San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
The story behind a ballfield’s name
I’ve lived in Escondido for 26 years, frequently visiting Washington Park in the middle of town. A youth baseball field sits in a far corner of the park, by tennis courts, a pool and along a portion of the Escondido Creek paved bicycle trail.
Throughout the years, I’ve noticed a brown wooden sign with white lettering that identifies the field: John C. Adams Memorial Field 1959-1971. Every time I would see it, I wondered who was this boy? He was just a kid.
Last week, I finally decided to try to find out. I Googled his name and came up with just a name, birth year, year of death and age among those buried at Oak Hill Memorial Park in Escondido. “John Charles Adams” - 1959-1971 - age 12.
I then called the Escondido History Center, where Robin Fox, the executive director, answered. She did some research and found three articles and a photograph from the archived Escondido Times-advocate. John Charles Adams was actually only 11. He attended Rose Elementary. He played Little League baseball for Williamson Septic. On June 16, 1971, the team was set to play Foster’s Freeze on the field at Grant School.
During warmups, a ball glanced off his first baseman’s mitt and struck him over the heart. He fell to the ground. The manager of his team tried to resuscitate him. An ambulance took him to Palomar hospital, where he died. He was survived by his mom and dad and two older brothers.
The Washington Park field was dedicated in his honor on July 29, 1971. The sign unveiled almost 52 years ago appears unchanged to this day. But it’s no longer just a sign to me anymore.