Celebrating Black Greenville Drive Players and Coaches

 

As part of Black History Month, and the Drive’s participation in Minor League Baseball’s new “The Nine” initiative, we’ll be spotlighting all of our Black alumni during the month of February. Over the span of the Drive’s 15 seasons, we’ve had 20 Black players, and 7 Black field staff members.

We’ll be highlighting the players in alphabetical order, and concluding with the field staff. This write-up will be added to every week during the month of February, and will include additional photos of each player on Drive social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Luke Bandy, Outfielder // 2021

Began the 2021 season with the Drive…appeared in 19 games (14 in centerfield and 5 in leftfield)…amassed a .972 fielding percentage…hit his first professional home run on May 18th, 2021 at the Asheville Tourists…drafted by the Red Sox in the 29th round of the 2019 MLB Draft…spent three seasons at Dallas Baptist University, where he earned First-Team All-MVC honors as a junior, also being named to the league’s All-Defensive Team

Mookie Betts, Infielder // 2013

One of the Drive’s most heralded alumni…appeared in 76 games with the Drive during the 2013 season, hitting .296 with 8 home runs, 63 runs, 26 RBI, 63 runs scored, 24 doubles, and 18 stolen bases before a July call-up to the Salem Red Sox…was named a mid-season South Atlantic League All-Star…made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox on June 29th, 2014 – becoming the 37th Greenville alum to reach the big leagues…in 2018, he became the first player in MLB history to win the MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, batting title, and World Series all in the same season…MLB accomplishments include a 5x All-Star (2016-2019, 2021), 2x World Series Champion (2018, 2020), 2020 MLB First Team (2020), All-MLB Second Team (2019), 4x Silver Slugger (2016, 2018-2020), 5x Gold Glove (2016-2020), Wilson Defensive Player of the Year (2016), and 30/30 Club (2018)

Jackie Bradley, Jr, Outfielder // 2011

Following a standout career at the University of South Carolina, where he was a two-time College World Series Champion (2010, 2011) and named the CWS Most Outstanding Player honors in 2010, was selected 40th overall by the Red Sox in the 2011 MLB Draft…appeared in 4 games with the Drive at the end of the 2011 season, all on the road – which means he’s played more games at Fluor Field as a member of the Gamecocks than he did with the Drive…made his MLB debut on April 1st, 2013 for the Red Sox, becoming the 24th Drive alum to reach the big leagues…in 2016, amassed a 29-game hit streak tying Johnny Damon for the fourth longest in Red Sox franchise history…earned MLB’s AL Player of the Month honors for May 2016…became a World Series Champion and won a Gold Glove in 2018…was named the American League Championship Series MVP in 2018

Ryan Dent, Infielder // 2009

Appeared in 99 games with the Drive in 2009, helping lead the team to the South Atlantic League’s First-Half Southern Division Championship…tied a career-high with 6 homers while, tying for third on the club with 24 doubles…spent 8 seasons in the minors, reaching Triple-A with both the Red Sox (Pawtucket 2012 and 2013) and Cubs (Iowa in 2015) organizations…was a career .236 hitter, totaling 508 hits, 144 doubles, and 288 runs scored…spent the 2019 season with the independent York Revolution, where he was named a mid-season All-Star…originally selected by the Red Sox as the 32nd overall pick in the 2007 MLB Draft

Before more than 1,200 Worcester Public Schools Students, WooSox and Red Sox Stars Commemorate Jackie Robinson’s Birthday on the Eve of Black History Month 

 

Stories and lessons come from Josh Ockimey, Oil Can Boyd, and Rich Gedman.

WORCESTER, MA — In 1997, on the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s dismantling of Major League Baseball’s color barrier, Worcester Red Sox President Dr. Charles Steinberg, then Executive Vice President of the San Diego Padres, watched as a reporter kneeled next to a little girl to ask if she knew who Jackie was.

“I’ve heard of her, but I don’t exactly know what she did,” she replied.

The admission was innocent, but Steinberg worried. The perceived threat to Robinson’s memory galvanized him into establishing a tradition in 2003 with the Boston Red Sox, which he brought to Pawtucket and now Worcester: gathering with local students annually on Robinson’s birth date, January 31—also the eve of Black History Month—to celebrate Robinson’s legacy through the telling of stories and lessons. For the 20th consecutive year, the Hall of Famer’s legacy was celebrated by New England’s premier baseball teams.

Over 1,200 students from Worcester Public Schools, their teachers, and Worcester Superintendent Maureen Binienda tuned into Monday morning’s one-hour Zoom event, “A Celebration of Jackie Robinson.” The children, from more than a dozen schools, were all 4th, 5th, or 6th graders. They listened to WooSox star first baseman Josh Ockimey, WooSox hitting coach and Red Sox Hall of Famer Rich Gedman, former pennant-winning pitcher Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd, and businessman and civil rights leader Frank Jordan.

“The Red Sox have won four World Series since Jackie broke baseball’s color barrier [in 1947],” Steinberg said. “Can you imagine if the Boston Red Sox weren’t allowed to have David Ortiz on the team? No Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., or Xander Bogaerts?”

Segregation seems unimaginable today, but it was only 75 years ago that Black players couldn’t intermingle with white players on the baseball diamond. For more than a decade afterward, in many cities, Black players couldn’t stay at the same hotels or eat at the same restaurants as their white counterparts.

Ockimey—whom students gleefully and audibly welcomed—said he first comprehended the magnitude of Robinson’s influence in first grade, when his father taught him about the Negro Leagues and took him on a trip to Cooperstown. Ockimey was born in Philadelphia in 1995, long after Jim Crow laws dissipated, but he said that as a Black man in America, he often feels he must work twice as hard as everyone else.

