slides: 10 Best Baseball Players Ever in Central MA

Monday, February 27, 2012

Mark Volain, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

With Milford's Chris Colabello headed to Double-A New Britain, Holy Name Central Catholic's Bryan LaHair getting a shot at first base with the Chicago Cubs, Worcester Tech's Tim Collins solidifying himself within the Kansas City Royals bullpen, and the Worcester Tornadoes season beginning in less than three months, baseball is in the air in Central Massachusetts.

While a lot of our baseball attention is sent towards the Boston Red Sox and the hometown Tornadoes, it is intriguing to explore some of the players who have come from our own backyard to have successful careers in the Major Leagues.

Beginning with people off the playing field, most baseball fans would recognize the name Connie Mack, the Hall of Fame Manager with the Major League record for wins, losses and games managed. He also owned the Philadelphia Athletics for over fifty years.

There are countless Little Leagues and camps all over the country named after Mack, but what many do not know is that he was born Cornelius McGillicuddy in East Brookfield, Mass. That's right, Central Mass. is the birthplace of arguably the best manager of all time.

In the front office, many baseball fans are familiar with Worcester's J.P. Ricciardi. The former Blue Jays General Manager from 2001-2009 graduated from Worcester's St. Peter-Marian High School. Ricciardi first high-profile job in the front office was as Special Assistant to General Manager Sandy Alderson of the Oakland Athletics in 1996.

Upon the hiring of Moneyball maestro Billy Beane as GM in 1997, Ricciardi became the Director of Player Personnel. His work with the A's led to his hiring as GM of the Blue Jays in 2001.
After his dismissal as GM in 2009, Ricciardi spent eight months as an analyst on ESPN's Baseball Tonight before being hired to his current position- a familiar one: Special Assistant to General Manager Sandy Alderson- this time with the New York Mets.

In the press box, many Red Sox fans will remember Lou Merloni, a regular call-up from Triple-A Pawtucket. Merloni now works as a baseball analyst on Comcast SportsNet New England and co-hosts a radio show with Mike Mutnansky called “Mut and Merloni,” that is entering it's second year on WEEI.

In the lengthy existence of Major League Baseball, there have been dozens of players from the Worcester-area to make the Big Show. The ten best are counted down here: