This past week, I traveled to Los Angeles, CA for work (ABF Freight, Pico Rivera Terminal). Before I get to my field visit notes, I have to mention that after landing on Sunday afternoon in LAX, I did make an attempt to visit LA’s Dodger Stadium. However, here is a photo of how far I got on that journey…

Front gate entrance, that was about it. Oh well, maybe some other time. Ok, back on track now. The west coast travel (flight, time change, LA traffic) was better than expected and I got into West Coast time in terms of sleep and energy levels in just under 48 hours. Our company team members and I were staying in nearby Whittier, CA which was a convenient 10 miles or so from the Pico terminal. As I have in the past when I traveled to a new place for work, I did some research on Whittier area baseball teams, colleges, history, etc. prior to my trip West and found a very interesting spot/field/college/team to check out – The Whittier College Poets Baseball Team.

Tuesday morning, armed with a delicious corn muffin and caramel iced coffee from Chapala (across the road from the hotel), I took the short drive up the hills of Whittier to Hugh Mendez Stadium, home of the Whittier College Poets Baseball Team. The gate to the stadium and the surrounding athletic fields was open, so I took the opportunity to park and walk around the baseball complex. It was about 6:59 am and the sun was just starting to rise. Very picturesque view from behind home plate with the Whittier area homes and palm trees skyline in the background.

From my research, Whittier College Baseball plays in the SCIAC, the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. They are an NCAA Division III school. Their roster is typical of most D3 programs, mostly local players with a few out of staters mixed in. Their head coach is Mike Rizzo. Whittier College finished 14-25 in 2023, good for 7th in the SCIAC. Their baseball page can be accessed by clicking this link - Whittier College Poets Baseball. Fun fact about Whittier College, it lists Hall of Fame Pitcher (and LA Dodger great) Don Sutton as a former player.

One thing that struck me right away was the location of the field. It looked like it was carved out of a mountain. The hills that surrounded the baseball and football field beared witness to this. Huge inclines of dirt and grass and trees shot up from behind home plate and into the first base and right field areas. I stood and looked up in awe at the landscape, obviously very different than the fields I am used to visiting back east. A golf cart, pedestrian walkway was the only thing separating the field from this giant mountainous area. Very cool view and experience.

Here is something you don’t see every day at a baseball field, an orange tree. At least, I think these are oranges…

As I approached the end of the walking path in right field, there was a locked gate so I spun around and grabbed some more photos of the field. The Poet Athlete, that has a nice ring to it. After all, I am an athlete who loves to write. Very interesting!!!

It was a beautiful high 40s, no wind kinda morning to walk around the Poets Baseball Field. Actually, as I was walking back towards home plate, I noticed a plaque on the side of the press box honoring Hugh Mendez. According to the plaque, Coach Mendez coached football and baseball at Whittier College from 1970 to 1989. Mr. Mendez was also a faculty member at Whittier, teaching (what else) English in addition to African American History. His plaque says (in baseball) he coached 13 All-Americans and 2 future Major League baseball Players.

As my time was limited, I took a few last looks at the field and then hopped into my rental car back to the hotel. The palm trees, the mountain side view, the steep hill climb up through the residences of Whittier, the LA sunrise, the beautiful morning at Whittier College – just an incredible way to start my week out in Southern California. Hugh Mendez Stadium was just so picturesque and in very good shape for December – LA weather probably had a bit to do with that last comment. Definitely worth the trip up to Whittier College and even more satisfying knowing that there are other poet baseball players and athletes out there. Writers, athletes – we are family!