Today, newly-inducted Baseball Hall of Fame member Iván 'Pudge' Rodríguez, Fairfax County, Fairfax County Park Authority, Mason District Little League and the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation dedicated the fully-renovated Iván 'Pudge' Rodríguez Field at Mason District Park in Annandale, Va.
"I am truly excited to unveil Iván 'Pudge' Rodríguez field in Virginia," Rodríguez said. "Washington may not have been the place I played the longest, but I enjoyed every minute of my time with the team and in the D.C. area. I was honored when they approached me about the field project, and am thrilled to help provide a place for D.C.-area children to play baseball for years to come."
"As the first player to be inducted into Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame after wearing a Nationals uniform, I am proud to know a field in this area will bear my name," Rodríguez added.
Iván 'Pudge' Rodríguez Field is the Nationals Dream Foundation's second Legacy Field. Ryan Zimmerman Field, located a few blocks from Nationals Park in the Randall Recreation Center, was the first field completed as part of the Legacy Fields program in April 2016. Through this program, the Nationals Dream Foundation will renovate one youth baseball and/or softball field in the Washington, D.C. region each year.
"We are thrilled to open our second Legacy Field - Iván 'Pudge' Rodríguez Field," said Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, chair of the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation. "The Legacy Fields program is one of the core initiatives of the Dream Foundation, and the Nationals are excited to promote the growth of baseball and softball in our local area through this program. We look forward to continuing to use the power of baseball to improve the lives of children and teens in the Washington, D.C. region."
Iván 'Pudge' Rodríguez Field will accommodate both 46/60 and 50/70 styles of youth baseball play and will serve the surrounding community by hosting Mason District Little League games.
"Baseball is a true American tradition, enjoyed by fans of all ages. Baseball instills teamwork, strategy, and fair play - values that can shape every child and adult, regardless of their athletic ability," said Penelope A. Gross, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Mason District supervisor. "I want to thank the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation for underwriting this wonderful redesigned field for Mason District Little League, which celebrates a wonderful partnership between the Nats, Little League, and the Fairfax County Park Authority, for the benefit of our entire community."
"We are so overwhelmed at the generosity and sincere efforts by the Nationals organization - the ownership, staff, and players - to build up their surrounding communities and bring baseball to as many youth as possible," said Phil Headley, president of the Mason District Little League. "A project like this one by the Dream Foundation will enable us to attract and serve more Annandale, Falls Church and Alexandria youth and we will be able to enrich our vibrant scholarship program to enable players in our area the ability to play and compete regardless of their economic situation."
As the charitable arm of the Washington Nationals, the Nationals Dream Foundation is committed to using the power of baseball to improve the lives of children and teens in the Washington, D.C. region by supporting initiatives focused on academics, the arts, nutrition and sports. For more than a decade, the Nationals Dream Foundation has been making a direct impact on the surrounding community. The Dream Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. More information about the Nationals Dream Foundation can be found at nationals.com/Dream.