For many people, Jim Frost’s legacy in the fastpitch softball universe is obvious: the stadium that bears his name at Warner Park in downtown Chattanooga.
However, those inside the sport say Frost, who died Thursday at the age of 79 due to complications from COVID-19, will be remembered for so much more.
“It’s unmatched what he’s done,” coach Frank Reed, whose University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team has called Jim Frost Stadium home since the venue opened more than 20 years ago, said in a school release Saturday.
“His legacy is unparalleled to a lot of things people have done here for Chattanooga softball. Jim will never be forgotten for all he has done for this community through the game of softball. I can’t imagine the game without him being involved.”
Frost Stadium, originally called “The Field of 1,000 Dreams,” has hosted the Southern Conference softball tournament 11 times, with UTC winning eight of those championships. It was also the site of the 2001 and 2002 SEC softball tournament. UTC’s release noted that the stadium’s first game, when the Mocs hosted Tennessee on April 20, 1998, drew a crowd of 3,521 with standing room factored into the number; its capacity of 3,500 is in the top five of NCAA Division I softball venues.