Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14
Clem Spillane Field 54 Marion Rd Wareham, MA 02571
Year Opened: 1963
Capacity: 1,200
Gatemen of the Cape
The Wareham Gatemen play in the Cape Cod Baseball League, the premier summer wood-bat collegiate baseball league in the country. Originally known as the Wareham Town Team, the Gatemen joined the circuit in 1963.
The Gatemen play at Clem Spillane Field, adjacent to the Wareham Middle and High Schools. Clement S. Spillane was a teacher and coach at Wareham High from 1947-1960. In the 13 years that Spillane served as coach of the school’s baseball, basketball and football teams, he never had a losing record. In fact, during the 1955-56 school year all three squads went undefeated during their regular seasons. Spillane is inducted in the Massachusetts Coaches Hall of Fame in all three sports.
Wareham is known as “the Gateway to Cape Cod” due to its location on the mainland side of the Cape Cod Canal. Thus, the baseball team adopted the nickname “Gatemen.”
The Gatemen have won eight championships during their time in the league, most recently in 2018. Notable alumni include Lance Berkman, George Springer, Chuck Knoblauch, Kyle Schwarber, Ben Sheets, Nick Swisher, Mo Vaughn and Barry Zito.
Food & Beverage 3
Spillane Field has two concession stands, one in left field adjacent to the football bleachers, and one on the ground floor of the press box building behind home plate.
Hot items are sold at the left field stand, including hot dogs, burgers, chicken tenders and sausage sandwiches. French fries, nachos and snacks are also sold here. The home plate stand sells popcorn, ice cream treats and slush puppies.
Cans of Coca Cola products are sold here. Alcohol is not allowed at Spillane Field. Fans can bring their own food and drink to enjoy at Gatemen games.
Atmosphere 3
The atmosphere at Spillane Field is typical of most Cape League ballparks. Going to a Cape League game is a bit like stepping back in time. Absent is much of the noise and distraction present at so many ballparks today. The game on the field is the focus here. Music is only played between innings, and PA announcements during the game are limited to lineup details and the occasional sponsor announcement. The tiny new scoreboard in right field appears to have some video capability but only shows basic game information.
Wareham fans are knowledgeable about the game, and respectful to all the athletes on the field. It’s a laid-back place to take in a game, and a baseball purist’s dream. Part of the fun at a Cape League game is watching the antics of the children in the crowd, who compete to chase down foul balls all over the ballpark.
Neighborhood 3
There is little in the immediate vicinity of Spillane Field to attract the visiting fan. Downtown Wareham is located a short drive from the ballpark along Route 6, and features several excellent restaurants and attractions for visiting fans. Families coming to the area may want to check out Water Wizz, best known as the site of the water park scene in the Adam Sandler movie “Grown Ups.”
Fans looking for an authentic Cape Cod experience while not actually on Cape Cod can head over to Onset Beach or Buzzards Bay. Many excellent seafood restaurants are located in these areas. Visitors wanting to mix in some history with their baseball can check out the old Whaling town of New Bedford, located twenty minutes to the east, or Plymouth, located a half hour to the north.
Fans 2
Wareham generally ranks down near the bottom of the Cape League attendance listings, averaging between 900-1,000 fans per game. This may be due to the team’s location off-Cape, which makes it more difficult to get to for the many tourists who descend on Cape Cod every summer. For those of us on the mainland, the opposite is true.
As is the case at every Cape League ballpark, the fans in attendance are a mix of locals, tourists and those with a connection to the team, either as host families or volunteers. Crowds here are laid back, but extremely knowledgeable about the game and players on the field. Respect is given to players on both teams, with good plays applauded no matter who makes them.
Access 3
Spillane Field is located on Route 6, a short drive from either Interstate 195 or Route 25. As the only Cape League franchise located off-Cape, it’s easy to get to from the mainland, and visitors coming during the heavier tourist times won’t have to deal with the legendary traffic in the area.
Visiting fans can park in the lot adjacent to Town Hall or along Viking Drive. Depending on where you park, you’ll enter the field in deep left field or behind home plate. Unlike most parks in the Cape League, there’s not a lot of open green space at Spillane Field. The ballpark is located just a few feet from the adjacent school.
Wareham’s seating is made up almost entirely of bleachers. There is some room behind home plate and underneath the raised bleachers where fans can set up their own chairs. The bleachers on both the first and third base sides of the field are wooden, and unfortunately in need of some TLC. The old boards have a lot of give to them in spots, and don’t feel like the safest place to sit. The football bleachers beyond the left field fence are made of aluminum and located some distance from home plate, but are still preferred by many fans. Nets and fences obscure views from all seats in the infield.
Restrooms inside Wareham Middle School are available to fans. There are also a pair of Port-a-Johns right next to the third base stands. They really should be moved to a spot further from the bleachers, or at least to a downwind location.
Return on Investment 5
As is the case with all teams in the Cape League, Gatemen games are free to the public. The team will accept donations from fans in exchange for a roster sheet. Parking is free in the lot adjacent to the ballpark. Concessions are reasonably priced, making a night at a Gatemen game a most affordable entertainment option for southeastern Massachusetts sports fans.
Extras 3
A good variety of Gatemen and Cape League merchandise is available at the merchandise stand behind home plate.
The Cape League boasts that over 370 Cape alumni play in the Major Leagues every year, with over 1,600 players making the majors all-time. That means that one out of every six Major League players spent a summer on the Cape. Needless to say, some of the best amateur ball being played anywhere in the world can be found in the small parks on Cape Cod. With all ten ballparks located within an hour's drive of each other, it's a baseball fan's dream come true.
The team runs a 50/50 raffle during each game, proceeds of which help fund the team’s operation. In addition to half of the cash collected, fans can win a variety of prizes, including cruises to Martha’s Vineyard, harbor tours and gift cards to local establishments.
Final Thoughts
Spillane Field is rarely mentioned among the elite of Cape Cod’s ballparks. Perhaps it is due to the ballpark’s location on the mainland, or maybe because of the field’s rickety, splinter-filled bleachers or its gravel infield. But Spillane Field has its own charm, and you won’t find better summer college ball being played anywhere.
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