SAUGUS — Saugus’ World Series Park has been a hub of baseball activity in the North Shore over the past 15-plus years, hosting games for a number of leagues and age groups. Not only is it a baseball hotbed, but it’s also hosted the Massachusetts Special Olympics and a number of other charitable events. And behind it all is Saugus’ Bob Davis.
After Saugus went to the Little League World Series in 2003, Davis began a push to get a great baseball complex built in the city. He helped form the World Series Park Committee, got permission to build the complex behind Belmonte Middle School shortly after, and in 2004 the field — a regulation-sized baseball diamond — was built. The inaugural season came in 2005.
“We really wanted to get a park built in the city, so we were thrilled when we got permission and we were able to get started,” said Davis.
In the 16 years the park has been in operation, it has hosted a number of baseball games across a number of different leagues. While the park serves as the home field for the Saugus High baseball team, it has also hosted Babe Ruth, AAU and American Legion games. Last season, the park served as one of the host sites for the MIAA state baseball tournaments. The park has also hosted events for the Massachusetts Special Olympics for the past six years, and a number of other fundraisers and charitable events have taken place at the park.
“During the season, we have games every day,” Davis said. “It’s great to keep busy and to see everyone get to use and enjoy the park. We have so many different events that go on throughout the year, it’s always something different.”
Davis, who holds the title of park superintendent and largely cares for the field himself, has gotten a lot of work done at the complex over the past decade. Since opening, the field has added dugouts, batting cages, a playground and a clubhouse with a snack bar. All of the work was done due to the generous donations given by sponsors and fundraisers. In speaking about the sponsors, whose signs decorate the outfield fence at World Series Park, Davis can’t say enough about how much they mean to the park.
“We simply couldn’t have done all of this without the sponsors,” Davis said. “Obviously it’s a great way to help us finance the operation of the park, but their contributions have helped us make the park a better place.”
Next up on Davis’ to-do list for the park — lights.
“We’re getting really close to having all the funds we need to get the lights installed,” Davis said. “It was one of the things that the MIAA said they wished we had for the tournament because it allows for more flexibility in scheduling. We’re not only doing it so we can host more tournament games in the future, but also so we can allow for more teams and leagues to be able to continue to use the park.”
But unfortunately for Davis and World Series Park, there aren’t any practices, games or events going on right now. With the coronavirus epidemic causing schools and events to shut down for the time being, Davis is one of many citizens waiting for things to return to normal.
“At this point, you’re not sure when it’s going to turn around but you just have to hope for the best,” Davis said. “In my opinion, the healthiest thing to do would be to get outside and get some fresh air, and I think people want to do that. Hopefully we’ll be able to get a high school season in and then get the summer baseball in, but right now we just have to sit and wait.”