Boyd, a fifth-generation professional ballplayer, reflected on his childhood in the ’60s and ’70s in Meridian, Mississippi.

“My whole family grew up playing baseball,” Boyd said. “I’d often hear names like Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, and Cool Papa Bell, and I’d try to imitate them, too.”

Boyd played collegiately at Jackson State University before the Red Sox selected him in the 16th round of the 1980 amateur draft. The lithe and affable right-hander catapulted the Red Sox into the World Series in 1986 with a career-high 16 wins. His battery-mate was Gedman, Worcester’s own two-time All-Star and Red Sox Hall of Famer.

Like Boyd, Jordan grew up in the segregated South. He credited Robinson with giving him the belief that times would change. Now the co-founder of the Boston Area Church League and Special Advisor to the Red Sox for two decades, Jordan devotes himself to bringing positive change to Boston’s youth through baseball.

“Baseball as a sport has done so much to open the door of communication that bring people together,” Jordan said. “To the kids: Get to know your classmates. Get to know your friends. You will find that we all have so much in common. That is the best avenue to change the world and make it a better place.”

Gedman echoed the sentiment.

“[In a clubhouse], the most important thing is listening, to hear what other people think and feel,” Gedman said. “Sometimes we assume everyone thinks like we do. Everyone is a part of the team, and [in WooSox ’21], nobody thought they were more special than anyone else, and we went out and played like a team.”

Steinberg concluded the WooSox’ third annual event with the reminder that positive change takes time, courage, and a willingness to get involved, adding that it’s already in motion for women in baseball. He pointed to the New York Yankees’ recent hiring of Rachel Balkovec, baseball’s first woman manager. Days after, the Red Sox became the first organization to have two women coaches in their organization in Bianca Smith and Katie Krall.

“The next Jackie Robinson is going to be Jacqueline Robinson,” Steinberg said. “Women are great athletes who play their hearts out, and no woman should be deprived of playing baseball if she can play. You might just find that there’s a woman who can throw that ball with the best of them and run like the wind.”

Perhaps the future Jacqueline Robinson heard his words Monday.

Drive Honored to be Part of MiLB’s “The Nine” Initiative

 

Minor League Baseball® (MiLB™) today announced the launch of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and

Minor League Baseball® (MiLB™) today announced the launch of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide.

Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign. The new inclusion initiative follows MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in 2021.

The Nine will recognize and honor numerous Black pioneers and trailblazing civil rights leaders in all 120 MiLB communities, ensuring the heroes of the past and their contributions continue to be celebrated through ceremonies and events at MiLB ballparks and in the community. Recent tributes and celebrations have included Negro Leagues commemorative games honoring the Austin Black Senators in Round Rock (TX), the Bradenton (FL) Nine Devils, and Page Fence Giants near Lansing (MI). Additional tribute games are being planned for the 2022 season and beyond.

“The Nine will shine bright spotlights on these successful initiatives and transform them into national campaigns reaching more fans and communities, further showcasing our teams’ commitment to representing, honoring, and welcoming all fans to MiLB’s unique brand of fun,” said Kurt Hunzeker, MLB’s Vice President of Minor League Business Operations. “The Nine is just the latest example of MiLB teams being true community champions.”

In addition to player- and team-related content, The Nine will focus heavily on creating new opportunities for youth participation among young Black boys and girls, particularly in communities where youth baseball and softball programming is either nonexistent or difficult to access.

Central to this youth-focused push is a planned expansion of Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program throughout MiLB’s national footprint. New competitions in MLB’s Pitch, Hit & Run and Junior Home Run Derby event series will also debut in MiLB markets beginning in 2022.

MiLB teams will continue to build relationships with local Black-owned and operated businesses, local artists and entertainers in an effort to embrace Black culture and make MiLB ballparks a hub for culturally relevant concerts, shows, and community events.

With several MiLB teams having a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in their community, opportunities will be provided for those schools to start internship and mentorship programs with their local team, creating opportunities for on-the-job experience for students prior to entering the job market. Additionally, MiLB recently partnered with TeamWork Online to create a more inclusive virtual job fair and ongoing talent pipeline that aims to recruit and position qualified and ready-for-hire candidates from across the country for potential management- and executive-level roles within MiLB team front offices.

Drive Promo Team & Reedy Rip’It Tryouts February 12th

 

CLICK HERE TO PRE-REGISTER FOR THE TRYOUTS

PROMO TEAM

The Greenville Drive are looking for fun, enthusiastic candidates who are motivated to represent the organization at home games and in the community. The Promo Team is an integral part of home Drive games and devote their time to energizing the fans at Fluor Field and making sure that everyone has a great game day experience!

Saturday, February 12th, 2021
Fluor Field at the West End
9:30AM – 11:30 AM

The ideal candidate will be an outgoing individual with a fun, energetic personality. Must be 16 or older, able to attend Drive home games, work nights and weekends and have reliable transportation.

You will be responsible for handing out promotional material, assisting with mascot functions, helping with sponsored promotions, pumping up the crowd and having FUN!

The Drive wants positive minded persons. You will be the fresh face of our promo team that will be responsible for interacting with fans and making sure they have a pleasant experience.

Auditions will consist of interactive group games, improv activities, and opportunities to interact with other candidates and the judges. These activities are meant to assess each candidate’s personality, enthusiasm, energy, teamwork skills and their comfort level in front of a crowd.

