The City of Orange Beach extends a warm invitation to its community members to attend the Opening Day of the 2024 Baseball and Softball season on Thursday, March 21st, at 5 p.m. at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. This year's event promises to be particularly memorable as it includes the dedication of Field 1 to the late Danny Martin, a dedicated public servant and pivotal figure in the development of the city's parks and recreational facilities. Martin, who passed away in August 2023, is celebrated for his over two decades of service to the community and his instrumental role in the creation and growth of the Orange Beach Sportsplex.

From the City of Orange Beach:

The community is invited to join the City of Orange Beach at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 21st at the Orange Beach Sportsplex for the 2024 Baseball and Softball Opening Day.

This year's Opening Day will be a special one as Field 1 will be dedicated to the late Danny Martin. Martin served the City of Orange Beach for more than 20 years in the Parks & Recreation Department and was the first manager of the Orange Beach Sportsplex. He retired from the City in 2016 but remained active in the sports tourism community in Foley. He passed away in August 2023.

A native Mobilian, Martin first moved to Orange Beach in 1982. Before working for the City, Martin became an EMT and a member of the Orange Beach Volunteer Fire Department. In early 1994, he began his career in the Orange Beach Parks & Recreation Department. As his obituary states, (John "Danny" Martin Obituary (2023) - Mobile, AL - AL.com), "It is here [in Orange Beach] where Danny would leave his mark on so many; helping with the development of the first baseball park in Orange Beach, which gave all of the local children a place to play ball, was something that Danny took special pride in. This was just the tip of the iceberg of what would become of youth sports in Orange Beach, for something much larger was on the horizon."

"In the spring of 2001, the Orange Beach Sportsplex was opened. At that time, there was nothing else like it in the area. This facility would ultimately be where Danny poured all his heart and soul. He wanted it to be the best facility anywhere and a place that all the area children and families could enjoy for generations to come."

"There weren't many days that you would go by the Sportsplex and not find Danny there working to ensure everything was right for everyone, even into the early hours of the next morning. To him, it wasn't just a job; it was his passion to ensure it was the best in the land. His sons often refer to it as being his baby. He loved nothing more than seeing the park full of children playing the games that he himself loved so much growing up. It would ultimately become a place for the local youth to play, and it also brought in hundreds, if not thousands, of teams from across the nation to play in tournaments hosted there."

Martin was instrumental in the growth of the Orange Beach Sportsplex and the City will honor his legacy this Thursday by dedicating Field 1 in his name, forever to be known as Danny Martin Field. Join us at 5 p.m.