In haste! Today's post is the press release issued by the Harry Dallara Foundation on the occasion of the dedication ceremony for the newly renovated youth fields and the installation of a bronze plaque at Duncan Park on Saturday, May 3rd.

The Harry Dallara Foundation itself commemorates the memory of Harry Dallara, a citizen of Spartanburg, South Carolina, during and after his Infantry training for the United States Army at Camp Croft during World War II. After the War Harry had a career selling tires at Sears Roebuck and Company in Spartanburg while he raised his sons on the Northside of Spartanburg, instilling in them a lifelong love of baseball and a belief in the worth of all human beings, no matter their race, ethnic origin, faith, or other characteristics which many people use as the cause for division and discord. In retirement Harry became "the rose guy" at Converse College in Spartanburg, cultivating the campus rose bushes and gifting students with rose blossoms on their birthdays.

 Grand Opening of Duncan Park Youth Ballfields And Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Saturday, May 3, 2025 

The Harry Dallara Foundation and the City of Spartanburg will hold a Grand Opening and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for two newly renovated Youth Ballfields at Duncan Park on May 3, 2025. The program will feature baseball activities for youth from Duncan Park and all of Spartanburg. Speeches will be made by many dignitaries, including the Honorable Jerome Rice, Mayor of Spartanburg, David James, the VP of Major League Baseball (MLB) for Youth Sports, and two former Major League All-Stars, Bobby Richardson and Marquis Grissom. The day’s events will also include the unveiling of a special bas-relief plaque honoring the Spartanburg Sluggers, the Negro League team that played at Duncan Park for over 40 years, as well as a screening of the award-winning movie “The Other Boys of Summer,” a feature film about the Negro Leagues. 

The Honorable Mayor Jerome Rice announced “May 3rd will be another banner day for baseball in Spartanburg. Just as we are unveiling a new stadium, Fifth Third Park, for the Hub City Spartanburgers, we will be celebrating the revitalization of youth baseball in the City by having the Grand Opening of two renovated Youth Ballfields at Duncan Park. I extend my warmest congratulations to the Harry Dallara Foundation and all our partners who have brought about this major contribution to youth sports in Spartanburg. We look forward to young boys and girls taking advantage of these newly renovated facilities from every corner of the City, knowing that one day we may see a native of Spartanburg playing baseball at Fifth Third Park after starting at Duncan Park, the historic home of baseball in our City.” 

Chairman of the Board of the Harry Dallara Foundation Charles Dallara added “We are very excited that the years of collaboration between our Foundation, the City of Spartanburg and many partners from this wonderful town have brought us to this moment when we can take this major step forward to promote baseball to the youth of Spartanburg. The enhancements made to these two ballfields will create a welcoming location for all youth in the City to learn the skills of baseball and the value of teamwork, broadening the reach of youth baseball into all neighborhoods.” The Harry Dallara Foundation April 11, 2025 

The ballfield renovations include two enhanced ballfields, new seating for both players and spectators, a beautiful plaza between the two fields, and a completely refurbished bathroom and concession area. The Project has benefited from strong support from the Mary Black Foundation, Spartanburg America Legion Post 28, OneSpartanburg, The Youth Sports Bureau, Hillbrook League, University of South Carolina Upstate, Converse University, Clayton Construction, MLB’s Nike RBI Program, Play, Advocate, Live Well (PAL), and Spartanburg High School District 7. The Project has also benefited greatly from the philanthropic support of leading businesswomen and businessmen from Spartanburg County as well Harry Dallara Foundation supporters throughout the US and abroad. 

The public is invited to attend all of these activities, which are all free. If you plan to attend the dinner and evening movie screening, please register at HarryDallaraFoundation@gmail.com. Special commemorative t-shirts, baseball caps and baseballs will be available for sale as part of the Foundation’s fundraising, including select baseballs co-signed by MLB stars, Bobby Richarson and Marquis Grissom. 

Events of the Day   10am-12:00pm – Baseball Clinic for youth from Duncan Park and other areas in the City of Spartanburg, guided by Luther Norman and Kim Brown with the support from the MLB RBI Program, USC Upstate Baseball Team and Converse University Softball Team

Formal Program: 12:00 – 1:00pm   Posting of Colors by Spartanburg American Legion Post 28 Honor Guard, followed by the National Anthem sung by Sarah Frances Henderson  Emcee - Kim Brown – Director, Parks, Recreation & Special Events  Speakers to include:  The Honorable Jerome Rice – Mayor, City of Spartanburg  Mitch Kennedy – Deputy City Manager  Charles Dallara – Chairman, The Harry Dallara Foundation  David James – Major League Baseball, VP Youth Sports  Bobby Richardson - Major League Baseball 8x All Star, World Series MVP, and 5x Gold Glove Winner  Marquis Grissom - Major League Baseball 2x All-Star, World Series Champion and 4x Gold Glove Winner  Luther Norman – Youth Sports Bureau  Sam Foster – Director, The Harry Dallara Foundation  Todd Horne – Clayton Construction

 Ribbon-cutting Ceremony   Unveiling of plaque for The Spartanburg Sluggers  All speakers and guests gather before the plaque. Special comments by Ed Epps and Marquis Grissom

 1:00 – 2:15pm - Exhibition game with teams from the Hillbrook League with support from the HubCity Spartanburgers

 Saturday evening: Daniel Recital Hall - Converse University [405 Blackman Music Cir, Spartanburg, SC 29302]  5:45pm Light dinner  6:30-7:30pm Screening of the movie, The Other Boys of Summer – introduced by Lauren Meyer with conversation to follow, led by Marquis Grissom. Co-hosted by Laura Ringo and PAL