Welcome to Freehan Field

In the summer of 1975, Waterford Police Officer Joe Humbaugh was coaching softball at Beaumont Elementary. Tired of fighting for field space, Joe made a bold decision: he was going to build his own field.

He found 8 acres of land in Waterford, Michigan, and over that long, cold winter, Joe and a few close friends got to work — by hand.

The

In the summer of 1975, Waterford Police Officer Joe Humbaugh was coaching softball at Beaumont Elementary. Tired of fighting for field space, Joe made a bold decision: he was going to build his own field.

He found 8 acres of land in Waterford, Michigan, and over that long, cold winter, Joe and a few close friends got to work — by hand.

They cut down every single tree themselves. His friend Jerry Little had a bulldozer and helped pull the massive stumps out of the ground — the stump pile was bigger than the house. They dug post holes for the fencing, poured cement, and Joe even dug a well and installed nine sprinkler heads to keep the grass green.

Another friend, Mike Hadden, bought a backstop, and the two of them installed it together. This was a labor of love. No shortcuts. No contractors. Just grit, community, and vision.

Joe was friends with Detective Carl Solden, who personally knew Bill Freehan, the Detroit Tigers catcher. When it came time to name the field, they chose to ho

Another friend, Mike Hadden, bought a backstop, and the two of them installed it together. This was a labor of love. No shortcuts. No contractors. Just grit, community, and vision.

Joe was friends with Detective Carl Solden, who personally knew Bill Freehan, the Detroit Tigers catcher. When it came time to name the field, they chose to honor Bill — and on Opening Day, July 26th, 1975, Bill Freehan himself threw out the first pitch before heading downtown to play in a Tigers game later that day.

But the story doesn’t end there. to our inventory.

Not long after, a women’s softball team asked to use the field for practices. One of those players would later become Joe’s wife. They raised two kids, and eventually sold the house and field to the Thorn family in the ’90s before moving to Tennessee.

Today, Joe and his wife are both in their 80s. They still play softball in a senior leag

Not long after, a women’s softball team asked to use the field for practices. One of those players would later become Joe’s wife. They raised two kids, and eventually sold the house and field to the Thorn family in the ’90s before moving to Tennessee.

Today, Joe and his wife are both in their 80s. They still play softball in a senior league, and Joe — now retired — still umpires Little League.

This field wasn’t just built — it was willed into existence by a man who believed in doing things the right way, even if it meant doing it the hard way. make a positive impact.  Freehan Field is more than a patch of land. It’s a love story. A legacy. A piece of Waterford history. And a reminder that sometimes the craziest dreams are the ones worth chasing.