Ball State names baseball stadium after former Cardinals pitcher

Ball State University is naming its baseball stadium after a former Cardinals pitcher and alumnus.  As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, he’ll also be funding a clubhouse project for the facility.

Michael Shebek (Photo provided by Ball State University)

Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell says Mike Shebek of the class of 1988 was a standout pitcher for the Cardinals.

“Mike was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles, but elected to pivot his professional career to business.”

A vote by the school’s Board of Trustees makes Shebek Stadium official.  And now, Shebek and his wife, Katie, are funding a $5 million clubhouse add-on.  Again, Jeff Mitchell.

“The fact that our baseball team – and softball team, for that matter – dress at Worthen Arena and then travel to their respective competition sites and practice sites to play and practice will be greatly enhanced when we build a clubhouse.”

Read More from 2014: Ball State names baseball and softball fields after First Merchants Corporation

The new clubhouse will have a locker room, player lounge, nutrition bar, and team meeting space.

Because of the project’s price tag, Ball State officials say the school will need to get approval from the state to begin construction.  If all goes well, it could be underway by the fall.

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Mitchell says the Shebek-funded study to design the clubhouse also designed one for Ball State’s softball team, but the school doesn’t have funding lined up for that addition yet.

Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host.  Contact her at [email protected].