Murray State University Athletics
Johnny Reagan Field at Taylor Family Park History & Notes
The home of Racer baseball was renamed Johnny Reagan Field at Taylor Family Park following a transformational gift from the Taylor family. The venue opened after the original Reagan Field site was cleared in 1987 to make room for the Martha Layne Collins Industry and Technology Building. With the new field under construction, Murray State played a "suitcase season" the following year, taking all 37 of its games off campus.
The Racers played their first game at the current site March 11, 1989, against Eastern Illinois. Rick Grogan threw the first pitch and Willie Wilder hit the first Murray State home run there. On March 30, 1989, the field was the site of Reagan's 700th career coaching victory, a 7-5 win over Lincoln Memorial. The field was dedicated April 15, 1989.
The facility has been upgraded steadily since. Lights and grandstand seating were added in 2014, a press box in 2015, and a padded outfield wall and wind screening along the side fences in 2016. The field has symmetrical dimensions, measuring 330 feet down the foul lines, 375 feet in the power alleys and 400 feet to straightaway center.
Last spring, the field hosted the 2026 MVC baseball tournament, the first Missouri Valley Conference Championship event held at Murray State.
Reagan coached the Thoroughbreds for 36 years, from 1958 to 1993, compiling 776 wins, 11 Ohio Valley Conference titles and nine OVC Coach of the Year honors. He was inducted into the Murray State Hall of Fame in 1971 and the OVC Hall of Fame in 1988.
