The Second Installment of the Great Polar Park Writers Series: Bill Ballou

Nearing the end of a two-series homestand, on Saturday May 25, the WooSox Foundation hosted their second writer for “The Great Polar Park Writers Series”. Bill Ballou, celebrated as "the pride of Whitinsville", was warmly welcomed to share his experiences as the Dean of Worcester Sports Writers. During his talk, Ballou shared his extensive knowledge of baseball history in Worcester and Boston and discussed his role in voting for the National Baseball Hall of Fame inductions.

Worcester owes Ballou gratitude for being one of the first advocates in bringing the Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate organization to Worcester. When Larry Lucchino first bought the PawSox, there was an inkling that the team may move from Pawtucket. The original plan was to move to Providence, but eventually those plans fell through. On one fateful Friday night, though, Ballou called Larry Lucchino, and left a message suggesting that Worcester could be a destination for the team. When Ballou received a call back from Lucchino at 7 a.m. that Saturday morning, he knew it was significant.

Closely following the unfolding story as it developed, Ballou recounted, “At every turn, Worcester batted 1.000.” From the way the city officials approached the potential move, Gene Zabinski’s postcards, and the emerging loyal fan base––everything perfectly fell into place. The rest is history.

Regarding baseball history, Ballou asked, “Where do you start? Where do you end?”

He describes baseball as “sports’ broadest canvas.” Often referred to as America’s national pastime, baseball has a history extending as far back to the early 1700s––and arguably earlier if there are considerations for similar stickball games!

“You could never stop asking questions,” Ballou expertly wove in while telling anecdotes and stories of Hall of Famers who have connections to Worcester.

Bud Fowler, the first African American to play professional baseball, and his Live Oaks minor league team moved to Worcester in 1878. In 1925, Casey Stengel took on his first managerial role with the Worcester Panthers. In his 1966 Hall of Fame Induction speech, Stengel even acknowledges the long-gone team.

Ted Williams hit his first home run in a Red Sox uniform at Fitton Field in an exhibition game against the College of Holy Cross baseball team in 1939. Just four years later, Babe Ruth played an exhibition game with the Boston Braves at Fitton Field before his last season. Again, in a game against the College of Holy Cross, Lou Gehrig played with his Columbia team and hit the longest home run in Boulevard Park History.

If that wasn’t enough, Ballou said he found 35 Hall of Famers who have ties to Worcester. The Kansas City Monarchs played an exhibition game in the city at a time when Buck O’Neill and Satchel Paige were on the team, Jesse Burkett played in Worcester from 1931-1932, Jim Thorpe––who is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but is in many others––played his last pro game here in 1925, and the list goes on!

With his extensive knowledge of the game and its history, Ballou votes annually in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Despite claiming that this role brings him the most infamy, he publicly posts his ballot every year, and consistently faces backlash from fans.

Ballou willingly admits that he has a high standard for voting. The writer decided he wanted to vote because he remembers watching great players like Ted Williams, who people still talk about generations later. In 1959, when Ballou was just seven years old, he remembers his father taking him to a Red Sox game because he wanted Ballou to be able to say he saw Ted Williams play. In voting, Ballou looks for these same larger-than-life players. He also used David Ortiz as an example, saying, “When he came to bat, you put your drink down.”

When asked about his voting strategy, Ballou said, “Being good is not good enough. Being great isn’t even good enough. I want to be able to say that parents wanted their kids to see this player play.”

It is not the numbers and analytics Ballou looks for, it's that larger-than-life aura.

Ballou’s stories were widely appreciated as he shared a glimpse into the world of Baseball Hall of Fame voting and Worcester baseball history. “The Great Polar Park Writers Series” continues to be a success as the WooSox welcome baseball fans and scholars of all ages. Join us on June 22 for the series’ next installment: Brian Abraham; Director of Player Development for the Boston Red Sox.