Candidates should wear comfortable, but active, attire INCLUDING athletic shoes

_An orientation time will be announced at a later date if you are selected to the team. _

REEDY

The ideal candidate will be physically fit and able to sustain energy throughout a Drive game. Must be 18 or older with reliable transportation. Height Requirements: 5’9″ to 6’2″ to fit into the costume. You must be a highly skilled performer with a great ability to improvise and animate. Previous experience as an animator, character, mascot, or interactive entertainer is a plus. Seeking people in good physical condition with skills in dancing, tumbling, gymnastics or acrobatics. Must be good with children and be an outgoing people person.

Saturday, February 12th, 2021
Fluor Field at the West End
9:30AM – 11:30 AM

Position requires five months of 66 home games to attend, from April through September. You will have a preset schedule of game dates and times. Most games are in the evening and dates will include weekends. Please note our mascot performs outside in summer months and must take into consideration the likelihood for high temperatures. Additional appearance requests will be all calendar year. You will be required to fulfil additional, non-gameday, appearances to be considered for gameday appearances. Compensation is on a per game basis and will be paid bi-weekly.

Those interested in auditioning will be required to have a 30 second to minute long performance/sketch prepared. This performance is at the discretion of the performer and must be appropriate for a family audience. We suggest you incorporate skits, your dancing abilities, and how you would interact with fans of any age. Tryouts will be on the dugout top. Please arrive on time. We will audition all candidates until all have had opportunity.

Please wear athletic/workout attire.

Top five Black players to dawn a Salem jersey

 

This February, in honor of Black History Month, Minor League Baseball will launch The Nine Program. As such MiLB teams have been asked to reflect upon past players and highlight five standouts.

Players do not need to be Hall of Famers, All-Stars or to have even played in the Major League. These are, instead, individuals who have made an impact in their community or the sport.

With that said, here is a look at five of the best Black players to wear a Salem jersey.

Mookie Betts

Born Markus Lynn “Mookie” Betts, he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB Draft. On July 9, 2013, he was promoted to Salem where he batted .341 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs. That season, Betts received Offensive Player of the Year and Breakout Player of the Year in the Red Sox organization.

He made his MLB debut on June 29, 2014, for the Red Sox and recorded his first hit that night against Chase Whitley of the New York Yankees. After the season, he moved full time to the outfield where Betts has become a superstar in baseball.

Betts had a breakout year in 2018 when he hit .346 with 32 home runs and 80 RBIs. He was voted American League MVP, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger winner. That year he also won his first World Series title beating his current team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

During his six seasons with the Red Sox, Betts hit .301 with 139 home runs and 470 RBIs. He also collected four Gold Gloves and All-Star appearances, three Silver Sluggers, a batting title, MVP award and World Series championship.

Jackie Bradley Jr.

Bradley was drafted in the supplemental first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Before the start of the 2012 season, he was named to the opening day roster with the Salem Red Sox.

During the season, Bradley hit .359 with three home runs and 34 RBIs through 67 games before being called up. That year, he was named Minor League Defensive Player of the Year in the Red Sox organization.

Bradley made the Opening Day roster in 2013 and made his debut on April 1 against the New York Yankees. He had his first major hit a couple days later, on April 4.

During the 2016 season, he made it to his first and only All-Star Game appearance. Bradley hit .267 with 26 home runs and 87 RBIs.

He was also a member of the 2018 World Series team where he collected the American League Championship Series MVP after hitting nine RBIs in the series. That season, he also won his first and only Gold Glove award.

Bradley returns to Boston for the 2022 season after spending last season in Milwaukee.

*Josh Ockimey *

Ockimey was drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 Draft by the Red Sox. He made the Opening Day roster for the Salem Red Sox during the 2017 season.

That year, he played 100 games with the team and had a .275 average with 11 home runs and 63 RBIs. It was his best season in his career, as he was also called up to AA Portland where he hit .272 with three home runs and 11 RBIs.

Ockimey has spent all seven seasons in his career within the Red Sox organization. Although he has not been called up to the majors, he has spent his time the last three seasons with the Red Sox AAA organization.

In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Josh has engrained himself in the minor league communities that are part of the Red Sox farm system. This past year, Ockimey was an active member of the WooSox Foundation helping at local food pantries during the holiday season. He uses his platform to educate and raise awareness about social issues.

Dave Parker

Parker was drafted in the 14th round of the 1970 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He spent the 1972 season with the Salem Pirates, which was the inaugural season of the team.

He hit .310 with 22 home runs and 101 RBIs in 135 games. It was the most home runs and RBIs in his four-year minor league career.

During the 1973 season he was called up to Pittsburgh. Parker’s breakout season came in 1975 when he played in double the number of games as the previous year. He hit .308 with 25 home runs and 101 RBIs. That season Parker also finished third in the NL MVP voting.

After finishing in the top three of MVP voting in two of three seasons, he captured it in 1978 hitting .334 with 30 home runs and 117 RBIs. Parker fractured his jaw in late June of that season but decided to wear a face mask the rest of the season instead of sitting out. He received baseball’s first million-dollar-a-year contract after the season.

Parker decided to retire after 19 years in the majors after the 1991 season. He finished hitting .290 with 339 home runs and 1493 RBIs. Parker also had seven All-Star Game appearances, three Gold Gloves and Silver Slugger awards, two NL batting titles and two World Series titles with the Pirates (1979) and Athletics (1989).

*Tony Womack *

Womack was drafted in the seventh round of the 1991 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made the Opening Day roster of the Salem Buccaneers in 1993.

During that season, Womack played in 72 games and hit .299 with two home runs and 18 RBIs. He made his MLB debut later that season playing in 15 games.

