Clemson to Dedicate Doug Kingsmore Stadium Wednesday

April 7, 2003

The dedication of Doug Kingsmore Stadium will take place Wednesday evening, April 9 just prior to the final meeting of the year between Clemson and South Carolina. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:15 PM. The game will be televised by Comcast/Charter Southeast.

Clemson has spent the last year significantly renovating the stadium to include a new press box, batting cages, seats, dugouts, an entrance, and eating and restroom facilities, changes that make it among the top stadiums in the nation.

The facility is named after former Clemson baseball player Doug Kingsmore, who starred for the Clemson team from 1951-54. He played an important role in the financing of the renovation project and he will be on hand along with his entire family for the ceremonies on Wednesday evening. His grandson, Tyler, will throw out the first pitch. Joining the Kingsmore family on the field prior to the game will be Clemson President Jim Barker, Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips, and the entire Clemson team.

Kingsmore entered Clemson on a partial baseball scholarship after a brilliant high school career at Union High School in Union, SC. There, he earned 10 varsity letters in three sports, baseball (4), football (3), and basketball (3).

At Clemson, his four-year career batting average was .346. Playing all three outfield positions, his career fielding percentage was a near-perfect .996. Kingsmore was a member of four all-state teams while at Clemson and had a four-year slugging percentage of .646. In his senior year, he led the ACC in home runs (10) in only 77 at bats, thus averaging a homer every 7.7 at bats. His home run record at Clemson stood until expanded schedules in the late 1960s.

He was a co-captain of the 1954 Tigers that won Clemson’s first ever ACC Championship in any sport. He also received first-team All-ACC honors and honorable mention All-America recognition. His senior year, he signed a contract with the Baltimore Orioles after the 1954 NCAA Playoffs and played professional baseball for three years in the Tri-State, Carolina, and Texas Leagues.

Kingmore gave up pro baseball after three years to begin one of many successful business ventures. He became a member of Clemson’s Board of Trustees in 1990.