ST. AUGUSTINE — A statue of Flagler College founder Henry Flagler stands outside the main entrance to the campus in downtown St. Augustine.
The railroad tycoon, whose hotel later became the private liberal arts college that has been in the Ancient City since 1968, has company — albeit 2.2 miles to the Southwest at Drysdale Field.
Flagler unveiled a statue to honor former baseball coach Dave Barnett, on April 5 prior to the team's game against Claflin College. Barnett, who retired last year after 37 years and 1,054 victories, was the longest-tenured coach at Flagler, with 18 seasons of 30 or more victories and a program that produced 51 professional players.
Senior players from this year’s Saints team pulled the covering off the statue to a countdown started by Flagler President and former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney.
”Today is the day we honor the pledge that we made about a year ago to [Barnett] when he retired … to thank him for his great career,” Delaney said during the ceremony.
When the statue was unveiled, Barnett quipped, "I wish I looked that good."
Statue guards Barnett's 'playground'
Barnett said he will always appreciate the fact that the statue overlooks “my playground.“
”In 1987, there was nothing out here, just an empty field,” he said. “No dugouts, no stands, just a backstop. It’s been an unbelievable career that I wouldn’t have dreamed of.”
Barnett thanked athletic director Jud Damon, Delaney, and the school's board of trustees for their support and also had a word for his wife Tina.
”I’ve got a statue, but she should be on Mount Rushmore,” he said.