Womack went up and down for a couple years before becoming a mainstay in the majors during the 1997 season. That year he made his first and only All-Star Game appearance hitting .278 with six home runs and 50 RBIs while stealing 60 bases.

Womack was a member of the 2001 World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks. He famously had the game-tying one-out double against Mariano Rivera in Game 7 of the World Series.

During his 13-year MLB career he hit .273 with 36 home runs and 368 RBIs while also stealing 263 bases. Womack led the NL in stolen bases for three consecutive years from 1997 to 1999 and is the Diamondbacks career leader in the category.

Join the Drive Team for the 2022 Season

 

Want to work at one of the best ballparks in all of Minor League Baseball? Now you can! With Opening Day at Fluor Field scheduled for Friday, April 8th, as well as college and high school games, and hundreds of events, the Greenville Drive and West End Events at Fluor Field are hiring game day and seasonal team members for 2022.

The Drive and West End Events will be hosting a pair of upcoming Job Fairs – Wednesday, February 9th from 5:30 to 7:30, and Saturday, February 19th from 10 AM to 1 PM. Entrance for the Job Fair will be through the Main Street Gate at Fluor Field.

Those wishing to attend either of the dates are highly encouraged to pre-register by CLICKING HERE.

By pre-registering, you’ll get to skip the waiting line and interview with a Drive or West End Events front office staff member immediately upon checking in. All interested applicants must be at least 16-years-of-age.

On the day of the Job Fair, you will also need to complete an additional form. To expedite the process, you can CLICK HERE to access the form, and bring a completed copy.

All team members are expected to exemplify the highest of customer service towards fans and guests, while always being friendly, courteous, and helpful.

Departments are currently hiring for the following positions:

  • Facility Operations
  • Entrance Security and Check-In
  • This includes wanding fans with handheld metal detectors and/or bag checking as they enter the ballpark
  • Crowd Control
  • Serve as an usher for specific sections, ID checking, picnic areas, and playground monitoring
  • Parking
  • Manage the accessibility of parking lots assigned to players/coaches/Red Sox staff and Drive suite leaseholders and VIPs
  • Cleaning Crew
  • Serve as a key member of the team that beautifies Fluor Field both in-game and post-game
  • Ticketing
  • Box Office / Will Call
  • Serve as the first point-of-contact with many guest, by selling and distributing tickets (Cash handling experience is preferred)
  • Ticket Scanner
  • Welcome guests to Fluor Field by scanning tickets at one of the entry points, as well as luxury hospitality area entrances.
  • Team Operations
  • Official Scorer
  • This position makes all in-game determinations of hits, errors and scoring decisions. Prior experience with a professional or amateur team as an official scorer is a must.
  • Pitch Clock Operator
  • This is a new position for the 2022 season, in conjunction with the installation of pitch clocks, MiLB-wide. Close attention must be paid to the baseball game, with proper signaling with the umpires with regards to pitch clock operation.
  • Game Photographers
  • Tasked with capturing pre-game and in-game action shots of players and coaches, as well as photos of fans and partnership fulfillments as assigned. Photography experience and owning photography equipment is a must.
  • Bat Boy/Girl
  • This position works in the home and visiting dugouts pre-game, in-game and post-game. Must be able to retrieve bats and various equipment for both teams during games. Will assist in setup of both dugouts pre-game with water, Gatorade, etc., and assist with post-game clean-up of both dugouts.
  • Merchandise
  • Game Day Sales
  • Assist in game day operations at the Drive retail locations – Main Street Store, 3rd Base Store, 1st Base Kiosk. This includes setting up for each game, restocking product, cleaning and organizing retail locations and displays, and assisting all customers at point-of-sale.
  • Ground Crew
  • Game Day Members
  • Assist the Head Groundskeeper with pre- and post-game duties. The job entails physical labor with responsibilities that include – but limited to – dragging the infield, repairing the mound, home plate, and bullpen areas, and pulling the tarp during rain delays.
  • Food & Beverage
  • Concessions Prep Area
  • Will assist in different concession areas and stands with the preparation of food items. This will include stocking and inventory, serving orders, running cash registers as needed, and stand opening/closing procedures
  • Picnic Servers
  • Engage in all aspects of picnics – food setup, serving, and clean and prep.
  • Picnic Cook
  • Prepares all food items for picnics, while abiding by DHEC and state standards for food prep, keeping picnic kitchen clean and organized
  • Subway Sandwich Artist
  • Engage in all aspects of the on-site Subway concession stand – prep meats, cheeses and produce; make sandwiches; bake bread and cookies
  • sEATz In-Seat Delivery Service
  • Deliver mobile phone orders directly to fans in their seats from various stands (tipped position)
  • Suite Servers
  • Prep premium services level each day for nightly suites; assist with set up of pre orders, take in game orders, use point-of-sales software for sending orders to the kitchen, clean suites post game, opening and closing procedures for suite level
  • Must be at least 18 years old (tipped position)
  • Concession Stand Managers
  • Understanding of HACCP and DHEC food principles, previous cash handling experience, ability to multitask, make good decisions, good communication with employees, volunteer groups and fans
  • Prep Cooks
  • Cook food for designated areas according stand sheets, game attendance projections; perform opening and closing procedures for cooking equipment in designated stands; utilize HACCP and DHEC hot and cold holding principles for all food
  • Bartenders
  • Perform opening and closing procedures for designated bar area, serve drinks, cash handling, pre and post game cleaning of designated bar (tipped position)
  • Must be at least 21 years old

Team members are not expected to work all Drive and amateur games, and West End Events. The Drive are flexible with scheduling. Incentives for game day and season team members include a pre-season and post-season appreciation picnic, complimentary game tickets for family and friends, opportunities for recognition, Team Store discounts, more!

