Now that we're mentioning the Ed Smith Stadium complex at least once a day, some readers are wondering who exactly was Ed Smith?
Fair question.
Ed was a local businessman and longtime president of the Sarasota Sports Committee, who was the driving force behind the construction of the ballpark for the Chicago White Sox back in the 1980s. He passed away in 2006 at the age of 91.
It's unclear whether the ballpark will continue to be called Ed Smith Stadium. The Orioles will get naming rights to the facility when the renovation is complete, but have agreed to retain the plaque honoring Ed Smith that is prominent at the entrance to the stadium.
No decision has been reached on the eventual name of the remodeled stadium. It could still end up being called Ed Smith Stadium, or it could be called Oriole Park, or the club could sell the naming rights, though Peter Angelos has held naming rights to Oriole Park at Camden Yards since 2000 and has never even been tempted to put a corporate name on it.
The Orioles have agreed, however, to leave unchanged the name of the Buck O'Neill Complex at Twin Lakes Park, which honors the great Negro League player and first African-American coach in the major leagues.