The Slope That Sets Us Apart: Inside P.K. Yonge’s Outfield

At P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, Bobby Hawkins Field has one distinctive feature that sets it apart from virtually any other in the area — a sloping outfield that always brings excitement to both fans and outfielders alike.

Far from being a weakness, the natural tilt has become an identity — an attractive attribute that contributes character and a hint of unpredictability to every game. It’s what makes P.K. Yonge home games unique, adding individuality and personality to the field.

The ball yard at P.K. Yonge was once a landfill before the early 1960s, said Bobby Hawkins, the man who the field was named after. The slope was formed for better drainage after rain storms, he said. Even now, right field becomes a quagmire after a good soaking.

Perfecting the lean is a badge of honor for outfielders. It calls on a skill and understanding of situations, and P.K. Yonge players have perfected reading cunning bounces and making plays that are not necessary on flat ground. It’s an athletic test that sharpens their instincts and brings another element of depth to the game. Fly balls to center and right field become adventures if the outfielders don’t adjust on the run to the incline.

A star player at Manatee High in Bradenton and later a legendary coach at P.K. Yonge, Hawkins said the situation was worse for opposing teams before trees behind and at the side of the press box behind home plate reached full height, keeping the sun from also troubling outfielders. Battling the sun is still a thing.

The Blue Wave spent a lot of practice time working on outfield defense, Hawkins said about his tenure and nine-year coach Rob Brunson says about his drills today.

Batters have a clear advantage. They’ve come to love the outfield. Based on the ball’s contact with the incline, what would be an ordinary grounder, line drive or fly ball on a flat field has the potential to be a double, even a triple. The uncertainty keeps everybody in suspense and makes every at-bat seem like it has the potential to be a highlight-reel play. 

“It has been a clear advantage and teams have complained about it,” said Hawkins, who coached baseball at P.K. Yonge for 33 years until his retirement in 1997. “But, a field is a field. This is where we play. Some other teams’ fields may have their own advantages. You play where you have to play.”

Far from being a shortcoming, the sloping outfield is a fond part of P.K. Yonge baseball lore. It is part of an heir of uniqueness, energy, and a hint of home-field magic — something that the fans and the team can individually claim as their own.

In a sport where tradition reigns supreme, it’s great to have a field that goes against tradition and makes its own way. The slope is not just part of the field — it’s a part of P.K. Yonge baseball’s personality.