Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | December 9, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 13 Fund Your Business with Confidence 800-939-9103 cornerstonebank.com Member FDIC | Member DIF We're here to support your growth and success. Take your business to the next level with tailored financing solutions for construction, equipment, expansion, and working capital. Scan the QR code to learn more. YOUR GENEROSITY WILL IMPROVE HOUSING STABILITY FOR WORCESTER COUNTY RESIDENTS! Your support is not just crucial; it's a lifeline. With your help, we can expand our services, delivering tailored solutions for every struggling individual and family who walks through our door. JOIN US IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE! VISIT WWW.RCAPSOLUTIONS.ORG/DONATE WWW.RCAPSOLUTIONS.ORG/DONATE OR TEXT "GIVE" TO (844) 580-0877 the rise of the Worcester Red Sox, with NESN broadcasting a 2019 special which officially revealed the team's WooSox nickname and logo. While NESN would broadcast a hand- ful of Pawtucket Red Sox games before the minor league baseball team's move to Worcester, the network has taken the relatively rare step of broadcasting every WooSox home game, turning the farm team's park into a proving ground for both the players and broadcasters of tomorrow. "I'm not sure if NESN were owned by a company that was not connected to the team ... they would have put on that pro- gramming," Werner said of the WooSox games on NESN. "It's good for our fans to know who the stars of tomorrow are. It may not even be a profitable telecast in and of itself, but it contributes to enthusi- asm for the Red Sox." e rise of the WooSox brought joy to the final chapters of his NESN career, said McGrail. "Being a Worcester native, I was very enthusiastic about Worcester," he said. "We helped design the camera positions in Polar Park and the control room, which is really second to none." Back to Worcester McGrail, who played a lead role in bringing the Red Sox's annual NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon into exis- tence and who sits on the board of both the Bruin's and Red Sox's foundations, has continued his focus on charitable efforts even as he heads towards the exit. In November, he met with hundreds of Worcester schoolchildren at Polar Park, as they offered blueprints for a play- ground to be built in 2025 at Worcester's Harrington Field by NESN, part of a regional effort by the organization. "We support New England, and a lot of our charitable initiatives we do in different states," McGrail said. "So it was really exciting to be able to come to my own hometown and start this initiative." Heading to retirement, McGrail, who remains a senior advisor to NESN's board, is looking forward to spending more time building his extensive car collection and living a healthier work- life balance. "Doing this has literally been a 78-hour-a-week job, and it has been for decades," he said. "So I'm looking for- ward to that next step, and maybe, you know, coming back to Worcester period- ically, and seeing some of my friends." Continued from page 11 McGrail looks onto the field at the Polar Park baseball stadium in Worcester, where NESN broadcasts all WooSox home games. W

• Cover