The Drive are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Inaugural “WooSox Foundation Holiday Caravan” to Spread Joy Around Central Massachusetts this Week

Community Award Winners Josh Ockimey and Rich Gedman to join Smiley Ball, Woofster the WonderDog, and Santa in visits to charities.

WORCESTER, MA – Led by Josh Ockimey and Rich Gedman, two award-winning members of the Worcester Red Sox, the inaugural “WooSox Foundation Holiday Caravan” will visit charities from Leominster to Leicester and from Webster to Worcester this Wednesday through Friday, December 15-17.

Ockimey, the club’s first baseman and first-ever recipient of the WooSox Foundation’s “Heart of the Heart” award for community service, will team up with Gedman, his Hitting Coach, who won the charity’s inaugural eponymous “Geddy” award for his kindness and contributions to the community. Joining them are Mascots Smiley Ball and Woofster the WonderDog, along with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Last week, the WooSox were named Minor League Baseball’s CommUNITY Champion among all 120 teams in the United States and Canada.

The Caravan, funded by generous donors from our community, begins on Wednesday morning just blocks away from Polar Park in the Canal District at St. John’s Food for the Poor, where representatives of the WooSox Foundation will serve breakfast to those in need. Other stops in Worcester include Abby’s House and Why Me & Sherry’s House, which the Caravan will visit on Wednesday, and the Worcester Public Library and UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center, which will be visited on Friday.

Stretching northward, the Caravan continues to Leominster on Thursday afternoon, with a visit to the Spanish American Center, which focuses on social, educational, and economic support to the Hispanic and Latino communities.

Southward, the troupe will travel to Webster, Mass. on Wednesday afternoon, to bring gifts to the talented students in Our Bright Future’s after-school program, which supports students’ academic needs and pursuits of robotics, arts and crafts, and sports. The charity is based in neighboring Southbridge, Mass.

West of Worcester, early Wednesday evening the excursion visits Leicester, site of the McAuley Nazareth Home for Boys. Partnering with Double Play Sports, home of the Junior WooSox in AAU Baseball, the visitors will bring gifts and play games with the residents of the home team.

Addressing some of the needs at the eastern end of Central Massachusetts, the Caravan will also spend time with foster families from Framingham’s Department of Children and Families in conjunction with the Wonderfund. Care packages comprising toys and books, as well as clothing and toiletries, will be presented. Assembled by Kits for Kids of Marlborough, the gifts provide fun as well as everyday essentials to the children.

“As we head into the holidays, we find joy in bringing joy to some of those in need of a smile,” said WooSox President Dr. Charles Steinberg, who is also president of the club’s foundation. “We are thrilled that one of the stars of WooSox ’21, Josh Ockimey, is returning to his summer home to warm the hearts of children in winter. And we are delighted that our native son and WooSox Hitting Coach, beloved Red Sox Hall of Famer Rich Gedman, will bring gifts and love to these children as well. For each child, it is a moment and a memory that we hope impacts and improves their precious lives.”

Ockimey, 26, hit 15 home runs and knocked in 45 runs in only 98 games for the WooSox in 2021. The lefty slugger, who has been in the Red Sox system all eight years of his professional career, has hit 40 home runs with 102 RBI in 220 games his past two seasons in Triple-A. The Philadelphia native has consistently been among the team leaders in community appearances.

The WooSox Foundation awarded its first “Geddy Award” to the Worcester native for his devotion to baseball, commitment to the community, and kindness to all.

Smiley Ball, born on World Smile Day in 2020, pays tribute to the Smiley Face, invented in Worcester in 1963 by the late advertising executive, Harvey Ball. Woofster the WonderDog, whom Smiley Ball adopted as a rescue dog at the Worcester Animal Rescue League, debuted on National Dog Day in August of 2021.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are longtime fans, having sewn and distributed red socks throughout the world. They are most familiar with the concept of a Polar Park.

Minor League Baseball Announces 2021 CommUNITY Champion WooSox Capture Coveted Award from MiLB

NEW YORK CITY, Dec. 6, 2021 — Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) today announced the Worcester Red Sox as their 2021 CommUNITY Champion Award winner. Nominees from each league were selected by their peers and were candidates for the overall award.

(Left to Right) Dan Rea, WooSox Executive VP & GM, team President Dr. Charles Steinberg, and Brooke Cooper, Vice President Marketing, after the WooSox received Minor League Baseball’s CommUNITY Champion Award during the Baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando, FL.

CommUNITY Champion Award – Worcester Red Sox (Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox)

In their inaugural season in Worcester, the Worcester Red Sox took every opportunity available to become a valued member of their new community. Whether they were hosting baseball clinics for children, building awareness for charities or providing scholarship opportunities, the WooSox always went above and beyond.

Since the announcement in August 2018 that the Worcester Red Sox were moving to Polar Park, the valuable perspective of fans and community leaders has been instrumental in shaping the franchise’s goals and values. The WooSox show their appreciation for those in their community on a nightly basis, using pregame ceremonies like “Hometown Hero,” “Heart of Worcester” and the ceremonial first pitch to recognize and honor the contributions of community leaders and unsung heroes.

Their nightly “In Debt to a Vet” promotion honors the sacrifice and bravery of local veterans, and all fans are invited onto the playing field following Saturday and Sunday games to enjoy the Polar Park experience with a game of catch or running the bases with friends and family.

