Turkey Hughes Field at Earle Combs Stadium

Eastern Kentucky University Athletics

Gallery: (7/28/2019) Earle Combs Stadium

• Originally opened in 1966 and named for legendary coach Charles "Turkey" Hughes, Turkey Hughes Field at Earle Combs Stadium has been home to 13 of the program's 19 conference championship teams. The field has dimensions of 330 ft. X 415 ft. X 340 ft.

• Lights were added to the facility in the spring of 2014.

• A multi-million dollar renovation was completed in March 2017. The transforming renovations include new team dugouts and a climate controlled press box, which accommodates enhanced radio and video broadcasts. The new grandstand features a brick facade and more than 900 seats, including 429 chair back seats, along with handicap-accessible seating and a new concession area equipped with restrooms. An entry plaza for pregame gatherings was also added. A canopy provides coverage for fans in the stands, and improve the pitcher's view of home plate.

• A new team locker room and player development hitting facility along with banners celebrating the accomplishment of former and current Colonel student-athletes was added as well. The player development hitting facility provides the team with an area to practice during any weather conditions.

• In 2021, EKU added state-of-the-art synthetic turf over the entire field that allows the Colonels to practice and play games in all conditions.

• Following the 2022 season, Trackman was installed at Earle Combs Stadium. Trackman, which is used by every MLB team but not by all Atlantic Sun Conference teams, provides the technology to track spin rate, release angle, vertical movement and horizontal movement for pitchers; exit speed, launch angle and distance for hitters; and much more. In addition to being a valuable developmental tool internally, Trackman also provides valuable information about the Colonels to MLB scouts.

• Most recently a brand new Daktronics videoboard was installed before the 2023 season.

• The stadium is named in honor of Hall of Famer Earle Combs. While a student at Eastern Kentucky, through persuasion of his friends and the students who saw him hit two home runs against the faculty in a practice game, he decided to go out for the Eastern team. He immediately became a member of the team and a hero to the students, slamming at least one home run in every game he played and compiling a .596 batting average that first year. Combs played for the New York Yankees from 1924-35, compiling a lifetime batting average of .325. He was the lead-off hitter for the great "Murderer's Row" Yankee teams. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York, July 26, 1970.