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THE HISTORY of the WAREHAM GATEMEN & SPILLANE FIELD
The Cape Cod League Baseball League, one of the nation’s first forms of organized baseball dates to about 1885. The history of baseball in Wareham goes back man years, perhaps to 1880. The exact date may never be officially agreed upon, but Wareham participated in the original Cape Cod League dating back to the 1920’s. At that time the Wareham team played their home games at Warr’s Park, the baseball field was in the center of the park surrounded by a racetrack (trotting horses) just off the road leading to Pinehurst Beach.
Baseball, considered America’s favorite past-time, became very popular in this area in the 1930’s with establishment of the Wareham Twilight League. Wareham Gatemen officially joined what is now known as the Cape Cod League in 1946. At that time, they played on the old high school field which was located where the Town Hall is now.
In 1963 the Gatemen moved to Clem Spillane Field, located on the campus of Wareham High School. Spillane was a teacher and coach at Wareham High. As coach of the school’s baseball, basketball and football teams, he never had a losing record. In fact, during the 1955-56 school year all three squads went undefeated during their regular seasons. Spillane was inducted into the Massachusetts Coaches Hall of Fame in all three sports.
The Gatemen have won eight championships during their time at Spillane. Notable alumni include Chuck Knoblauch, Kyle Schwarber, Ben Sheets, Nick Swisher, Mo Vaughn, Barry Zito, George Springer, Matt Barns and Brandon Workman. The Gatemen continues its long policy of improving Spillane field, investing over 1 million dollars over the past 36 years.
The field dimensions are 325′ L, 400′ C and 330′ R.
Directions to the field:
Clem Spillane Field; Rte. 6, Wareham Center at 54 Marion Road and Viking Drive
From Cape Cod: Take Rte. 25/495 W at Bourne Bridge to Exit 1 onto Rte. 195W (Providence). Take Exit 21 (first exit) to Rte. 28/Cranberry Highway. Turn left at the end of the ramp onto Rte. 28 south. Follow blue Hospital signs to traffic lights at High St./Marion Rd (Rte.6). Bear right onto Rte. 6 for .2 mile to Viking Drive on left (just beyond Town Hall) From Middleboro/Boston: Take Rte. 495E to Exit 1 onto Rte. 195W (Providence). Take Exit 21 (first exit) to Rte. 28 south. Follow the above directions. From New Bedford/Providence Take Rt. 195E to Exit 21. At top of ramp,bear right onto Rte. 28 south. Follow the above directions. Field is located directly behind Town Hall/ Multi-Service Center Parking Lot and Wareham Middle School. Parking available at Wareham Middle School and Wareham High School.
