Oestrike Stadium - Ypsilanti, MI
N 42° 15.469 W 083° 38.885
17T E 281571 N 4681797
Oestrike Stadium is the home field for the Eastern Michigan Eagles men's baseball team in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It was built in 1911 and named after Ronald E. Oestrike, a former baseball coach at the school.
Waymark Code: WM1C5X1
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 06/10/2025
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The Place
"Oestrike Stadium is a stadium in Ypsilanti, Michigan at Eastern Michigan University. It is named after Ron Oestrike, a former baseball coach at EMU. It is primarily used for baseball, and serves as the Eastern Michigan University Eagles baseball team home field. In addition, it served as the home field of the Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti Frontier League baseball team in 2009 and 2010 (the Sliders were renamed the Oakland County Cruisers their second season at Oestrike Stadium as a result of their planned move to Waterford Township). Several present and former major leaguers, including Bob Welch, Bob Owchinko, Bryan Clutterbuck, Pat Sheridan, and Brian Bixler, played at Oestrike Stadium as members of the EMU baseball team.
Constructed in 1971, Oestrike Stadium is named after Ronald E. Oestrike. Ronald "Oak" Oestrike was a former Baseball Coach. Oestrike served as a head baseball coach from 1965 to 87. Oestrike Stadium has 2,500 seats for baseball and softball events. It hosted the Mid- American Conference Baseball Tournament in 2007. In 2008, Bruce Springsteen performed at Oestrike Stadium in support of Barack Obama during his presidential candidacy. The stadium has gone through several renovations to update cosmetic needs. Oestrike stadium is located near Westview Apartments and Rynearson Stadium."-
Oestrike Stadium
The Person
"Ron Oestrike, EMU's head baseball coach from 1965-87, will receive the Distinguished Service Award. Oestrike was the main force behind the rejuvenation of the E-Letter Winners Club in the late 1980s. Oestrike began his college career as a two-sport star, lettering in both baseball and football at EMU. After graduating from EMU in 1954, Oestrike went on earn a master's degree from the University of Michigan, served a two-year tour with the U.S. Army and become a high-school football coach at Trenton High School.
Oestrike returned to EMU in 1963 and the rest was history. He spent the next 24 years developing the EMU baseball program into one of the very finest in the nation. During his 22-year reign as head coach, "Oak" led the baseball squad to unprecedented heights, including leading the team to an NAIA national championship in 1970; a runner-up spot in the 1976 NCAA College World Series; a fifth-place finish in the 1975 NCAA College World Series; four Mid-American Conference championships, and five NCAA Regional appearances on the way to a 633-492-8 overall record.
Oestrike was singled out as the NCAA National Coach of the Year in 1976 by The Sporting News and went on to become the president of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) in 1985. He was inducted into the E-Club Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979 and was selected to the ABCA Hall of Fame in 1990. In addition to his coaching prowess, Oestrike took over the task of taking over a floundering E-Letter Winners Club in 1990. Through his hard work and ability to attract new leaders, he helped lead the E-Club to one of the top alumni chapters at EMU."-
Five to be inducted into EMU Hall of Fame