Cliff Hagan Stadium (Officially named Shively Field at Cliff Hagan Stadium) was a baseball stadium located in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. Cliff Hagan Stadium or better known to Kentucky Wildcat baseball fans as "The Cliff" is on the southwest side of the university's campus, two blocks away from Kroger Field. Since its opening in 1969, the University of Kentucky Baseball called this place home for just under 50 years. The Wildcats then opened a $49 million baseball stadium called Kentucky Proud Park in 2019. Cliff Hagan Stadium had 7 coaches during its time and 15 All Americans. The stadium was renamed in 1993 in honor of Cliff Hagan, the Basketball Hall of Famer who had played at Kentucky during the 1950s under Adolph Rupp and returned to Kentucky as athletic director after his professional basketball playing days. It was extensively renovated in 2002. Following its final 2018 season, while construction was ongoing on its nearby replacement, it was used for UK baseball summer camps.[2] In 2023, "The Cliff" was torn down to make way for the university's indoor track and field complex.[3]

Cliff Hagan Stadium
Map
Former namesBernie A. Shively Sports Center (1969-1993)
Location700 Jerry Claiborne Way
Lexington, Kentucky 40506
OwnerUniversity of Kentucky
OperatorUniversity of Kentucky
Capacity3,000
Field sizeLeft Field: 340 feet
Left Center: 365 feet
Center Field: 390 feet
Right Center: 350 feet
Right Field: 310 feet[1]
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground1968
Opened1969
(renovated 1990, 2002)
Closed2018
Demolished2023
Construction costUSD4.2 million
(2002 renovation)
Tenants
Kentucky Wildcats (NCAA) (1969-2018)

In the wake of the Wildcats' surprising success in the 2006 season, which saw them win a regular-season Southeastern Conference title for the first time in over 30 years, coach John Cohen was signed to a five-year contract extension. Cohen left the program at the end of the 2008 season for his alma mater Mississippi State, where he served as athletic director from 2016 to 2022. His assistant Gary Henderson was then given the head coaching job.[4]

Reuse of stadium site

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Cliff Hagan stadium held its last game on May 13, 2018. Following the 2018 season and the stadiums closing summer camps were held at "The Cliff" for one more summer. But, in 2019 the University of Kentucky totally abandoned this stadium even through having a 4.2 million. dollar renovation in 2002. It was later demolished and the land was used for a new indoor track and field complex.[3]

Stadium records

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  • Longest Winning Streak: 12 (2012)
  • Most Runs Scored by UK: 27 vs. Tennessee-Martin (March 10, 2007)
  • Most Runs Scored by Both Teams: 44 - Mississippi State 28, Kentucky 16 (1989)
  • SEC Series Sweeps (3-game series): 12
  • SEC Series Wins (3-game series): 45

[5]

All-Americans

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University of Kentucky Players
Year Player Position
1976 Jimmy Sherrill OF
1981 Jeff Keener P
1987 Terry Shumpert 2B
1988 Chris Estep OF
1991 Rick Norton 3B
1993 Brad Hindersman DH
1994 Jeff Abbott OF
1996 Chad Green OF
1996 Sam White 2B
1999 John Wilson C
2006 Ryan Strieby 1B
2007 Sean Coughlin C
2008 Sawyer Carroll OF
2008 Collin Cowgill OF
2014 A.J. Reed 1B

[6]

List of coaches at Cliff Hagan Stadium

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Name Years
Nick Mingione 2017–Present
Gary Henderson 2009-2016
John Cohen 2004-2008
Keith Madison 1979-2003
Jordan Horne 1973-1978
Dick Parsons 1970-1972
Abe Shannon 1966-1969

[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Cliff Hagan Stadium". University of Kentucky. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. ^ "2018 Kentucky Baseball Camps". Kentucky Wildcats. March 20, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Construction Completed on Jim Green Track & Field Center". 13 December 2023. UK Athletics. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  4. ^ Harvey Lewis (June 6, 2008). "Cohen Leaves For Mississippi State Job, Henderson Hired". Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  5. ^ "Cliff Hagan Stadium". University of Kentucky Athletics. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  6. ^ "Kentucky Wildcats baseball", Wikipedia, 2021-02-27, retrieved 2021-12-07
  7. ^ "University of Kentucky Baseball History - The Baseball Cube". www.thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
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38°01′39″N 84°29′55″W / 38.02762°N 84.49872°W / 38.02762; -84.49872