Ex-Cards manager to help raise cash for Jackson ballpark

Visitors to Westfield West Park can meet former St. Louis Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog, who is helping raise money for Jackson's Brookside Park baseball field.

Herzog will be at the mall's center court from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday to meet fans and autograph his personal bobblehead, which visitors can purchase. All proceeds from the bobbleheads will benefit Jackson's new baseball field.

The city does not have funding in its budget to construct the estimated $200,000 field. It will provide initial engineering and surveying of the site, but the remainder of the funding will come from fund-raising projects and donations.

The former major league baseball player and manager developed the Whitey Herzog Youth Foundation, which helps fund youth baseball fields. Last summer, Herzog visited with Jackson resident Jack Litzelfelner Sr., a friend and former teammate, and discussed Jackson's need for a new baseball field.

"Since Whitey retired from baseball, he has been very generous with his time and money to promote baseball," Litzelfelner said.

In December, Herzog donated $25,000 to the city to help with construction of the new field. He has made a commitment to donate another $25,000 to the project and help with any fund-raising.

"Whitey has financially helped dozens of communities over the years build baseball fields through his foundation," Litzelfelner said. "We feel very fortunate that he has decided to help us here in Southeast Missouri."

Jackson parks and recreation director Shane Anderson said a Brookside Park baseball field committee met recently to discuss fund-raising ideas but no plans have been set for future fund-raisers.

Preliminary plans for the new baseball field were approved by Jackson's board of aldermen earlier this month. Plans include a covered grandstand, two sets of 70-seat bleachers, bathroom facilities and a concession stand and two parking lots for up to 250 cars. The 400-foot field will lie directly behind the Brookside Park war memorial.

Anderson said he's looking forward to the Herzog fund-raising event this Saturday.

"I'm really excited about Whitey coming down," he said. "I'm not a great fan of bobbleheads, but I'll probably buy one."

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246

WANT TO GO?

What: Brookside Park baseball field fund-raiser with Whitey Herzog

Where: Westfield West Park

When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday