Hitting To All Fields in West Stockbridge

The history of baseball in Berkshire County dates back at least to the first mention of baseball in a government document - the broken window law of 1791. Since that time Berkshire County has seen 40 major league players born, raised or settled here. Over 210 minor league players called the Berkshires their home and another 100 didn’t play this game professionally but still worked in the great industry of professional baseball. Baseball can be traced back in West Stockbridge to at least 1870 but later grew in popularity as a spectator sport during the 1930’s and 40’s with Garrett Troy’s - Troy’s Garage team playing at Keresey Field. Imagine over 3,000 people crowding into West Stockbridge at one time to see Troy's play the Philadelphia Athletics on Keresey Field. Talking about fields, there were at least four fields that amateur and semi-pro teams called home not including numerous other spots the townspeople enjoyed playing with a bat and a ball. Come enjoy this exhibit as it hits to all fields, telling the stories of not only baseball in the Berkshires but baseball in West Stockbridge.

This exhibit will be on display from April 27th-30th in the the West Stockbridge Historical Society Building - Main Street, West Stockbridge.  This exhibit is put on by Baseball in the Berkshires in cooperation with the West Stockbridge Historical Society. It is sponsored in part by the West Stockbridge Cultural Council.

Schedule -

Thursday, April 27th - 5:00-8 PM - Opening Reception with exhibit open to the public

Friday, April 28th - 5:00-8 PM - exhibit open to the public - 6:30-8:00 - Presentation by Larry Moore and Kevin Larkin - on Baseball in the Berkshires and Troy’s Garage and Keresey Field

Saturday, April 29th - 12 Noon - 4 PM - exhibit open to the public - on-going hands-on presentation on the History of Baseball Gloves. Our first gloves were our hands since the ball was soft and smaller. As the ball got harder we needed protection for our hands thus the need for a glove. Come see the evolution of gloves - the difference between a glove and a mitt - maximum sizes for gloves and mitts and other interesting facts. Try the real and replica gloves on and see how it was to play baseball in the 1900's or if your name happened to be Ruth or Gehrig.

Sunday, April 30th - 12 Noon - 4 PM - exhibit open to the public - on-going hands-on presentation on the History of Baseball Bats. Attendees will be able to handle replica bats from the 1860's up to today's modern bats - including replicas of the bats that were used by Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, David Ortiz, Aaron Judge, Miguel Cabrera, Mookie Betts, Bryce Harper and others. Find out about the reasoning behind the differences, in wood, handle, barrel, weight and length.