SAN JOSE, Calif. – Connie and Bob Lurie became big names in Bay Area baseball over 40 years ago. The Luries have given back to the sport and the Spartans with a matching gift to the San Jose State baseball practice field project. The couple will match any and all donations to the project up to $400,000, athletics director Marie Tuite announced on Tuesday.
"We are delighted to support Marie's work in completing the South Campus sports complex at San Jose State," Connie Lurie said. "The student-athletes are an important part of the university's Spartan family. By investing in this project, we believe this will further the vision of the South Campus project and will elevate the student-athlete experience at SJSU."
The Lurie's donation is the largest single gift in San Jose State baseball history.
Connie Lurie graduated from San Jose State in 1964. The university's Connie L. Lurie College of Education is named in her honor after a $10 million donation in 2007. The Luries, former owners of the San Francisco Giants, are involved in numerous philanthropic and charitable efforts around the Bay Area, including the Visiting Author Program at SJSU. Bob Lurie is a member of the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. The couple's daughter, Dana, is also a SJSU alum and many other members of their extended family are Spartans.
"Today is the latest thank you through the years to Connie and Bob Lurie for their lead gift to the San Jose State on-campus baseball practice facility," said Tuite. "In a recent conversation, the South Campus facility enhancements we've undertaken and completed in recent years was one of our talking points. Our baseball program has been without an on-campus practice facility for several years, and Connie, Bob and their daughter, Dana, recognized the importance of this project by their gracious gift. Thanks to the Luries, this creates much needed momentum and we have some work to do; however, we anticipate construction starting soon on a first-class practice facility. A sincere and heartfelt thank you to the Luries."
The baseball practice field is part of the two-phase Spartan Diamond project. The first phase is the construction of a practice field next to the East Fieldhouse on 10th street at an expected cost of $1.3 million. The practice field, located next to the current baseball locker room and coaches' offices, will give the team its own location to train while still playing games down the road at Excite Ballpark. The Spartans share the city-owned stadium with the San Jose Giants. The second phase of the project is the construction of a stadium around the existing practice field, continuing the transformation of the SJSU South Campus athletics facilities.
"Our student-athletes, coaches, and alumni are so appreciative and thankful for the generous gift from the Lurie family to Spartan Baseball!" said baseball head coach Brad Sanfilippo. "This is a huge step in breaking ground on our new practice facility on South Campus. The Lurie's gift has given this project momentum and its importance cannot be understated. We are forever grateful to Connie and Bob for their support of our student-athletes and the long-term success of Spartan Baseball."
GIVE TO THE BASEBALL PRACTICE FIELD PROJECT
Help the Spartans equal the Lurie's $400,000 matching gift by making a donation to the baseball practice field project. Contact Rob Clark (408-924-1175) in the Spartan Athletics Fund or click HERE to make a donation online. Learn more about the Spartan Athletics Fund by visiting https://sjsuspartans.com/feature/saf.