Southwest Baptist University Athletics

Dodson Field is home to the Bearcat Baseball team. In its original location, Dodson Field is the oldest sports facility on campus. The field, now considered to be one of the best playing surfaces in the GLVC, has humble beginnings. Originally a cow pasture, SBU's first baseball coach, Dr. Rex Brown, had the field leveled off in 1972 by the SBU Chief of Maintenance so that the team had a space big enough to play games somewhere besides the local High School field. Retired railroad engineer, James Dodson, took an interest in the program helping the team clear rocks off the field. Dodson would methodically clear loose rock by picking them up with a spoon and placing them in a small tin bucket. He also helped financially in 1972, initially donating $3000 to help build a backstop and dugouts for the team. The team played with an all-dirt field for a few years before adding grass to the outfield and fencing the entire field in in 1975. The outfield dimensions were modeled after the old Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Dodson continued to help with financial donations here and there and because of his support, Dr. Rex Brown named the field in his honor. Each subsequent coach would upgrade the field a little more, until it became what it is today.


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QUICK FACTS
BUILT
1972
Playing Surface
Natural Mix of Bermuda and Rye
Dimensions
LF Line: 330'
LF Gap: 375'
CF: 410'
RF Gap: 375'
RF Line: 330'
Capacity
200 Bleacher seats w/ areas for lawn chairs on 1st and 3rd base sides
Amenities
Press Box
Team Room
Bullpens on 1st and 3rd base sides
2 Batting cages along with soft toss/tee hitting areas
Concessions Stand