In celebration of the diverse identities and cultures of the City of Worcester, the team introduced “Los Wepas de Worcester” in 2021 and highlighted a different Spanish-speaking country in each of the Copa de la Diversion games. From Mexico to Puerto Rico to El Salvador, Polar Park transformed into a hub of that country’s local culture, music and food during “Los Wepas” games. Hispanic and Latinx leaders were honored in pregame ceremonies, the national anthem of the featured country was performed, local vendors were invited to sell their food at concession stands and the on-field “Worcester Red Sox” jerseys were replaced by “Los Wepas de Worcester” jerseys, with “Wepas” being a Spanish expression of excitement.

In an effort to strengthen the organization’s spirit of empathy and inclusion and create a clearer understanding of how they can make baseball more inclusive and celebratory of differences, the club played host to several events throughout the season. In July, the WooSox hosted “Autism Acceptance Night,” where the volume of public address announcements and music was turned down across the ballpark to reduce stimulation and highlighted Polar Park’s Unum Sensory Room, which offers a quiet space for fans to take a break on the comfortable couches, borrow noise-reduction headphones and play with kinetic sand, fidget spinners and coloring books. In August, “Peanut Allergy-Friendly Nights” were introduced to allow a safe, stress-free experience for fans with peanut allergies to enjoy a game at Polar Park, and in September “Deaf Awareness Night” included an interpreter on the videoboard to communicate pregame ceremonies, in-game promotions and PA announcements.

The WooSox took advantage of the extended season by supporting Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and “Going Gold” in September 2021. The WooSox put the spotlight on children, families and heroes who are helping to conquer cancer. Dressed in gold, children and families in the battle as well as their nurses and doctors gathered in center field in the shape of a ribbon as fans raised gold signs from the stands to honor loved ones who are currently in, or have lost, their battle with cancer. In their inaugural season, the team and the WooSox Foundation collectively donated over $50,000 to UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center, which works to treat and cure cancer and provide resources and comfort.

The WooSox Foundation also launched the “WooSox Scholars” Program to provide college scholarships to ensure young students’ dreams of education are funded. In July 2021, four Worcester Public Schools eighth graders stepped onto the field in front of a crowd of cheering fans and were presented with various gifts from the team and a certificate honoring their achievement. The WooSox have already invested $40,000 into the college funds of local students in just one season.

The WooSox introduced the “WooSox Book Nook” in the Worcester Public Library — a collection of baseball-themed books donated by WooSox President Dr. Charles Steinberg and WooSox Chairman of the Board Larry Lucchino. The Book Nook provides young readers a chance to learn the history of baseball and the power of sports in community while developing their reading skills.

“We are so happy, so proud, and so grateful to so many for recognizing the special bond between the Worcester Red Sox and the Greater Worcester community,” said Worcester Red Sox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “Larry Lucchino has established charitable foundations with every franchise he has led, and he has committed that we would be active participants in the community; we are thrilled to honor that commitment. In particular, our thanks go to the leaders and the residents of ‘The Heart of the Commonwealth.’ Their compassion and excitement inspire these synergistic collaborations. May this year, our rookie year, only be the beginning.”

Drive 4 Harvest Hope at Fluor Field November 19

 

The Greenville Drive are proud to partner with WYFF News 4 to host the Drive 4 Harvest Hope at Fluor Field November 19 from noon-7 PM.

Please donate nonperishable food items to the Main Street gate at Fluor Field for those in need this holiday season. All items will directly benefit Harvest Hope–a foodbank located in Greenville.

WYFF News 4 will also produce their evening broadcast live at the stadium to support the food drive.

Additionally, the Drive will honor longtime respected news anchor Michael Cogdill who is retiring after 32 years behind the desk at WYFF. Join us to support the food drive and show appreciation to one of Greenville’s most-beloved voices.

Promo Team and Reedy Tryouts Set for November 20 at Fluor Field

 

PROMO

The Greenville Drive are looking for fun, enthusiastic candidates who are motivated to represent the organization at home games and in the community. The Promo Team is an integral part of home Drive games and devote their time to energizing the fans at Fluor Field and making sure everyone has a great game day experience!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

Saturday, November 20th, 2021
Fluor Field at the West End
9:30AM – 11:30 AM

The ideal candidate will be an outgoing individual with a fun, energetic personality. Must be 16 or older, able to attend Drive home games, work nights and weekends and have reliable transportation.

You will be responsible for handing out promotional material, assisting with mascot functions, helping with sponsored promotions, pumping up the crowd and having FUN!

The Drive wants positive minded persons. You will be the fresh face of our promo team that will be responsible for interacting with fans and making sure they have a pleasant experience.

Auditions will consist of interactive group games, improv activities, and opportunities to interact with other candidates and the judges. These activities are meant to assess each candidate’s personality, enthusiasm, energy, teamwork skills and their comfort level in front of a crowd.

Candidates should wear comfortable, but active, attire INCLUDING athletic shoes

An orientation time will be announced at a later date if you are selected to the team.

REEDY

The ideal candidate will be physically fit and able to sustain energy throughout a Drive game. Must be 18 or older with reliable transportation. Height Requirements: 5’9″ to 6’2″ to fit into the costume. You must be a highly skilled performer with a great ability to improvise and animate. Previous experience as an animator, character, mascot, or interactive entertainer is a plus. Seeking people in good physical condition with skills in dancing, tumbling, gymnastics or acrobatics. Must be good with children and be an outgoing people person.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Saturday, November 20th, 2021
Fluor Field at the West End
9:30AM – 11:30 AM

Position requires five months of 66 home games to attend, from April through September. You will have a preset schedule of game dates and times. Most games are in the evening and dates will include weekends. Please note our mascot performs outside in summer months and must take into consideration the likelihood for high temperatures. Additional appearance requests will be all calendar year. You will be required to fulfil additional non-gameday appearances to be considered for gameday appearances. Compensation is on a per game basis and will be paid bi-weekly.

