Diamondbacks name Goodyear field after Paul Goldschmidt

The biggest amount of credit and focus is often given to sports teams’ on-field exploits, but it is often the off-the-field actions that shape their communities the most.

One program that looks to help the Arizona community is the Arizona Diamondbacks’ “Diamondbacks Back” Youth Field Building Program, which introduced Paul Goldschmidt Field at Falcon Park in Goodyear on Tuesday, as reported by Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.

The refurbishing of the field began on Feb. 6 and included the implementation of a new scoreboard, fencing, windscreen, sports lighting system and fixtures, irrigation system, sod and stabilizer.

Gilbert wrote that Goldschmidt was honored by the opportunity to have his name associated with a field.

“I was thinking about it from a kid’s point of view,” Goldschmidt said. “I know when I was their age if I was able to play on a field that was named after a Houston Astro or a Major League player, it would’ve been pretty cool. I would’ve looked forward to playing on it. So instead of looking at it from my point of view, I looked at it from their point of view.”

Paul Goldschmidt Field is the 39th built or refurbished baseball and softball field courtesy of the program, which has been in practice since 2000. This is the equal to a community investment of more than $10 million, according to the program’s webpage.

The project is put on by put on by the Arizona Public Service Company and Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation.

Last year, the organization dedicated the J.J. and Kelsey Putz Field in Phoenix and the Randy Johnson Hall of Fame Field and D-backs Legends Field in Payson.