Last October, while Houston Astros outfielder Josh Reddick was busy with his teammates nailing down a World Series championship, he found time to donate $1 million for the construction of a state-of-the-art baseball field in his native Effingham County, Georgia.

The field’s construction broke ground in November, began construction in February 2018, and was completed in April. Constructed by SCG Fields, it is part of the county’s new central Clarence E. Morgan Complex on the west side of Georgia State Highway 21 in Springfield, at 22 Josh Reddick Way.

Grand Opening of Josh Reddick Stadium was July 21.

During his decade in MLB, Reddick has fulfilled many of his dreams, like winning a gold glove (2012), securing a World Series ring and trophy, and now, this: Building a little league field for children with special needs, an achievement he’d likely deem his greatest, if not most satisfying.

It is the only stadium in the area that’s accessible to all children with special needs. Also, the entire field is turf, making it easier for those in wheelchairs. In addition to the artificial turf, which will be smooth and level for wheelchairs to traverse (with easy access to dugouts), Josh Reddick Stadium will have a 10-foot by 36-foot scoreboard, first-class stadium seats, great lighting and fences, and brick dugouts. “This will be a premier facility that will draw groups from all over Georgia and surrounding states,” Jan Landing, secretary of the Josh Reddick Foundation, told the Savannah Morning News last fall. “Reddick has been dreaming of doing something like this in his hometown for a while.” Speaking about the field recently, Reddick said, “It is always right to give back to where you grew up.” Reddick attended and played for the Mustangs of South Effingham High School, who retired his #24 jersey in 2013, the first ever for SEHS. Reddick frequently donates to causes in Effingham. In August 2017, he gave $10,000 to each of the county’s high schools, and $1,000 to the county’s animal shelter. Local sheriff Jimmy McDuffie presented Reddick a Good Citizen Award recently, and Reddick himself presented an award from his foundation to a student baseball player. Motivation Shortly after Josh was born, in 1987, his father lost two fingers on his right hand, and half of his left forearm in a work-related accident, and understandably, Reddick said it was difficult for his family at times. His father’s accident and its impact on his childhood was a large factor in him wanting to give back to Effingham County. “It’s absolutely over-the-top wonderful,” Wesley Corbitt, Effingham County Commissioners chairman, said of Reddick’s donation and plans for the field. He said it’s amazing that Reddick gives so much to youth in his home community. “We’re so appreciative.”

Reddick added that it will be a bigger accomplishment to see children’s faces and their joy while playing than the actual field finishing construction: “I think my heart’s gonna grow about five times; it’s gonna be heartwarming, it’s gonna be the best feeling, to see the faces and the excitement of the kids playing on it…hopefully get some wide eyes and jaw drops out of it.

“It’s a childhood dream come true.”

More Reddick All-Star Altruism

In April of this year, Reddick surprised Houston’s Kingwood High School baseball team with new jerseys he designed himself with the help of New Balance. That same team benefited last October from free playoff tickets Reddick and then-Astro Joe Musgrove (currently pitching for Pittsburgh) hand-delivered.

“It just says a lot about [Reddick]. He’s a class act,” Kingwood head coach Kelly Mead said after the uniform delivery. “He’s just your everyday guy, but he’s playing the game, the same game we play, at the highest level.”