COMMODORE STADIUM

When Joe Tom King Field was built in 1968, Gulf Coast Community College had what it considered the best baseball facility in this area. Joe Tom King Field served as an durable facility for the Commodores for 20 years -- all of them with Frazier at the helm -- and would have lasted for several more. In fact, the college was planning on lighting Joe Tom King Field for night baseball. "We had a major campus lighting project go through several years ago that gave us the funds to light the baseball field,'' McSpadden said. But then the state decided to do something with 23rd Street and we found out that we were going to have a new field, so we waited." The state Department of Transportation's plan to widen 23rd Street and move its intersection with U.S. 98, meant buying several acres of land from the college for right of ways. Those funds were used to build the new stadium and Joe Tom King Field was converted for use by the Gulf Coast women's softball team. "This is something that not only Gulf Coast, but the entire community can be proud of," McSpadden said. "The college, high school, and summer league teams will be using the field all year long, and it's a first-class facility."

On March 10, 1989, Bill Frazier's dream of a new baseball stadium came to pass as $300,000 Commodore Stadium was christened and the first ever junior college night game in Panama City was played. Dedication ceremonies will began at 6 p.m., when Commodore head baseball coach Bill Frazier and GCCC president Bob McSpadden threw the switch to turn on the lights. With a flick of a switch, the Gulf Coast Commodores moved into an era of night baseball, as 146,000 watts of power lighted Commodore Stadium. The ceremonial throwing of the first pitch followed by all the members of the college's Board of Trustees simultaneously.

"Light Night" as it was billed by the media went over as a big success as the Commodores defeated East Central Missouri College. Sophomore Louis Miller lighted up East Central Missouri, striking out 12 batters in six innings in an 8-1 victory. Freshman Lee Etheridge pitched the seventh inning, as the Rebels scored their only run on one hit and three Commodore errors. Neither Miller or Etheridge walked a batter. The Commodores got all the runs they would need in the first inning on two walks, a hit batter and a single by Nandy Serrano. Gulf Coast added four in the second with Julian Kilichowski knocking a triple and Marty Posey a double. Mario Baker blasted a solo homer in the fifth inning.

Commodore Stadium came fitted with locker rooms for both the home and visiting teams, a concession stand and bathrooms, a press box, scoreboard along with bullpens and batting cages and offices highlight the new facility. The field is 320 feet down the lines, 400 feet to straightaway center field and 365 feet in the power alleys. The wind that blew straight out to right field at Joe Tom King Field now blows from foul line to foul line at Commodore Stadium. There is permanent seating for 300 people, with temporary seating for another 100. There are paved parking spaces for 125 cars, with unlimited parking on grass areas behind the field.

"This is a perfect place to play," coach Frazier said. "The locker rooms are first class, the lights are major-league quality and the field itself is excellent." "I've had several professional players come down and work out with us and tell me that the infield is as true and smooth as any place they play at in the minor leagues." "It's a credit to the administration and staff of the college. They set out to give us a first-class baseball facility and they have done that."


FRAZIER FIELD

On February 20, 1993, Gulf Coast Community College officially re-dedicated Commodore Stadium and named it after Bill Frazier. Local products Kevin Humphreys and Steve Breland got wins in the double header sweep of Enterprise State Junior College.

Coach Frazier died on April 18, 1992 compiling an 881-363 record in 24 years at the helm of the Commodores. It was his dream to see this park built and he accomplished that. His life was his players. He had a positive impact on every single player he touched.


FRAZIER FIELD UPGRADES

On June 1, 2005 the Mike Kandler era began following in the footsteps of Bill Frazier (881-363, 5 Conference Titles), Darren Mazeroski (457-269, 3 Conference Titles). One of his first goals was to make some positive changes and upgrade Bill Frazier Field. In a little over a year he has upgraded the locker rooms, replaced the fencing down both lines, put in an entirely new backstop, put in new batting cages and replaced the old scoreboard with a $40,000 brand new one.

FRAZIER FIELD VIEW 1		FRAZIER FIELD VIEW 2
FRAZIER FIELD VIEW 3		FRAZIER FIELD VIEW 4
DUGOUT		BATTING CAGE
LOCKER ROOM		SCOREBOARD
WEIGHT ROOM VIEW 1		WEIGHT ROOM VIEW 2
WEIGHT ROOM VIEW 3		WEIGHT ROOM VIEW 4