American baseball owes a great deal of its existence to Albert Goodwill Spalding. You may have seen the name Spalding on a number of sports equipment, namely baseballs, players’ gloves and a number of other related sports items, including rule and history books. Spalding played, managed and owned baseball teams and was the co-founder of today’s National League. He even has ties to San Diego.

Hundreds attended the long-awaited grand opening celebration Jan. 10 for the 44-acre Encinitas Community Park, which sits west of Interstate 5 between Santa Fe and Birmingham drives. Festivities for...