press box was enlarged to handle radio and
television broadcasts. A concession area,
permanent restroom facilities and an electronic scoreboard were also added.
Over the years, other additions have
included expanded sunken dugouts, an
automatic underground watering system,
underground french drainage system, a full-size infield tarp, Triple A specification lighting system, a state-of-the-art public address
system, four covered batting cages equipped
with pitching machines and covered bullpen
mounds.
Pete Taylor Park is complemented by the
Rogers, Thames and Welch Baseball Center,
which opened its doors in August of 2001. It
is located adjacent to the bleachers behind
home plate and down the first base line. The
complex provides the Golden Eagle program
with several amenities including a team
locker room, training room, meeting room,
an area for equipment storage and distribution, a laundry area, as well as coaches’
offices and dressing rooms for coaches
and umpires. During the summer of 2003,
the parking lot was paved and ornamental
fencing replaced the fence and gates at the
entrance of the park. A new scoreboard was
added in the 2005 summer with an electronic video board.
The 2008 season saw the addition of
12 luxury suites and a new press box. This
addition makes “The Pete” one of the few
collegiate baseball stadium in the nation
that offers luxury suites.
The addition includes two levels, both
of which are accessible by elevator. There
are eight luxury boxes on the first level and
the second level consist of four suites and a
working press box. There are also spacious
booths for both home and visiting radio
broadcast, a game operations booth and a
larger booth to accommodate live television needs.
Because of the tradition of the program
as well as the first-class facilities offered at
“The Pete”, Southern Miss has been selected
to host several tournaments, including the
1990 Metro Conference Tournament, the
inaugural Conference USA Tournament in
1996, the 2003 NCAA Hattiesburg Regional
Tournament, 2005 C-USA Tournament and
the 2009 C-USA Tournament.
Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field has
developed into one of the top baseball parks
in the South and is among the best in the
nation. The facility not only serves as the
home for Golden Eagle baseball but also is
used by various American Legion and high
school championship and all-star events.
Top Crowds at “The Pete”
Attendance Opponent
1. 5.689 Ole Miss
2. 5,658 LSU
3. 5,377 Ole Miss
4. 5,177 Mississippi State
5. 5, 132 Ole Miss
6. 4,770 Mississippi State
7. 4,760 Mississippi State
8. 4,705 Ole Miss
9. 4,673 Ole Miss
10. 4,601 Baylor^
11. 4,525 Mississippi State
12. 4,464 Mississippi State
13. 4,553 Southern^
14. 4,551 Mississippi State
15. 4,381 Tulane
- NCAA Hattiesburg Regional
Date
3/30/11
4/9/08
4/5/05
4/26/06
4/11/07
4/25/06
4/7/04
4/22/09
3/23/04
6/1/03
4/22/08
4/23/08
5/30/03
5/18/10
4/24/05
Year-by-Year Attendance
Year Total Attendance Date Average
1985* + 10,267 20 513
1986* 12,504 23 543
1987* 19,625 26 755
1988* 20,495 36 569
1989 16, 136 32 504
1990 30,764 31 992
1991 21,374 29 737
1992 21,065 33 638
1993 46,536 27 1,724
1994 62,542 33 1,895
1995 69,414 33 2, 104
1996 74,738 38 1,967
1997 67,999 31 2,193
1998 63,784 31 2,057
1999 51,572 30 1,719
2000 65,378 34 1,922
2001 60,339 29 2,080
2002 68,642 33 2,080
2003 68,398 32 2, 137
2004 85,433 30 2,847
2005 109,449 34 3,219
2006 109,200 33 3,309
2007 102,423 31 3,304
2008 106,040 31 3,421
2009 120,765 38 3,178
2010 95,468 29 3,292
2011 90,884 26 3,495
Attendance figures not available for some games
+ Attendance figures for games played at Pete Taylor Park only
Some home games were also played at Smokie Harrington Park
