Water would not be a problem as the ground would be covered by Astro turf with a rubberized fill resembling sand. Mutz said up to 15,000 kids annually would visit such a complex that would be open 52 weeks a year.And with the kids come tourists, a projected 75,000 annually who would want to visit the museum and pump $20 million into the local economy. Offered would be 17 weeks of softball and baseball championship games as well as tournaments and a Fantasy Baseball camp.Such a concept “Sometimes scares people, they’re afraid so many visitors would tear up their community,” Mutz added, but such fears are not justified as the project will benefit any area where it can be created.
GMSP & Baseball: Legendary Cooperstown could be recreated in Ventura County
June 02, 2000
Santa Paula News
P.S.I. Sports Management is on the road and asking city’s to step up to the plate of a new enterprise celebrating and offering baseball.
Frank M. Mutz, assistant director of baseball for Oxnard-based P.S.I. spoke about the field of dreams at the May Good Morning Santa Paula! meeting, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and held at Logsdon’s at the Airport.Cooperstown, New York is the location of the Baseball Hall of Fame and although there are numerous fields for kids to play baseball, “it snows almost all the time,” said Mutz.The goal of P.S.I. is to recreate Cooperstown in sunny Ventura County, California, and funding for the project has been secured. Not so land, Mutz added, especially in the days of SOAR that limits use and availability.“Paige Odle said to look to Santa Paula,” for a possible home for the proposed 50-acre complex that would have two components for adults and children.“Teams come from all over the United States to play ball and the only other complex that is remotely close to Cooperstown is in Florida,” noted Mutz.Not only would such a baseball center infuse cash into the local economy, it would also broaden sports opportunities for area youth, he added.
