field of Dreams’ was built in 2007 by Oakland Tech parents and community members through an extraordinary grassroots, volunteer effort. Approximately $350,000 in cash and in-kind donations were raised, along with ‘sweat equity’-countless hours of grueling, hands-on field work by scores of dedicated volunteers of all ages. The field is the new home baseball field for the Oakland Tech Bulldogs. It’s also an invaluable asset for local youth leagues, including North Oakland/South Oakland Little League, Oakland Cal Ripken-Babe Ruth Baseball League, the Metropolitan Junior Baseball Team and American Legion Baseball.

To help maintain the field in its current condition and to fund incremental improvements going forward, a small group of Oakland Tech parents and alums recently established Oakland Field of Dreams, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation (OFOD). OFOD is currently in the process of applying for an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable tax exemption. To make a tax-deductible donation now for field maintenance and repair, please make checks payable to Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation (write “Field of Dreams” on memo line) and mail to: Attn: Hank Levy, Henry C. Levy & Co., 5940 College Ave., Oakland, CA 94618.

Commemorative shirts and caps will be available for sale at the Oct. 3^rd event to raise funds for ongoing field maintenance and improvements.