Address: 365 Western Avenue, Lynn, MA
Fraser Field, located in Lynn, Massachusetts, is has been the exclusive home to Fisher College Baseball since the 2011 season. The 3,800-capacity ballpark was originally constructed in 1940 as part of the Works Progress Administration during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. The park was named after Eugene B. Fraser, a Lynn city counselor who was one of the biggest boosters for the local semi-pro team.
Since then, the historic facility has played home to many former minor league affiliates including the Lynn Red Sox, an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox (1946-1948), the Lynn Sailors, an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, from 1980-1982 and then the Lynn Pirates, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Most recently, it served as the home for Independent League baseball teams such as the Massachusetts Maddogs (1995-1999) and the North Shore Spirit (2003-2007). The former owner of the Spirit, Nicholas Lopardo, invested $2.5 million into renovations of the ballpark which included a state-of-the-art audio/public address system, chair-back seating and concessions.
Collegiately, Fraser Field has been home to the North Shore Navigators of the New England Collegiate Baseball League since 2008. It has also hosted the Boston Baseball Beanpot in 2006 and 2007 along with serving as the host for the NAIA 2014 Association of Independent Institutions (now known as the Continental Athletic Conference) Baseball Championship tournament.
The Falcons technically began playing at Fraser Field in 2010 when they hosted and captured the Sunrise Conference tournament. Shortly thereafter, Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach Scott Dulin spearheaded negotiations on a partnership between the college, the city of Lynn, and the Navigators to add significant resources to improve the playing field and a 10-year deal was made.
The field underwent significant changes as in 2015, a new synthetic FieldTurf was installed which replaced the old dirt and astroturf infield. The outfield remains a natural grass surface and the pitcher’s mound consists of clay and dirt.
After a successful 10-year partnership, the three parties entered into another 10-year agreement which will bring immediate changes to the facility. During the fall of 2022, the entire playing surface will be of the artificial variety with FieldTurf being installed. The ballpark will also receive an upgraded LED field lighting system and a new outfield fence. There are other improvement projects scheduled over the 10-year contract that could include covered batting cages and updated clubhouses.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
Fraser Field was the site for the first integrated minor league baseball game when the Lynn Red Sox hosted the Nashua Dodgers on opening day in 1946. The Dodgers, the first integrated pro team, featured catcher Roy Campanella and pitcher Don Newcombe. Campenella hit his first professional home run against the Red Sox on opening day. Josh Gibson, the greatest slugger in Negro League history, smashed a 500-foot home run at Fraser during the 1940s.
Other notable baseball players to have played inside the ballpark are Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky, Tony Conigliaro, Harry Agganis, and Jimmy Foxx, who played his final professional game at Fraser Field.
*Note – The Fisher College Baseball program has a 175-48 (.784) career record in games played at Fraser Field dating back to the 2010 Sunrise Conference tournament.
DIRECTIONS
From North of Lynn: Take Route 1 south to the Route 129 East exit towards Lynn. Continue straight for about 0.3 miles and then turn left onto Salem Street (signs for Lynn/Swampscott) before traveling for 0.7 miles. At the traffic circle, continue straight onto Route 129 East for three miles and then proceed onto Chestnut Street for 0.3 miles. Turn right onto Maple Street, travel 0.2 miles, and take a right onto Ford Street. Parking for Fraser Field is on the left adjacent to Manning Field.
From the South of Lynn: Take Route 1 North to the Route 60 exit toward Malden/Revere. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto Route 60 East/Squire Road heading to Revere for 0.9 miles. At the next traffic circle, take the 4th exit onto Route 107 North/Salem Turnpike heading to Lynn/Salem. Continue to follow Route 107 North, the stadium will be on the left in 4.6 miles. Continue past the stadium and a left at the set of lights onto Maple Street and then another left onto Ford Street. Parking for Fraser Field is on the left adjacent to Manning Field.
From the West of Lynn: Take Interstate 95 (I-95) to exit 44B for Route 129 East. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Route 129 East and travel for 3.2 miles before continuing onto Chestnut Street for 0.3 miles. Turn right onto Maple Street, travel 0.2 miles, and take a right onto Ford Street. Parking for Fraser Field is on the left adjacent to Manning Field.
The address for the Fraser Field parking lot is 28 Ford Street, Lynn, MA 01604
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has buses that service the Hormel Stadium area. Bus routes 424 and 450 will bring to Western Avenue/Fraser Field area. The closest MBTA rail line is the Wonderland Station on the Blue Line, or the Lynn stop on the Commuter Rail (Purple) Newburyport/Rockport Line.