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They tried to be patient. They really did.
But the children waiting to see Luis "Gonzo" Gonzalez squirmed as executives from APS and the Arizona Diamondbacks took turns at the podium. While they were glad to have a new baseball diamond, they were there to see Gonzo.
 Since 2000, the Diamondbacks Foundation has built or refurbished 19 baseball fields as part of the "Diamonds Back" Youth Field Building Program. As the program's corporate sponsor, APS has joined with the Diamondbacks, local businesses, and with individual players to help build quality facilities which allow children from across the state to play baseball and softball at quality facilities.
Then, just when it seemed the children would storm the podium, he appeared. Diamondbacks left fielder Luis Gonzalez stood up and hit a home run for the community with the dedication of the Luis Gonzalez in Tempe.
At the 2002 dedication of Curt Schilling Field in Phoenix, APS CEO Bill Pos talked about APS' commitment to children and the community.
"This field will bring great joy to the community, but more importantly, it will help teach children teamwork, commitment and dedication," said Post. adding that the field was a small part of the overall commitment APS makes to the community.
Luis Gonzales with members of APS,
the "Diamonds Back" Youth Field Building Program, corporate sponsor
APS, the Diamondbacks and individual players each have paid approximately one-third of the field’s cost. APS employees and members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have donated many hours of volunteer labor installing the field’s lights. The fields generally feature new lights, an electronic scoreboard, new fencing and backstops, new irrigation and new dirt and grass. The locations of the fields are determined through a grant process.
The following is a list of fields that have been dedicated:
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Luis Gonzalez Field in Tempe, dedicated September 26, 2005
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Shawn Green Field in Peoria, dedicated September 13, 2005
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Troy Glaus Field in Casa Grande, dedicated May 25, 2005
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2004 dedications: Danny Bautista Field in Phoenix, Shea Hillenbrand Field in Chandler, Elmer Dessens Field in Tucson
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2003 dedications: Matt Mantei Field in Tempe, Mark Grace Field in Flagstaff, Miguel Batista Field in Sacaton, Jerry Colangelo Field in South Phoenix
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2002 dedications: Todd Stottlemyre Field in Guadalupe, Armando Reynoso Field in Yuma, Brian Anderson Field in Glendale, Steve Finley Field in Phoenix, Curt Schilling Field in Phoenix
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2001 dedications: Randy Johnson Field in Phoenix, O'Callaghan Field in Phoenix
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2000 dedications: Jay Bell Field in Phoenix, and Matt Williams Field in Phoenix
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