Former MLB Player Builds Mini Ballpark In Backyard And Neighbors Are Furious

Former Major League Baseball shortstop J.J. Hardy is taking his childhood baseball dreams and putting them into reality by building his own backyard baseball field. 

In the ultimate, badass nostalgic move, the former Baltimore Oriole and Milwaukee Brewer no longer has to pretend what it's like to hit a home run out of his yard because he literally has his own ‘outfield fence’ to do so. However, his neighbors aren't too pleased, as it appears Hardy is making his mini-field a little bit too realistic, with neighbors complaining that it's going to turn into a drunken, party atmosphere - just like it would at a ballpark.

‘IT’S LIKE A BASEBALL TOPGOLF'

It all started a few weeks ago when Hardy's Chandler, Arizona neighbors weren't too pleased when they began seeing 20-foot high poles being drilled into his yard. 

"I didn’t sign up to live next to a baseball field," neighbor Pam Landy told KPHO News. "It’s like a commercial, like living next to Top Golf…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."

Anyone who owns a home knows that there's always someone in the neighborhood that will build a fence and ruin how lovely the street looks - hell, I remember my dad dreading anytime a new family moved in because he and the other OGs of the block thought fences would ruin the aura of the street. But imagine a baseball fence being put in? Oh man, get the peanuts and Cracker Jack's ready.

Former Orioles shortstop JJ Hardy will soon be hitting home runs from the comfort of his backyard baseball field. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

NEIGHBORS FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT

It seems that JJ Hardy's neighbors have similar feelings, with a group of them filing a formal complaint with Maricopa County saying that he doesn't have the proper permits for his makeshift field. However, there may also be a bit of jealousy here by Lang.

"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. I don’t have a recourse because I am bound by all these rules in this HOA," Lang explained. Seems like someone is cranky that they have to follow the law - which Hardy is also doing as well, it's just that it's a different type of law. 

According to city officials, Hardy has until April 22nd to file for the proper paperwork for his backyard field of dreams - something I'm sure he'll have no problem doing. By the way, if I'm the neighbor, maybe try a different approach. If it was me, I would try to become best friends with him because his house is absolutely STACKED. In addition to the mini ballpark, he also has a putting green, tennis green and an in-ground pool. 

As for Hardy, he'll soon be having his own makeshift home run derby's with his buddies in his backyard and now I know what I'll be asking for this coming Christmas.