Neighbors upset with former MLB player building baseball field in backyard

CHANDLER, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) – Former Major League Baseball player J.J. Hardy is building a miniature baseball field in the backyard of his Arizona home, and some neighbors aren’t happy about it.

Hardy is a former shortstop for the Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles.

Pam Lang lives across the street from Hardy’s house in a neighborhood in Chandler. She said Hardy is building a “field of dreams” in his backyard for his family and friends.

“Everybody has a right to enjoy their own yard, but this is something that is beyond what is reasonable to expect your neighbors to tolerate,” Lang said.

Lang insists she had no idea the baseball field was being built until she noticed a dozen 20-foot poles going up for the field’s backstop.

Looking at a big fence and bright lights every night is not something Lang wants to be subjected to.

“I didn’t sign up to live next to a baseball field,” she said. “It’s like a commercial, like living next to Top Golf, you know.”

Lang says construction started a couple of months ago. Apparently, Hardy’s yard will house more than just a baseball field too. Drone footage of the property nearby shows that a tennis court and putting green are already on site.

KPHO has learned the former ballplayer’s home is on a county island, while Lang’s house is in the city of Chandler.

But Lang doesn’t want to let this go on a technicality.

“There’s an inherent unfairness to this, an injustice because he can do whatever he wants because it’s a county island, and I can’t,” Lang said. “I don’t have a recourse because I am bound by all these rules in this HOA.”

Lang has filed a complaint with Maricopa County and learned that Hardy has yet to receive the necessary permits to build his ballpark.

There are still height and distance requirements that need to be met, even on a county island.

“It’s very disappointing and frustrating that all I can do is file a complaint and hope that somebody in the county feels like listening to me,” Lang said.

Maricopa County officials said that Hardy has until April 22 to get the proper permits to finish his field of dreams. If he doesn’t, some of the current construction may need to come down, officials said.

KPHO reached out to the former major leaguer to discuss his neighbor’s concerns, but a family member said they had no comment.

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