McKeon Park facts for kids
 |
|
| Full name | Judy Walden Scarafile Field at McKeon Park |
|---|---|
| Address | 120 High School Road |
| Location | Hyannis, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates | 41°38′53.80″N 70°17′0.51″W / 41.6482778°N 70.2834750°W |
| Capacity | 3,000 |
| Field size | Left Field: 320 ft Center Field: 394 ft Right Field: 324 ft |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1979 |
| Renovated | 2019 |
| Tenants | |
| Hyannis Harbor Hawks | |
McKeon Park is a cool baseball field in Hyannis, Massachusetts. It's the home of the Hyannis Harbor Hawks baseball team. This team plays in the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). The field where they play is called Judy Walden Scarafile Field. It's a great place to watch summer baseball games!
A school called Saint John Paul II High School is right next to the park. It's in the old Barnstable High School building.
Contents
The Park's Early Days
McKeon Park is in downtown Hyannis, close to Hyannis Harbor. This field was first used by the nearby Barnstable High School. Later, it was used by a junior high school.
From Football to Baseball
The field was once home to a football team called the Barnstable Townies Grid Club. That was until 1950. After that, it became the home for the Barnstable Townies Baseball Club.
A New Home for the Hyannis Mets
In the late 1970s, the field got a big makeover. It was rebuilt to host the Hyannis Mets baseball team. This team joined the Cape Cod Baseball League in 1976. While the park was being fixed up, the team played at a different high school field.
Opening Day and Dedication
The renovated park was supposed to open in 1978. But there were some unexpected problems with the drainage system. So, the opening was delayed. The park finally opened for the 1979 baseball season. It was named after John McKeon, who was very important to the Barnstable Townies Baseball Club. He also helped the Barnstable schools and sports for a long time. His son, K.C. McKeon, threw the first pitch at the opening game.
Lights, Ospreys, and Renovations
Baseball games at McKeon Park didn't always happen at night. Permanent lights were first put in before the 1985 season.
Ospreys: The Park's Special Guests
Since at least 1992, large birds called Ospreys have made their nests on top of the light poles. Watching these birds during games has become a special part of baseball on Cape Cod. They are like unofficial mascots!
Fixing Up the Lights
By 1995, the lights were old and broken. The Hyannis Mets team couldn't play night games anymore. In 1997, there was a big discussion in town about what to do. People talked about fixing the park or using the land for something else.
New Lights and a New Name
In 2006, the Cape Cod Baseball League got a big donation from the Yawkey Foundation. This money helped upgrade McKeon Park. With other donations, new lights were installed before the 2008 season. They even added a special platform for the ospreys to nest on!
Later in 2008, Major League Baseball (MLB) made a rule. Teams in leagues like the CCBL couldn't use the same names as MLB teams. So, the Hyannis Mets had to change their name. Before the 2010 season, they became the Harbor Hawks. This new name honored the ospreys, which are also called "fish hawks" or "sea hawks." Just in time, a pair of ospreys moved into the new platform before the 2010 season started!
Honoring Important People and Field Upgrades
McKeon Park has honored many people who helped the team and the community.
Field House and Field Dedications
In 2011, the field house at McKeon Park was named after Massachusetts state senator Jack Aylmer. He was very important in starting the team in 1976. In 2016, the main field was named after Judy Walden Scarafile. She was the president of the Cape Cod Baseball League for a long time.
Modernizing the Park
Before the 2019 season, the Harbor Hawks finished a big project to improve the park. They put in a brand new scoreboard. They also completely redid the field, adding sprinklers and making sure the drainage was much better. This made the field conditions excellent for playing baseball.
Memorable Moments at McKeon Park
McKeon Park has hosted some exciting events and seen many talented players.
All-Star Games and Championships
The park hosted the CCBL all-star game celebrations in 1997 and 2005. The Hyannis team has won three CCBL championships here. Their most recent win was in 1991.
Future Baseball Stars
Many players who later became famous in Major League Baseball played at McKeon Park. Some of these stars include Robin Ventura, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Jason Varitek. It's a great place to see future baseball legends!
See also
- Cape Cod Baseball League
- Cape Cod Baseball League ballparks
- Hyannis Harbor Hawks
