Walking into this 14,731-square-foot mansion in Glendale, AZ, might cause you to get an immediate craving for some peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Maybe it's due to the tiled baseball diamond in the shower in one of the house's nine bathrooms. Or perhaps it's the miniature baseball diamond in the backyard or the baseballs etched into the stonework of this $5.5 million mansion.
The baseball motif is understandable, given that the house was built for former major-league infielder Damion Easley in 2006. The home also features an indoor batting cage, a scoreboard in one of its six bedrooms, and a mural of Detroit's old Tiger Stadium, where Easley played a good portion of his career.
But there's more to do in this home than just play ball. "All the finishes and textures in the house are extremely high-quality and high-end," says listing agent Vincent Clark. "Everything is state-of-the-art. I'd rather go to this [home's] movie theater than any movie theater around."
The nearly 2-acre lot includes an in-ground trampoline, a putting green, and a sport court that features a basketball hoop, Clark says. The pool is 14-feet deep and has a waterslide.
Inside, the gourmet kitchen features Viking appliances, two islands, granite countertops, a breakfast bar, and alder wood cabinets. There's an office, guest quarters with a private entrance, a game room, a library with built-in shelves, and an exercise room among its many amenities.
The home is in a gated community of only nine houses, Clark notes. Homes in the area have sold in the $3 million range, so "this is the biggest, most expensive house in this area," he says.
Easley spent 17 years in Major League Baseball, making the All-Star team in 1998 while he was with the Detroit Tigers. He also suited up for the California Angels, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Florida Marlins, and New York Mets. He was with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2006 when he built this home.
Some thought was given to removing the baseball aspects of the house, but the decision was made to leave everything because they are so much a part of the character of the home.
"For a buyer who doesn't care for baseball, there are nonexpensive ways to eliminate the baseball [elements]," he explains. Some features, such as the indoor batting change, can be converted to other uses such as a bowling alley or shooting range, Clark says.
It seems more likely a baseball fan, or even a Diamondbacks player or coach, would be most likely to buy Easley's former home so he could yell "Play Ball" whenever he wants.
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