Sports & Athletics
First Ryder Cup
Jose Antonio Rivera
Jose Antonio Rivera
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1927
The 1st Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Worcester Country Club in Worcester
Jose Antonio Rivera
Jose Antonio Rivera
Jose Antonio Rivera
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Rivera, born in 1973, is a former WBA welterweight and super welterweight champion. On September 13, 2003, in Germany, Jose fought unbeaten European Champion Michel Trabant and walked away with the WBA Welterweight Championship of the World.
He is currently serving on the Worcester City Council, first elected in 2025.
Candlepin Bowling
Jose Antonio Rivera
Lee Richmond/ First Perfect Game
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Candlepin Bowling was invented in 1880 by Justin White, possibly on Pearl Street.
Lee Richmond/ First Perfect Game
Lee Richmond/ First Perfect Game
Lee Richmond/ First Perfect Game
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The first perfect game, June 12th 1880, was thrown by Lee Richmond in Worcester playing for the Worcester Worcesters. He defeated the Cleveland Blues. Later that season Worcester was the first team to have a no-hitter thrown against them at home.
The site, the Worcester Agricultural Fairgrounds, was bounded by Highland Street (north), Sever Street (east), Cedar Street (south), and Agricultural (later Russell) Street (west). The grounds were just east of the large public park called Elm Park. Today, the former fairgrounds property contains a grid of streets, and many homes and businesses.
Mark Fidrych
Lee Richmond/ First Perfect Game
Mark Fidrych
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1954 - 2009
Born in Worcester, the 'Bird' was a baseball sensation known for his quirky antics on the mound. In his rookie season he led the major leagues with a 2.34 ERA in 1976, won the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year award, and finished with a 19–9 record.
At 3:48 the announcer mentions he is from Worcester as he comes out of the dugout for a standing ovation.
Rich Gedman
Lee Richmond/ First Perfect Game
Mark Fidrych
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Born in Worcester in 1959, the catcher not only played in the longest baseball game ever, 33 innings in Pawtucket in 1981, but also played for the 1986 American League Champion Red Sox.
Gedman has also worked with the new Worcester AAA Red Sox.
He is only one of three Worcester players to have ever played in a World Series and the only Worcester native to have played in a World Series and All Star game.
Major Taylor
Major Taylor
Major Taylor
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1878 - 1932
"The first Black American global sports superstar", Taylor was born in Indiana before moving to Worcester as a teenager.
he was a competitive runner/ sprinter but was best known as a champion cyclist.
Myra Kraft
Major Taylor
Major Taylor
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1942 - 2011
She was an American philanthropist and the wife of Robert kraft, owner of the New England Patriots.
Bob Cousy
Major Taylor
Bob Cousy
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b. 1928
Though born in New York City, Cousy played basketball for Holy Cross and help bring six championships to the Boston Celtics in his 13 year career.
A constant all-star, he won the MVP award in 1957.
Across Massachusetts
Jack Chesbro
Tony Conigliaro
Tony Conigliaro
1874 - 1931
Born in North Adams, Chesbro pitched for several major league teams,, ending with the Red Sox. He his best known for winning 41 games in 1904, a record that seems untouchable in the modern era, which historians consider 1901 the beginning of baseball's modern age.
Tony Conigliaro
Tony Conigliaro
Tony Conigliaro
1945 - 1990
Born in Revere, Conigliaro was 19 in his rookie season with the Boston Red Sox. On July 23rd, 1967 during the Impossible Dream season he became the second youngest player in MLB history (and youngest American League player)
to reach 100 home runs.
Less than a month later, on August 18th, he became best known by being hit in the eye by Angels pitcher Jack Hamilton ; a pitch that nearly killed him. Despite a few comebacks, his career was never the same.
Howie Long
Tony Conigliaro
Candy Cummings
Born in Somerville, Long played 13 seasons for the Oakland Raiders. After football he got into broadcasting then acting, in movies, television, and commercials.
Candy Cummings
Candy Cummings
Candy Cummings
1848 - 1924
Born in Ware and inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939, he is considered the inventor of the curve ball.
Here's a video that explains how the curve ball got its 'Uncle Charlie' nickname.
Rocky Marciano
Candy Cummings
Rocky Marciano
1923 - 1969
Born in Brockton, Marciano was the heavyweight champion from 1952 - 1956, and remains the only heavyweight champion to finish undefeated in his career
Jerry Remy
Candy Cummings
Rocky Marciano
1952 - 2021
Born in Fall River MA, Remy played second base in his ten year career - the first three in California and seven
(1978 - 1984) with the Red Sox.
He followed his baseball career with a 33 year career as color commentator
for the Red Sox
MA Women In Baseball
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Below is a list of women (hopefully complete) that are connected to Massachusetts who played in the
historic All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) of the 1940's - 1950's.
The 1992 movie 'A League of Their Own' portrayed the league.
