By DEVIN BATES
Sports Intern WSU ’18
WESTFIELD – The warm weather in recent days has reminded us that spring is just around the corner, and with it, baseball will return to Westfield. From children all the way to the cities’ most seasoned inhabitants, baseball is very much a community affair. Many residents are alumni of Westfield Little League, a staple in the community since 1950. Others may not even play baseball, but still dedicate their weekends volunteering. It is this blend of sport and the community that makes Westfield baseball special, and recently, two members of the community were honored for their accomplishments.
Dan Welch, President of Westfield Babe Ruth League, and the late Charles ‘Bud’ Hagan, former athletic director for Westfield State University, were both inducted into the Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame.
Dan Welch, President of Westfield Babe Ruth League, speaks at the 2017 Western Mass Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on January 26, 2017.
Welch, a longtime resident of Westfield, was grateful for the acknowledgement.
“It was a great honor that people recognize the 20 years of work I have done for Westfield baseball,” he said.
For Welch, the honor comes on the heels of a remarkable year. Having been with the Westfield Babe Ruth League for 16 years, Welch was instrumental in bringing the 2016 Babe Ruth 14 Year-Old World Series to Westfield.
“I was fortunate enough to go to the 2012 and 2014 Babe Ruth World Series and see what the communities did there, and I came back and said ‘why not Westfield?’”
The community quickly got behind Welch’s vision, and behind his leadership and the avid support of dozens of volunteers, the event was a resounding success.
“Our World Series committee of 13 worked tirelessly throughout the series and I was really overwhelmed with the support of Mayor (Dan) Sullivan, the Westfield Department of Public Works, Westfield Gas and Electric and all the other people who made it possible,” Welch said.
The World Series and the preparation leading up to it serves as the exclamation point on a long list of Welch’s service to Westfield baseball. In addition to his time as President of Westfield Babe Ruth, Welch serves as umpire-in-chief of the Western Mass. Fall High School Baseball League. In recognition of his service as an umpire, he was awarded the Jack Lanzillo Umpiring Award.
The other Westfield inductee, Charles ‘Bud’ Hagan, was also an influential pillar in local baseball. Hagan was recognized for his 34-year career at Westfield State University, most of which was spent as the school’s athletic director. To say this was all Hagan did, however, would be a severe understatement. In addition, he coached both baseball and basketball and directed the intramurals program.
Dan Welch poses with his Hall of Fame trophy. Welch was recognized for his 20 years of voluntary service in Westfield baseball and was a driving force behind securing Westfield as the host city for the 2016 Babe Ruth World Series.
As athletics director, Hagan presided over an era of change. He started his career with Westfield State in 1956, the same year that the college moved from downtown Westfield to Western Avenue. At this time, Scanlon Hall and Parenzo Hall were the two main buildings on campus. By the time Hagan retired in 1990, the campus had grown significantly, and he was a driving force behind it.
In his lifetime, Hagan was honored several times by Westfield State. In 2013, the university dedicated its baseball field to Hagan and his son Jim. In 2006, the new Athletics Hall of Fame in the newly-built Woodward Center was dedicated to Hagan as well.
Dan Welch and Charles ‘Bud’ Hagan represent years of commitment to baseball and the city of Westfield. Because of their efforts, there is now a thriving baseball community, and the opportunity for more Westfield residents to perhaps end up in the hall someday.
The future looks bright for Westfield baseball.
Due to the success of the 2016 Babe Ruth World Series, the potential of a subsequent event at the newly-renovated Billy Bullens Field is very much a possibility. When asked about the prospect of a future World Series, Welch said, “it would be a great continuation of our program to host another event. These things tend to happen every 3-5 years, and after successfully hosting the 2016 series, that could be a possibility.”
The Western Mass. Baseball Hall of Fame was created in 2014 with the goal of “not only recognizing the best and the brightest baseball figures in the region – but to also celebrate the area’s long love affair with the game of baseball.”
The Class of 2017 also includes former MLB first-round draft pick and Pittsfield native Tom Grieve, former Milwaukee Brewer Billy Jo Robidoux of Ware, umpire Ed Hurley of Holyoke, and former University of Massachusetts head baseball coach Dick Bergquist of Orange.
