UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; May 18, 2005 - Today marked the beginning of a new era for the Penn State baseball team, as ground was broken for a new ballpark on the University Park campus. Approved by the Board of Trustees on Friday, the new park will be shared by the Penn State baseball team and a minor league baseball team, which will be led by the ownership group of the Altoona Curve.

A host of dignitaries, led by Gov. Edward G. Rendell, state Sen. Jake Corman and state Senate President Bob Jubelirer, were on hand to turn the dirt and officially begin the construction phase of the project.

"This new ballpark represents a deep commitment to Penn State's oldest intercollegiate sport," said Penn State President Dr. Graham Spanier. "And it represents a commitment to tourism in the region.

The new ballpark will be named Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. A gift by Anthony Lubrano, a 1982 Penn State graduate and President of A.P. Lubrano & Co. Inc., in honor of Charles Medlar, a former trainer and baseball coach at Penn State, comprises a portion of the funds provided by Intercollegiate Athletics in the construction of the new facility.

"This is not just a baseball park for Penn State," said Sen. Corman. "It is also a stadium for the community."

"I've been to Altoona Curve games, and you'll be happy to know that nobody does it better," said Gov. Rendell. "I liked the uniqueness of this plan from the beginning. I'm going to try to move that concept around the Commonwealth."

The ballpark plans, designed by L. Robert Kimball and Associates, include a variety of seating options for up to 6,000 spectators, along with Penn State coaches' offices, minor league administrative offices and clubhouses for Penn State, a minor league team and visiting teams. The project also will include 502 new paved parking spaces along Porter Road, and existing parking at The Bryce Jordan Center and Beaver Stadium can be used to support the new ballpark.

Reinforcing an "athletic village" concept, the designs for the new ballpark complement the nearby Bryce Jordan Center, Beaver Stadium and the Multisport Indoor Facility, featuring brick, metal, concrete block and glass in the construction. Designs for the park also include field lights and a scoreboard. The ballpark will be oriented to the east, offering views of Mount Nittany.

Medlar came to Penn State in 1938, and was a football tackle, basketball center and baseball pitcher. He left in 1941 to play professional baseball in the Detroit Tigers system, and later returned to Penn State to earn his bachelor's and master's degrees. Upon his graduation in 1946, Medlar joined the football athletic training staff as an assistant. He served as head trainer from 1946 to 1978, serving under former football coaches Bob Higgins, Joe Bedenk and Rip Engle, as well as current head coach Joe Paterno. In 1963, Medlar became Penn State's 10th head baseball coach after serving 14 years as an assistant and pitching coach.

During his 19 seasons, Medlar, who also was an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Education, compiled a 312-141-6 record for a .686 winning percentage with six of his squads finishing the season ranked in the Top 30. He closed out his career as the second-winningest coach in school history. In 1985, the Penn State baseball team began honoring Medlar with the Charles Medlar Award, given annually to the outstanding pitcher on the team.

Lubrano's gift -- the second-largest made by an individual to support a Penn State athletic facilities project -- was a significant step in the construction of the new baseball facility.

"I am proud and excited to be a part of Penn State baseball's past and future," said Lubrano. "The program is rich in tradition and I'm hopeful this gift will inspire additional donors to be a part of a very special effort."

Construction of the new ballpark is expected to be complete in June 2006. The Penn State baseball team is expected to play all of its home games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in 2007.

"This is a great day for Penn State baseball," said first-year head baseball coach Robbie Wine. "As a team, and as a coaching staff, we are very excited to break ground here today. We are looking forward to watching the ballpark develop, and we are anxious to begin play there in 2007."

View artist renderings of the new ballpark and a photo of the site at http://live.psu.edu/still_life/2005_05_13_bot/index.html

For more information on Nittany Lion baseball, please visit Penn State's official athletic website at www.GoPSUsports.com.