Eileen Albright (1928 - 2009) born in Quincy
Beatrice Arbour (1920 - 2019) died in Fall River
Louise Arnold (1923 - 2010) born in Pawtucket RI
Rita Briggs (1929 - 1994) born in Ayer
Patricia Irene Brown (1931 - 2012) born in Winthrop
Jean Buckley (1931 - 2019) born in Dorchester
Patricia Courtney (1931 - 2003) born and died in Everett
Mary Dailey (1928 - 1965) born and died in Lexington
Alice DeCambra (1921 -1988) born and died in Somerset
Lilian DeCambra (1925 - 2003) born and died in Somerset
Maddy English (1925 - 2004) born and died in Everett
Annie Gosbee (1935 - 1976) born in Essex
Dottie Green (1921 - 1992) born and died in Natick
Josephine Hasham (1924 - 2008) born in Brockton
Helen Ketula (1931 - 2016) born in Quincy
Noella Leduc (1933 - 2014) born in Westford (Graniteville)
Rhoda Leonard (1928 - 2015) born in Somerset, died in Norwood
*Marie Mansfield (1931 - *) born in Jamaica Plain
*Helen Nordquist (1932 - *) born in Boston
Lucille Stone (1925 - 2016) born in Boston, died in Buzzard's Bay
Georgette Vincent (1928 - 1980) born in Fall River
Clara Chiano - worked in electronics industry in Dorchester after baseball
Mary Pratt (1918 - 2020) born in Bridgeport CT, died in Braintree
Helen Walulik (1929 - 2012) died in Rochester
A League of Their Own
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Wareham MA native Geena Davis starred in 'A League of Their Own', with Worcester native Eddie Mekka (best known for Laverne & Shirley). The movie is designated by the National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant
Championships & Retired Numbers
Championships
The Boston Red Sox have won 9 World Series championships in their franchise history: 1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 2004, 2007, 2013, and 2018
Retired Numbers
- #1 - Bobby Doerr (2B): Retired May 21, 1988.
- #4 - Joe Cronin (SS/Mgr): Retired May 24, 1984.
- #6 - Johnny Pesky (SS/Mgr): Retired September 23, 2008.
- #8 - Carl Yastrzemski (LF): Retired August 6, 1989.
- #9 - Ted Williams (LF): Retired May 29, 1984.
- #14 - Jim Rice (LF): Retired September 20, 2009.
- #26 - Wade Boggs (3B): Retired May 26, 2016.
- #27 - Carlton Fisk (C): Retired September 4, 2000.
- #34 - David Ortiz (DH): Retired October 2, 2016.
- #42 - Jackie Robinson (MLB): Retired league-wide on April 15, 1997.
- #45 - Pedro Martinez (P): Retired July 28, 2015.
Massachusetts MLB Players
Baseball Almanac lists every player in MLB history to have been born in Massachusetts
Championships
The New England Patriots have won six Super Bowl championships in their history, all achieved under the leadership of head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady.
· 2001 season (Super Bowl XXXVI, played in 2002)
· 2003 season (Super Bowl XXXVIII, played in 2004)
· 2004 season (Super Bowl XXXIX, played in 2005)
· 2014 season (Super Bowl XLIX, played in 2015)
· 2016 season (Super Bowl LI, played in 2017)
· 2018 season (Super Bowl LIII, played in 2019)
Championships
The New England Patriots have won six Super Bowl championships in their history, all achieved under the leadership of head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady.
· 2001 season (Super Bowl XXXVI, played in 2002)
· 2003 season (Super Bowl XXXVIII, played in 2004)
· 2004 season (Super Bowl XXXIX, played in 2005)
· 2014 season (Super Bowl XLIX, played in 2015)
· 2016 season (Super Bowl LI, played in 2017)
· 2018 season (Super Bowl LIII, played in 2019)
Massachusetts NFL players
Pro Football Reference lists all NFL players born in Massachusetts
Championships
The Boston Celtics have won 18 NBA championships, the most in league history. Their titles were won in 1957, 1959–1966 (eight consecutive), 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008, and 2024.
Retired Numbers
- 00: Robert Parish
- 1: Walter A. Brown
- 2: Red Auerbach
- 3: Dennis Johnson
- 5: Kevin Garnett
- 6: Bill Russell
- 10: Jo Jo White
- 14: Bob Cousy
- 15: Tom Heinsohn
- 16: Tom Sanders
- 17: John Havlicek
- 18: Dave Cowens
- 19: Don Nelson
- 21: Bill Sharman
- 22: Ed Macauley
- 23: Frank Ramsey
- 24: Sam Jones
- 25: K.C. Jones
- 31: Cedric Maxwell
- 32: Kevin McHale
- 33: Larry Bird
- 34: Paul Pierce
- 35: Reggie Lewis
Massachusetts NBA players
Basketball Reference lists all NBA players born in Massachusetts
Championships
The Boston Bruins have won the Stanley Cup six times in their history: 1929, 1939, 1941, 1970, 1972, and 2011.
Retired Numbers
- #2 - Eddie Shore
- #3 - Lionel Hitchman
- #4 - Bobby Orr
- #5 - Dit Clapper
- #7 - Phil Esposito
- #8 - Cam Neely
- #9 - Johnny Bucyk
- #15 - Milt Schmidt
- #16 - Rick Middleton
- #22 - Willie O'Ree
- #24 - Terry O'Reilly
- #33 - Zdeno Chara
- #77 - Ray Bourque
- #99 - Wayne Gretzky (NHL-wide retirement)
Massachusetts NHL players
Hockey Reference lists all NHL players born in Massachusetts