Miami Mourns Loss of Joe Hayden
12/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | General
OXFORD, Ohio – Few people made more of an impact behind the scenes of Miami Athletics than Joe Hayden, who passed away at the age of 85 over the weekend.
Hayden is the grandfather of head baseball coach Danny Hayden, though his connection to the program extends beyond his familial ties to the current team. Joe Hayden graduated Miami with a bachelor’s in business in 1951 and remained a close supporter of university and its athletics programs. He served on Miami’s Foundation Board and Business Advisory Council and was a season ticket holder in many sports.
A long-time advocate for Miami baseball. Hayden’s support was instrumental in the significant renovation of McKie Field at Hayden Park, which was dedicated in 2002. The Hayden Family Foundation recently built upon that legacy by providing a $1 million leadership gift toward the Baseball Legacy Project, which is adding locker room facilities, coaches offices and more to Hayden Park.
In 1966, Hayden founded the wildly successful Midland Redskins, an amateur baseball team named after the Miami athletic programs at the time. As founder and coach, Hayden guided Midland to 13 Connie Mack national titles, six runner-up finishes and four third-place finishes since 1982. More than 60 players on those teams played Major League Baseball, including notable stars such as Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, perennial All-Star and 1997 American League MVP Ken Griffey Jr. and 2009 AL Cy Young winner Zack Greinke.
"We are all saddened by the passing of Joe Hayden," said Miami Athletic Director David Sayler. "As an athletic department, we cannot fully express what he means and has meant in helping and supporting our student-athletes. His loyalty to Miami, and passion for it, are truly second-to-none."
The visitation for Joe Hayden and his family will be held at Geo. H. Rohde & Son Funeral Home in Cincinnati from 4-7 p.m. Thursday. The funeral service is 10 a.m. Friday at St. Xavier Church.