Those interested in auditioning will be required to have a 30 second to minute long performance/sketch prepared. This performance is at the discretion of the performer and must be appropriate for a family audience. We suggest you incorporate skits, your dancing abilities, and how you would interact with fans of any age. Tryouts will be on the dugout top. Please arrive on time. We will audition all candidates until all have had opportunity.

Please wear athletic/workout attire.

WooSox to Preserve Pawtucket Tradition by Sending Two Kids from its Boys & Girls Club to The World Series

2021 marks 71st anniversary of tradition established in 1950 by longtime American League Umpire Hank Soar.

(Left to right) Juan Luis Torres Caquias, Jeremy Torres (13), Michael Cute (11), and Matthew Cute stop by Polar Park before heading to Atlanta to attend The World Series.
Tim Quitadamo/Worcester Red Sox

WORCESTER, MA – Continuing a Rhode Island tradition that dates back 71 years, the Worcester Red Sox will send a pair of youngsters from the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket on an all-expense-paid trip to see Games 3 and 4 of the 2021 World Series at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA, this Friday and Saturday night.

Michael Cute, 11, and Jeremy Torres, 13, will be accompanied by their fathers, Matthew Cute and Juan Luis Torres Caquias. Both families are from Pawtucket.

“These kids are going to remember this experience for the rest of their lives,” said Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket CEO, Jim Hoyt. “We’re grateful that the Worcester Red Sox are continuing this tradition that goes back decades, and that they haven’t forgotten about our kids in Pawtucket. It’s one of our favorite traditions.”

“I’ve had the pleasure of carrying on this amazing tradition for over three decades during my time in Pawtucket,” said WooSox Vice Chairman Mike Tamburro, the longtime president of the PawSox. “Now we get to continue this tradition from my hometown in Worcester and give them a proper send-off from our new home at Polar Park.”

The two children were randomly chosen during a Boys & Girls Club group outing at Polar Park this season. This year’s trip marks the 31st year that the franchise has sent two children from the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, each accompanied by a parent, to baseball’s Fall Classic.

The tradition began in 1950 when the New York Football Giants’ longtime running back, Hank Soar, became an American League baseball umpire. Soar, who grew up in Pawtucket and graduated from what is now Tolman High School, had been discovered umpiring by Central Mass native Connie Mack, the legendary owner and manager of the Philadelphia Athletics. After Soar established the annual tradition of providing tickets to a pair of children, the City of Pawtucket assumed the responsibility before passing the torch to the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1990. After completing 50 years in Rhode Island in 2020, the club is sending the students this year for the first time as the Worcester Red Sox.

“I am pleased to see this longstanding tradition continue,” said Mayor of Pawtucket Donald R. Grebien. “It means so much for our youth to be able to have this opportunity and I am glad that the WooSox will be continuing to provide this great experience.”

WooSox and Canal District Alliance Present Inaugural “Trick-Or-Treat at Polar Park”

Free event open to all, Sunday, October 31, 2-7 p.m.;

Free Disney movie, “Hocus Pocus,” to show on giant videoboard at 5. p.m.

 

WORCESTER, MA – Celebrating their first Halloween in their new neighborhood, the Worcester Red Sox are joining the Canal District Alliance to present the WooSox’ inaugural “Trick or Treat at Polar Park” on Sunday, October 31, from 2-7 p.m. There is no charge, and all are welcome.

Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” will entertain families on the giant left-field videoboard at 5 p.m., rain or shine. Fans can watch from inside the DCU Club or in outdoor seats.

Children can walk the WooSox Loop and receive candy throughout the ballpark from WooSox staff members. Mascots Smiley Ball and Woofster the WonderDog will be available for autographs, photographs, and lots of laughs. The typically blue ballpark will be dressed in seasonal decorations.

“All of us are excited that the WooSox are doing something fun for the neighborhood on Halloween,” said Amy Chase, Owner of Crompton Collective and Co-Vice President of the Canal District Alliance. “We hope that families and trick-or-treaters alike will be able to enjoy a fun-filled Sunday afternoon and evening in Worcester’s Canal District.”

“For years, we have looked forward to our first Halloween together at Polar Park,” said WooSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “Together with our friends and neighbors in the Canal District Alliance, we are eager to enjoy another October weekend that brings life, energy, and joy to this vibrant downtown neighborhood.”

The event will also feature the presentation of awards to fans who decorated pumpkins in the WooSox’ Inaugural “Polar Park Pumpkin Patch.” Fans are allowed to bring their entries right through Halloween.

Fluor Field to Host Heroes Softball Game October 31

 

The Greenville Drive are excited to partner with The City of Greenville to host the first Heroes Softball game at Fluor Field October 31 to support Shriners Hospital for Children.

Admission to the game between the Greenville Police Department and Fire Department is free but donations are encouraged.

First pitch is set for 2 PM while the Main Street gate will open at 1 PM.

Concessions will also be available for purchase.

To support Team Fire’s fundraising page, visit: https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/team/387134.

To support the Police Team’s fundraising page, visit: https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/team/387132.

WooSox are “Going Gold” for Childhood Cancer Awareness Night, Set for Friday, September 24, 6:35 PM

Resilience of those in the fight will be celebrated with pregame ceremony, in-game tribute, and postgame gold-themed fireworks show.

