32 City of Worcester: 300 Years
Lectures by notable individuals
addressed a variety of subjects.
Oliver Wendell Holmes delivered his
lecture on December 22, 1853.
source: Worcester Historical Museum
Bicycling club
outing, 1895
source: Worcester
Historical Museum
Sports and Entertainment
Despite the many sports and leisure options available to Worcester
residents over the last 300 years, one thing is certain – Worcester is
a baseball city. In the 1800's, Worcester citizens had the pleasure
of enjoying a Worcester Ruby Legs baseball game at the Worcester
Agricultural Fairgrounds, where J. Lee Richmond pitched the first
perfect game in major league history. The College of the Holy Cross
is home to Fitton Field, which was the site of Ted Williams' first
home run in a Red Sox uniform in 1939 and the home of Worcester's
collegiate league teams Worcester Tornadoes (2005-2012) and the
Worcester Bravehearts (2014 to present). In 2002, Worcester's Jesse
Burkett Little League All-Stars captured our hearts and minds when
they represented Worcester in the Little League World Series in
Williamsport, PA. Worcester's love for baseball reached a new level
when the Pawtucket Red Sox decided to ship up Route 146 to the
Canal District and become the Worcester Red Sox (WooSox). The
WooSox's new home at Polar Park has further accelerated the vitality
of the Canal District and become a destination for baseball lovers in
Worcester and all-over New England. n
Mark A. Borenstein
