Fitton Field

Coordinates: 42°14′27.65″N 71°48′38.40″W / 42.2410139°N 71.8106667°W / 42.2410139; -71.8106667

Fitton Field
Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field
Fitton Football Stadium
Location One College Street
Worcester, MA 01610
Owner College of the Holy Cross
Operator College of the Holy Cross
Capacity Football – 23,500
Baseball – 3,000
Surface Grass
Opened 1905 – Baseball stadium
1924 – Football stadium
Tenants
Holy Cross Crusaders (NCAA) (1905–present)
Worcester Bravehearts (FCBL) (2014–present)
Worcester Tornadoes (Can-Am League) (2005–2012)

Fitton Field is a multi-purpose sports stadium in Worcester, Massachusetts. Primarily used for College of the Holy Cross sporting events, the baseball stadium also served as the home field for the Can-Am League Worcester Tornadoes, and the current home of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League Worcester Bravehearts.

History and layout

The stadium opened in 1924 as the official home for the Holy Cross Crusaders. Named after Reverend James Fitton, who donated land to the Archdiocese of Boston to found the college, it is an irregularly shaped three-sided horseshoe on the edge of the college's campus.

The northern football stands are shorter than the southern due to Interstate 290 being adjacent to the field. Because of the interstate and the football field, the baseball portion lacks any outfield bleachers.

Football

Officially known as Fitton Football Stadium, the football facility is a 23,500-seat stadium, home to the Holy Cross Crusaders football team. The field itself was used as the football field, and termed Fitton Field, as early as 1908. A wooden structure was constructed at that time, but a more sturdy concrete structure did not appear until 1908. In 1924, the concrete was replaced with the steel structure that still stands today, increasing the stadium's capacity. It would remain identical until 1986, when the wooden seating was replaced with aluminum bleachers, further expanding its capacity to its current level.

2008, home side of football stadium
2008, visitor side of football stadium

Baseball

Officially known as Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field, the Holy Cross baseball team began playing at what was known as Fitton Field in 1905. The field became baseball-only following the 1924 renovation of the football field, as the baseball site was where most games were played. The stadium remained essentially the same until 2005, when the Worcester Tornadoes made it their home, changed the name, and upgraded the seating and lighting of the stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 3,000 spectators. In 2006, Fitton Field hosted the 100 Inning Game benefit for Curt Schilling's charity Curt's Pitch for ALS.

In a 1939 exhibition game between Holy Cross and the Boston Red Sox, Ted Williams hit his first home run in a Red Sox uniform.[1]

In film

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Fitton Field was used to film the movie The Game Plan.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mallaghan, Brianne (19 April 2005). "Holy Cross Celebrates Fitton Field's 100th Anniversary". Holy Cross Sports Information. Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  2. ↑ http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061019/NEWS/610190782&SearchID=73260432251756
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fitton Field.
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