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'Joe Walsh Day' at Spillane Field on Sunday, June 9

06/05/2013 6:34 PM

Article By: Tom Gay

 

     The Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League will be retiring former Harvard University head baseball coach Joe Walsh’s jersey at their preseason game on Sunday, June 9 against the Newport Gulls of the NECBL. This will be a matchup of the 2012 CCBL Champion Gatemen and the 2012 NECBL Champion Gulls. Walsh died suddenly last July 31 at his home in New Hampshire at age 58.
     
     Walsh had a long connection with the Cape Cod Baseball League that began in 1988 as the first head coach of the Brewster Whitecaps. He worked with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox before settling in with the Wareham Gatemen from 1991-98 as pitching coach under legendary Cape League coach Don Reed. Walsh helped the Gatemen win championships in 1994 and 1997. Even after his years on the Cape, he continued to be involved with the league by directing the CCBL Frank Finn Invitational Tryout at Spillane Field for years.

      Walsh’s wife, Sandra, and their four daughters are planning on being in attendance. The Wareham organization is hoping that every team will be represented by players in their away jerseys at this event. On hand will be Pete Sheppard, Sport Talk 1510; former Harvard coaches Tom Lorrico and Chip Forrest; Jim Nelson, Suffolk University athletic director; Ethan Ferriera, Harvard baseball player, U.S. Rep. William Keating; Massachusetts Rep. Susan Gifford; Sen. Marc Pacheco; Cape League Commissioner Paul Galop; and many other friends of Joe Walsh.
 
Where: Clem Spillane Field, Wareham
Schedule: Pregame activities, 5:30 p.m.; first pitch, 6 p.m.