Worcester Bravehearts Named Futures League Organization of the Year

Friday, October 28, 2016

GoLocalWorcester Sports Team

General Manager Dave Peterson

The Worcester Bravehearts have been named the Futures League 2016 Organization of the Year.

“Win or lose, we strive for smiles. In all seasons and all types of weather, I want people to smile when they hear the name ‘Bravehearts’ or ‘Jake the Lion.’ There are so many people— Manager J.P. Pyne, Coaches Hartigan & Cummins, the Creedon family, our staff and interns— who deliver a winning product to the stadium each night to make sure that our fans have a great time when they come to a game,” said General Manager Dave Peterson.

This is the second Organization of the Year Award for the Bravehearts, their last coming in 2014.

"The Worcester Bravehearts continue to enhance the caliber of the entire league and did a fantastic job hosting our League’s All Star Game this year. The league is proud of what they’ve been able to do in the City of Worcester in just three years, and we can’t wait to see where this momentum takes them in 2017,” said FCBL Commissioner, Chris Hall.

Bravehearts Among the Best

In their three seasons, the Bravehearts have ranked at or near the top of the league in attendance each year, and drew an average of 2,230 fans per night at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field in 2016.

They also cracked the top ten summer collegiate teams in the country for the first time, finishing ninth in total attendance and tenth in average attendance among 169 teams.

Bravehearts in 2016

This past season, the Bravehearts posted the best regular season record and advanced to the championship series for the third straight season before losing to the Nashua Silver Knights.

This past year also saw the top 70 prospects in the Futures League come to Worcester for the Futures League All-Star game in July.

The event included a fan fest, scout day, home run derby, and All-Star Game, and saw a stadium record 4,319 fans come to Hanover Insurance park.

Worcester baseball celebrities Tim Collins, Ryan O’Rourke, Ron Perry and J.P. Ricciardi were honored on the field before the game.

Related Slideshow: The History of Baseball in Central Massachusetts

Baseball and Central Mass. go way back - to the 1860s. The local historical landmarks range from Mudville to Hotel Vernon to Fitton Field. A version of these highlights is posted on the site of the new, yet-to-be-formally-named Worcester Baseballteam of the three-year-old Futures Collegiate Baseball League.

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Worcester Baseball

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