London's rich baseball history will once again come to life at Labatt Park this summer.
Tourism London has announced it will begin offering guided tours of the world’s oldest continuously used baseball grounds as of next Tuesday. This is the third year the behind the scenes look has been provided.
Labatt Park opened in 1877 and spans 8.7 acres. In addition to being recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest baseball grounds, it is considered one of the prettiest ballparks in Canada because of its natural grass and close proximity to the Forks of the Thames. It was designated a historic site by the city in 1994 and is the home of the London Majors.
The tours across the park are led by a knowledgeable guide with stories of the famous teams and players who have pitched, hit, and ran for home plate over the past 146 years. Some of the legendary players to come to the park include Fergie Jenkins, Ty Cobb, Satchel Paige, Jesse Owens, and Deion Sanders.
The tour ends inside the original 1937 Roy McKay Clubhouse, where artifacts dating back to the early 20th century can be viewed.
More than 600 people from as far away as Philadelphia, Oregon, Halifax, and Mexico have taken advantage of the tours since they were introduced in 2021. Earlier this year, the tours won the local history award at the London Heritage Awards for their insightful and factual look into the past.
The tours will run every Tuesday to Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. until the end of August. Tours must be booked through labattparktours.com at least one day in advance and admission for teens and adults is $5. Children 12 and under get in for free.