Fenway Park is the country’s oldest ballpark. And this past Thursday, it hosted the country’s oldest summer league for a workout day.
Both Fenway and the Cape league have hosted an impressive number of baseball legends. Falmouth Commodore Brady Puckett said knowing about the players who came before him made visiting Fenway all that more exhilarating.
“The best part was just being there," Puckett said. "And just knowing all the people who have played there before. It’s so cool, the history and everything.”
Every team in the Cape Cod Baseball League got some time on Fenway proper to showcase their skills. Nico Giarratano of the Wareham Gatemen said even things like basic batting practice at Fenway are a memorable bonding experience for the whole team.
“Very fun," he said. "I mean, we get to take infield on this beautiful field which is just very, very fun. Then take BP [batting practice]. You know, just enjoy it with the teammates.”
This day is one that most players look forward to as soon as they get on the Cape. But for some players the excitement has been building up for a lot longer. Wareham Gateman Gavin Sheets has been ready for this day since he first found out he’d be playing in the Cape League.
“Two guys on my team played on it last year and they told me about this day," Sheets said. "And it’s definitely one of the highlights. So, definitely looking forward to it coming into it, and it's been nothing short of a blast.”
Players aren’t the only ones who look forward to this day. Host families, team volunteers, and Major League Baseball scouts are also invited. For Chatham Angler Jake Palomaki, having the scouts at Fenway day is a great opportunity to help a player’s career.
“It’s just helped me get in front of a bunch of scouts, given me the opportunity to be able to do that. So it's been great,” he said.
Kyle Adams plays on the Chatham Anglers. He was pleasantly surprised when a few Red Sox players took the field.
“It was awesome, just being able to be on that major league field with a bunch of great players there," Adams said. "Seeing David Price and some of the Red Sox players out there as well, that was definitely a great experience, to kind of see what they do in their everyday lives. I think just being out there was a great experience.”
And that’s one of the reasons the Cape League has Fenway Day. It’s a very real possibility that many of the players from this summer will end up in an MLB stadium by this time next year.
Falmouth Commodore Jake Bird said this is just a taste of what him and his fellow Cape League players hope to achieve.
“That’s just another dream - try to take care of one step at a time," Bird said. "But man, that would be unbelievable. Just to see the seas of people in the seats and be on a field that’s so iconic, it just adds a little extra motivation to everything that’s already there.”
But before these players start playing at Fenway or another Major League stadium, we can catch them on the Cape this summer.