 

WORCESTER, MA – September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and the Worcester Red Sox will pay tribute by “going gold” for their final Friday night game at Polar Park this inaugural season, scheduled for September 24 at 6:35 PM. Gold ribbons will be painted on the field in foul territory, players will have the option of wearing gold wristbands, and more than 100 childhood cancer patients and their families will be invited to help form a human gold ribbon in the outfield during the WooSox’ pregame ceremonies. At the end of one inning, tentatively set for the 3rd inning, the players from both teams will hold gold placards, as will fans, media, and broadcasters, each inscribed with the name of someone who has been in the battle.

The families who are participating come to the WooSox via Dana-Farber’s Jimmy Fund Clinic, the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts & Rhode Island, the Tomorrow Fund, the UMass Memorial Health Cancer Center, and Why Me & Sherry’s House. All are community partners of the WooSox and the WooSox Foundation.

In advance of the night, the WooSox will present a check for more than $50,000 on Wednesday, September 22 to UMass Memorial Medical Center, the exclusive health care provider of the WooSox. On Friday, the WooSox Foundation will present another $10,000 to the Jimmy Fund Clinic. WooSox fans raised those funds at Polar Park in advance of last month’s Red Sox/ Jimmy Fund Radio Telethon on WEEI and NESN.

Worcester Red Sox Principal Owner and Chairman Larry Lucchino is the Chairman of the legendary Jimmy Fund. The Dana-Farber Institute has saved Lucchino’s life three times.

“It is part of our Red Sox ethos to partner with the Jimmy Fund, part of our Worcester ethos to partner with UMass Memorial, and part of our Pawtucket heritage to partner with the Tomorrow Fund,” Lucchino said. “We are also joining forces with local charities, such as Why Me? and Sherry’s Place, with more to come in the future. All of Red Sox Nation should be aware of the long history we have of fighting this cruel, miserable disease. We should be aware of the strides we have taken, the heroic research going on right now, and the miles we have to go before we conquer cancer.”

Fans will find the gold placards at their seat, and after writing the name of the person whom they want to remember or honor, they will rise as one at the end of the third inning. Fans with general admission tickets may pick up the placards and permanent markers at tables around the ballpark.

Following the game, the WooSox will present their final fireworks show of the season, gold-themed with inspiring music about perseverance, strength, and compassion from “Rocky,” Rachel Platten, and others. The fireworks spectacular is presented by UniBank.

The WooSox invite fans to help make Polar Park a sea of gold on Childhood Cancer Awareness Night and donate to the WooSox Foundation as part of its ongoing commitment to fight childhood cancer. Fans may donate by visiting marked tables around the ballpark, scanning the QR code located on the back of their gold placard, or by visiting woosoxfoundation.org. Tickets

for the game may be purchased online at polarpark.com, by phone at (508) 500-8888, or in person at the Polar Park Ticket Office at 100 Madison Street.

WooSox to Take Part in the Triple-A Final Stretch “Homers That Help” Campaign

Major League Baseball will donate $50 to Worcester’s Why Me & Sherry’s House for every WooSox Home Run hit between Wednesday, September 22 and Sunday, October 3.

 

WORCESTER, MA – The Worcester Red Sox conclude their inaugural season at Polar Park with a five-game homestand against the Rochester Red Wings that begins tomorrow evening on Wednesday, September 22 at 6:35pm. They will be joining all of the Triple-A clubs in the country by taking part in the “Homers That Help” campaign, as Major League Baseball donates $50 for every Home Run to a charity of the Triple-A club’s choice from Wednesday, September 22 through Sunday, October 3.

In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month the WooSox have selected Why Me & Sherry’s House to be the beneficiary of Major League Baseball’s generosity, and they will receive $50 for every WooSox Home Run hit during this time span. If the WooSox just so happen to lead all of Triple-A in Home Runs during this final stretch, Major League Baseball will donate an additional $5,000 to Why Me & Sherry’s House. Any ties for the overall leader will be broken by the team with the fewest number of at-bats among the teams that tied for the lead.

“We are grateful for Major League Baseball’s generosity and view the Homers that Help campaign as a time to recognize that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month,” said Club President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “These funds will help local Worcester charities, Why Me & Sherry’s House, provide care and comfort to the families whose children are going through the storm. We celebrate their acts, and we thank MLB for providing such meaningful resources that will directly help the families of Worcester.”

Why Me is a Worcester Based non-profit organization created to help Central New England families cope with childhood cancer. WHY ME, which stands for Worcester Help for Youth, Memories Everlasting, has been providing support for families with children fighting cancer since 1985. They will be in attendance with other local non-profits at Polar Park for the club’s first-ever Childhood Cancer Awareness Night on Friday, September 24.

Sherry’s House is Why Me’s eight-bedroom residence in Worcester’s Tatnuck Square that opened in 2004, and serves as a home-away-from-home for families while their child is on active treatment. Additionally, Sherry’s House is proudly home to Why Me’s administrative offices, and hosts many events and activities throughout the year.

“We thank Major League Baseball and the WooSox for selecting our organization to be the recipient of the Homers That Help Campaign during the Triple-A final stretch,” said Danielle Sikonski, Director of Family Services. “This support will help Why Me to continue providing tangible support, financial assistance, fun outings and more to our families who have been affected by childhood cancer. We look forward to being in attendance at Polar Park this Friday for the WooSox’ Childhood Cancer Awareness Night.”

“Minor League Baseball teams have long been great community partners, and we are pleased to make a donation to each of these local charities on behalf of our Triple-A teams for their performance during the Triple-A Final Stretch,” said Major League Baseball’s Vice President, Minor League Operations and Development, Peter Woodfork. “These charities provide a variety of valuable services to their community, and it is our honor to recognize their efforts.”