McCoy Stadium Murals

Friends,

When I was a kid, I worked at McCoy Stadium. It was the best job I ever had. I did a little bit of everything over the years. I sold popcorn in the stands, worked at the concession stands, swept up peanut shells, and even helped the groundskeeper roll the tarp out during rain delays. And the best part? I got to see the Pawtucket Red Sox play every home game during the summer. It was an experience I’ll never forget. Here’s what I wrote in The Potato Puff Surprise.

That was the last time I saw Joe Kelly alive. He recovered from the stroke, but was later diagnosed with terminal cancer. He had overcome numerous health issues in the past, and a small piece of me thought he would actually beat it.

After the funeral services, the Kellys would be hosting an Irish wake of sorts at the Galway Bay to celebrate Joe’s life. This is where I would deliver his eulogy. The Galway is an Irish pub in the old neighborhood I grew up in. It’s a gritty little place that lacks amenities, but certainly not character. It’s located behind McCoy Stadium, home of the Pawtucket Red Sox (the Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate), and across the street from Jenks Junior High School.

I thought about the Galway and the smell of roasted malt and barley from a freshly poured Guinness. I thought about McCoy Stadium and how the longest game in baseball history was played there. The PawSox beat the Rochester Red Wings in a thirty-three-inning marathon that featured Wade Boggs and Cal Ripken Jr., two future Hall of Famers. 

I pictured the spectacular murals of former players painted by Rhode Island School of Design graduate, Tayo Heuser. I imagined the field. The grass and dirt were perfectly manicured. A spectrum of blue, yellow and red cascaded across the infield as a garden hose passed through the shadows. The grounds crew worked methodically, putting the final touches on the field. The tarp was lifted from the pitcher’s mound and the bases were inserted into the ground.

I recalled selling popcorn in the stands when I was a kid. Selling popcorn was a good gig. Not only was it the lightest snack to carry up and down the stadium stairs, it also generated the highest profit margin. Unlike soda, which was super heavy and cost $1.75 a cup, a box of popcorn was only $1.50. Most people gave you $2.00 and let you keep the change. Then I thought about junior high school.

My friends who never saw a game at McCoy or have never been to Rhode Island for that matter, have asked me about the murals. As I mentioned before, the PawSox were sold in 2015 and moved to Worcester, Massachusetts. By the way, it still hurts to write that. McCoy Stadium has sat abandoned ever since. I was never sure what happened to the murals and feared the worst.

A friend of mine shared a video with me this week. Apparently, the murals were preserved and are being auctioned off in March. The video below showcases a few of the murals. Check it out.

Enjoy the weekend!

-Tom

P.S. Just so you know, my birthday falls right after the auction if you're thinking of getting me a gift 😉