Fuller Field
Clinton, MA
Review by Gary
The little town of Clinton, Massachusetts (population 15,000) was once famous for manufacturing woven wire and carpets, but today is more known for its claim to have the oldest continuously used baseball diamond in the world. Fuller Field was laid out in 1878 and sits just under 50 miles from the oldest Major League stadium, Boston’s Fenway Park, which opened 34 years later in 1912.
Our Canadian friends in London, Ontario, may take umbrage with this lofty claim as they opine that Labatt Memorial Park, established as Tecumseh Park in 1877, holds the “World’s Oldest baseball field” title. The Fuller folks argue that the location of home plate at Labatt has been moved within the diamond, changing the configuration, but can’t the two just call it a draw?
Fuller Field lies along High Street and shares its grass with a football field and smaller Little League diamond. Fans can enter through the 1920s era ticket booths and then traipse across the gridiron to grab a spot or can sneak down Worcester Street and risk damage to their vehicles by parking along the right field line. On this June 2024 visit, one of the football goal posts stood in the 1878 left field foul territory for baseball action.
The press box erected in 2008 seemed untended for many a year with an electric scoreboard system forgotten on the floor. Two vintage loudspeakers project up from behind the press box, reminding one of simpler days without THX sound systems and LED light displays. The dugouts installed that same year consist of two recently installed aluminum benches set on concrete slabs.
Fans attending a game at Fuller Field would be smart to bring their own chairs or picnic blankets to watch the action as there are no fixed seats on these hallowed grounds. The nearest facilities can be found way behind the further field goal post, close to the Parks and Recreation building.
The Guinness World Records, Atlas Obscura and The Society For American Baseball Research (SABR) all mention Fuller Field as holding the world record for the longest continuous use, to name a few claimants. Markers to that effect are located not only at the main entrance, but also behind the first base dugout. The view beyond the outfield is of single-family homes along High Street and lush trees to the right field side.
Fuller Field has no lights, so all of the action must take place before dusk. A row of lights runs along the football diamond, but are of no use to the baseball ballplayers. One can easily imagine watching the Clinton Base Ball Club and Hall of Famer Tim Keefe competing here. I just hope they brought comfy chairs.
2024
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