COPLAY, Pa. — “What did we learn? Never say never.”
Coplay Mayor Stephen Burker was adamant with this statement as the evening set in at Samuel Balliet Stadium on 131 N. Eighth St.
It would be the first time in well over a decade that the stadium would see a night game, as the lights had been out of commission since 2012, when they were damaged and removed following Superstorm Sandy.
“Usually at a baseball game, we start with those two famous words we all know, ‘Play ball!’ Tonight, we're saying, ‘Let there be lights!’"State Representative Jeanne McNeill
But thanks to the efforts of state Rep. Jeanne McNeill and state Sen. Nick Miller — in addition to Burker’s determination — night games have returned to Balliet.
Despite repeated attempts at fundraising efforts, the lights were just about always out of reach, until McNeill and Miller were able to lock down a half-million-dollar grant.
The stadium, which serves as a hub for a community that adores baseball, is named after Coplay’s American Legion baseball coach Samuel “Sammy” Balliet, known for winning six state championships before he died in 1974.
Over the years, the stadium has hosted American Legion, Junior Legion, and other youth tournaments, as well as serving the high school league and District 11 tournaments and championships. The facility has received a facelift since 2012, with a new field contributed by the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, along with a new scoreboard and sound system.
“I'm the luckiest guy around to be a mayor of one square mile of God's little masterpiece, the little town that could, and as Jeanne McNeill just reminded me, we're also the little town that did. It’s just very humbling to be a part of all of this,” Burker said before passing the podium off to Miller.
Thinking back on his election victory and taking office in 2023, Miller said one of the very first community asset investments he sought out was to fund the replacement of the lights at Balliet, as per the request of Burker.
“And it's such a community asset… the Lehigh Valley has a long history of athletic superstars, and you know, Saquon Barkley and all of our high school sports and community sports as well. I’m just really proud to stand up here with Jeannie McNeill, our state rep, and deliver on an asset that we wanted to invest in as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Miller, D-Lehigh/Northampton.
Reminiscing about playing under the tutelage of Balliet himself, former Allentown Mayor Ray O’Connell talked of just falling short of winning the state finals, winning a sportsmanship award — which he still has — and how even 56 years later, being at the stadium touched his heart so much.
“I know Sammy is looking down today from heaven – and Yogi told me his tombstone is one block down, straight down the alley – knowing and smiling that the young ball players of today will be playing under the lights. There's nothing like playing night baseball,” O’Connell said, later closing out his statements by asking the crowd if they had ever been addressed with a particularly saucy term Balliet reserved for his closest and most beloved players and seeing several old timers raising their hands and laughing.
Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong spoke of the love of baseball, an enthusiasm evident throughout the region, from the IronPigs down to the children’s leagues.
“We came out because it starts right here, and that's why I've always been so proud to be a sports fan, especially in this area, with our youth programs, our high school programs, and how we brought them right up through,” Armstrong said.
McNeill commended the efforts of borough, county, regional, and state officials, along with the support of area residents, in their mission to bring the lights back to the stadium. Despite rising prices and other impediments, in the end, it took the work of a community to make it happen.
"It's a great day for Sammy Balliet Stadium and the borough of Coplay,” said McNeill, D-Lehigh.
“Usually at a baseball game, we start with those two famous words we all know, ‘Play ball!’ Tonight, we're saying, ‘Let there be lights!’ Baseball under the lights, it’s one of the best times of year to spend a summer or fall night, whether you're a player, parent, grandparent or just coming to watch good baseball.
"You never forget coming to watch games in the night, and now baseball at night is finally returned to Coplay and the house that Sammy built.”
Coplay Sports Executive Board President Tim Grohotolsky, who Burker said was integral to the project, also expressed thanks for the work of Coplay Borough Council, Miller, McNeill, and everyone else “for getting it taken care of and the countless hours and time put into it.”
Just before the crew hit those lights to start a couple of innings with the Whitehall High School baseball team, Burker rounded back to what he emphasized at the start of the event, stressing that with teamwork and tenacity, anything can be achieved.
“Never say never,” Burker said.
