Jan. 18, 2013

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Los Angeles, Calif. - The UCLA Baseball team is set to present a new 17X49 LED video board before the start of the Alumni Game on Saturday, Jan. 26. The new scoreboard, donated by the Gifford Foundation, will provide UCLA with one of the largest video displays in the Pac-12 Conference.

The Bruins plan to present the new state-of-the-art video board before the Young-Timer's Alumni Game with a short ceremony at 12 pm on Jan. 26.

"We would like to thank Rhodine Gifford and the Gifford Family for their generosity and continued support of Bruin Baseball," head coach John Savage said. "The state-of-the-art scoreboard that was funded by the Gifford Foundation is one of the finest on any collegiate campus. The foundation that was started by the late Jack Gifford has been an integral part in making Jackie Robinson Stadium one of the premier college baseball facilities in the nation. Jack was one of the greatest supporters of UCLA Baseball and many former and current Bruins know how important it is to keep his legacy going."

The Gifford Foundation, established by the late Jack Gifford and his wife Rhodine, has helped fund numerous projects over the years for UCLA's baseball program. In December of 2009, the foundation helped UCLA build a state-of-the-art hitting facility. The team's 10,500-square foot practice complex was constructed in less than four weeks and provides UCLA with one of the nation's finest hitting facilities. Jack Gifford played baseball for UCLA from 1959-62 and, as an alumnus, became one of the program's most loyal supporters. The Gifford Foundation also helped fund the seat renovation last year that installed 580 new chairback seats at the ballpark.

"The Gifford Family is honored to be able to donate the new scoreboard in memory of their husband and father, Jack Gifford," Rhodine Gifford said. "We feel privileged to be able to make this contribution in Jack's honor and know that the UCLA Baseball program and players will benefit from the new scoreboard."

The installation of the new video board is the latest in a recent string of major improvements to Jackie Robinson Stadium since Savage became the program's head coach in July of 2004:

• Replacing benches in seating well with 945 chairback seats with cupholders (February 2006)
• Installing a high-quality backstop net, free of any obstruction (January 2007)
• Field renovation, featuring a new field surface and warning track (December 2007)
• Construction of the 10,500-square foot, multi-purpose Gifford Hitting Facility (January 2009)
• Addition of bleacher seating (capacity of 290) behind the third-base seating well (April 2010)
• Installation of 580 chairback seats at the ballpark and 36 new lockers in the team's clubhouse (January 2012)
• Construction of a new 17X49 state-of-the-art video board (January 2013)

Jackie Robinson Stadium will open its 33rd season as the Bruins' home baseball facility in the spring of 2013. The Bruins have hosted an NCAA Regional at Jackie Robinson Stadium the last three seasons, as well as the NCAA Los Angeles Super Regional in 2010 and 2012.

The Bruins are coming off of their second consecutive Pac-12 championship and a trip to the College World Series in 2012, and will open the 2013 season with a three-game series against Minnesota from Friday, Feb. 15 to Sunday, Feb. 17 at Jackie Robinson Stadium.