Overview

Worcester and Central Massachusetts have a rich sports heritage that dates back to the early days of sports in America. In fact, the Worcester region has played an influential role in the history of professional sports in the United States. One of the first professional baseball teams in history was owned by a man from Ashburnham named Ivers Whitney Adams, and one of the earliest National League baseball teams was from Worcester, the Brown Stockings, also known as the Worcesters. The region has also produced some of the greatest managers in the history of baseball, including Connie Mack and Wilbert Robinson. It is also the home of the man who wrote the epic baseball poem, ""Casey at the Bat."" The area's sports legacy also features legendary sports figures like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Satchel Paige, and Casey Stengel -- all of whom left their mark on the region. In addition, a Worcester minor league baseball team featured one of the first Black professional players, Hall of Famer Bud Fowler, who played some 69 years before Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier. And few are aware that Worcester is one of the birthplaces of professional basketball, as the second-ever pro basketball league was formed there. In addition, Worcester hosted the very first Ryder Cup golf championship. The city also played host to both a men's U.S. Open golf tournament and a women's U.S. Open championship. Further, Worcester is the home of the world's fastest man, Major Taylor, a groundbreaking bicycle racer who was the first Black American-born professional athlete in any sport to win a world championship. Here are the stories of some of the sports pioneers and legends from Worcester and Central Massachusetts.

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