Serauxmen Stadium History Tab
In 1972, Nanaimo Minor Baseball Association (NMBA) signed an agreement with the school district to build a baseball field on an old mine site behind Nanaimo District Secondary School. The mine, which operated between 1919 and 1930, employed up to 300
miners at its peak.
Bert Lansdell, who held various positions with NMBA was instrumental in both the agreement with the school district and fundraising for the ball field.
The Serauxmen Service Club of Nanaimo came forward as a major fundraiser for the stadium and field.
In 1974, the grass and fencing was finished and in 1975, the stadium building was built – more than $300,000 worth of concrete was required to pour the stadium.
Serauxmen Stadium officially opened July 31, 1976 in a ceremony that included retired New York Yankees player Mickey Mantle and retired Boston Red Sox player Jim Piersall. Hockey players Johnny Bucyk (Boston Bruins) and Chris Oddleifson (Vancouver Canucks),
football players George Reed (Saskatchewan Roughriders) and NHL referee Llyod Gilmour also attended.
In 1980, the south bleacher addition was built.
FIGURE 4. MICKEY MANTLE AT THE SERAUXMEN STADIUM GRAND OPENING
Information and pictures collected from the Serauxmen Stadium Amateur Baseball Association.
https://serauxmenstadium.ca/