Local park in national spotlight

PALMER — There’s just something about Hermon Brothers Field that draws national attention.

The home of the Alaska Baseball League’s Mat-Su Miners was featured in the documentary “Touching the Game-Alaska,” nationally released in 2009. In 2004, Hermon Brothers Field was named the top high school baseball field in the country by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Turface Field Maintenance.

The latest?

Baseball America announced last week that Hermon Brothers Field will be included in its 2014 Great Parks Calendar.

“It’s pretty cool,” longtime Miners general manager Pete Christopher said.

Christopher, who has spent countless days maintaining the field since he was named Miners’ general manager in 2002, said he was pleasantly surprised to learn of his park’s selection to be part of the Baseball America calendar. The field, carved into a forest in the middle of the Alaska State Fairgrounds, is known for its picturesque views and backdrop of Pioneer Peak.

Christopher said it’s that what separates Hermon Brothers from the average ballpark.

“How can you compete with Pioneer Peak?” Christopher said. “It’s hard, especially when it has snow on it.”

Christopher said everything started with an unrelated conversation with a Baseball America official. The person said they were involved with the creation of the calendar and asked for pictures. Christopher submitted photos of the field, including a picture taken by Valley resident Sienna Best. The photo taken by Best was seen as the best, and Baseball America tabbed it for the month of January in its 2014 calendar.

Christopher said he’s proud to see the field profiled, but also very happy to see the community recognized. Contributions from the community, both financial and in volunteer effort, have greatly aided in the consistent upgrades and improvements to the ballpark. The latest effort included a complete re-sodding of the field.

Baseball America, founded in 1980, is seen as among the top media outlets covering the sport of baseball at every level. The company produces a magazine and reference books, and also the website, baseballamerica.com. The 2014 Baseball America calendar can be pre-ordered at baseballamerica.com/store.