A Wednesday Tennessee Baseball Road Trip From Memphis To Nashville – Part II, Vandy Boys Experience

Part II of my Tennessee Baseball Road Trip featured a stop at a historic university with an equally historic baseball program. Nashville’s Vanderbilt University, founded in 1873, is widely regarded as one of the finest academic and athletic schools of higher learning here in the United States of America. Quick search of famous alumni reads like a Who’s Who of government leaders including Senators, Governors, and 2 Vice Presidents, plus famous authors, journalists, musicians, and the list goes on and on. And it doesn’t stop when it comes to Vanderbilt University Athletics including the Commodores Baseball program, commonly known in those parts (and nationally) as the Vandy Boys.

So, when I pulled onto the campus of Vanderbilt University, I realized quickly that I was probably not going to get into any baseball stadium on Wednesday. I would be lucky to get just about anywhere on campus with a car. There was a ton of construction everywhere on the main road leading into campus. As I drove past Charles Hawkins Field, home of the Vandy Boys baseball team, I spotted construction going on in the outfield section of the stadium. Luckily, I found a parking garage next to Memorial Gym and started out towards Hawkins Field on foot, maybe getting lucky and catching a glimpse or two of the Vandy Boys experience. Foreshadowing a bit here, I didn’t really see much except parts of the exterior of the stadium. But, something is better than nothing, so I kept a good attitude as I walked from the center field area around to the front gate section of Hawkins Field.

As I approached the front gate area, there were a few campus visitors checking out the field. Perhaps a high school player with dreams of one day towing the mound at Hawkins Field, like Red Sox’s Sonny Gray or Padres’ Walker Buehler. Or maybe to occupy that coveted space in the defense between second and third, aka shortstop, like the Cubs’ Dansby Swanson. I peered in through the gate to see the banners of championships, championship trophies, and other Vandy baseball stuff. From what I could see from outside the gates, the inside of Hawkins Field was filled with amazing Vandy sports memorabilia.

After conceding that all the gates were locked, probably for the safety of the public during construction and summer break, I took a moment to read some of the banners that lined the brick walls leading up to the front gate. NCAA Tournament appearances – 23. NCAA National Championships – 2 (2014, 2019). Quick research online for notable players – way too many to type – but short list would be Gray, Buehler, Swanson, Mike Yaz, David Price, Tony Kemp, Pedro Alvarez, Joey Cora, and a host of amazing MLB level players. So, it is safe to say that going to Vanderbilt to play baseball means you are really, really good at baseball!

After reading through some of the history of Vanderbilt Commodores baseball at the front gate area, I made my way back to the garage where I was parked. I took one more look from the center/left field area of the parking lot before heading back to the garage, my rental car, and then over to my hotel in Nashville. Passing a historical marker in front of Memorial Gym, I stopped to read about its place in history and some of the incredible Americans, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Otis Redding, and Robert “Bobby” Kennedy in the 1960s as well as others who graced its presence at one point or another in time.

Despite not having an opportunity to step through the gates of Charles Hawkins Field, I was able to get a pretty good sense of the Vanderbilt Commodores Baseball experience. The baseball program has a storied history of success in the NCAA Tournament, winning 2 National Titles, and sending countless players into Major League Baseball, many who are still on an active MLB roster. Hawkins Field was getting a bit of a facelift in the outfield area, perhaps more seating or a new concession area or fan section. From what I could view, Hawkins Field look amazing and I will definitely try to catch a game there if I am ever back in Nashville during the NCAA baseball season. Overall, it was an awesome Vandy Boys baseball experience visiting Charles Hawkins Field, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.