The Historical Society of Avon ParkAVON PARK, FL · EST. 1886
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Charles R. Head Field Today

Charles R. Head Field is an active municipal ballpark complex located at 400 N. Anoka Avenue in Avon Park, Florida.[city-head-field][osm-avon-park-streets] Built in the 1920s as Cardinal Field, the facility is owned by the City of Avon Park and serves as the home field for the Avon Park High School Red Devils baseball team.[city-head-field][newssun-avon-park-home-baseball][newssun-strange-gordon-wants-purchase]

Facility and municipal management

The Head Field Complex is situated on the east side of North Anoka Avenue, immediately south of West Ruth Street (at approximately 27.60309° N, 81.51125° W).[city-head-field][osm-avon-park-streets] The municipal property is managed by the City of Avon Park Public Works Department and consists of one regulation baseball field and one practice field.[city-head-field]

The field maintains historical continuity with the original 1927–1929 spring training facility constructed for the St. Louis Cardinals.[newssun-avon-park-home-baseball] It sits within walking distance of other local baseball landmarks, including West Ruth Street, Hal McRae Boulevard, and the Avon Park Depot & Baseball Museum on Museum Avenue. Details on the museum and surrounding historical markers are in Visiting the Avon Park Baseball Museum.

High school athletic use

Head Field serves as the varsity home diamond for the Avon Park High School Red Devils baseball program.[newssun-avon-park-home-baseball][newssun-strange-gordon-wants-purchase] Multiple generations of local players have competed on the field, including high school alumni who went on to professional careers in Major League Baseball, notably pitcher Tom “Flash” Gordon and infielder/outfielder Dee Strange-Gordon.[newssun-avon-park-home-baseball][newssun-strange-gordon-wants-purchase] The history of eight FHSAA state championships won by teams playing at Head Field is detailed in Avon Park High School Baseball: Championships, Coaches, and Professional Alumni. Player histories and alumni records are detailed in The Gordon Family: Tom, Dee, and Nick and Avon Park in the Majors.

2026 purchase inquiry and renovation proposal

In January 2026, eleven-year MLB veteran and Avon Park native Dee Strange-Gordon presented a proposal to the School Board of Highlands County to purchase and renovate Charles R. Head Field using personal funds.[newssun-strange-gordon-wants-purchase] Strange-Gordon, joined at the meeting by his father Tom Gordon, envisioned upgrading the facility into a central Florida youth baseball training hub, with long-term aspirations of hosting an annual Major League Baseball spring training exhibition game.[newssun-strange-gordon-wants-purchase]

The proposal aimed to leverage private ownership to secure grant funding from The Players Alliance, a non-profit organization established by professional baseball players to create youth sports pathways and opportunities in underserved communities.[newssun-strange-gordon-wants-purchase]

During the meeting, Highlands County School Superintendent Brenda Longshore clarified that the school district does not own Head Field, confirming that legal title and municipal control belong to the City of Avon Park.[newssun-strange-gordon-wants-purchase] Superintendent Longshore expressed support for the concept and advised Strange-Gordon to bring the petition before the Avon Park City Council for consideration.[newssun-strange-gordon-wants-purchase]

References

Where this comes from

Evidence
corroborated — More than one independent source agrees.
Review
unverified — Drafted from sources but not yet checked by a volunteer.
Rights
public-domain

Sources

  1. Head Field Complex — City of Avon Park Parks & Recreation (2026) · official
  2. Nominatim / OpenStreetMap — Avon Park street names and coordinates (2026) · secondary
  3. Elaine Levey, Avon Park: home of baseball legends — Highlands Sun (2021) · newspaper
  4. Marc Valero, Strange-Gordon wants to purchase Head Field — Highlands News-Sun (2026) · newspaper

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