Welcome To The Agganis Athletic Complex



Lynn’s Manning and Fraser Fields have rich histories and are the pride of Lynn sports. Manning and Fraser Fields are both 4000 seat mulit-use facilities.
The main parking lot for both fields is located at 28 Ford Street in Lynn.

Please contact Rich Avery in the office of Community Development with questions.

Richard Avery
Community Facilities Manager
Agganis Athletic Complex
Manning/Fraser Fields 
Phone - (781) 586-6767
Fax - (781) 586-8120
Email - ravery@lynnma.gov 

Events and Schedules At The Complex
October 2021 Schedules: Fraser Field - Manning Field

Manning Field Open Track Schedule
Manning track is generally open to the general public weekdays from 7:30 AM until 2:30 PM for recreational walking, jogging and running except when there are scheduled high school/youth events or during inclement weather.

The track is generally not open on the following Municipal Holidays:

Good Friday

Patriots' Day

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Columbus Day

Veterans Day

Please note the field is not available for pickup football, lacrosse and soccer activity at any time.

The bulletin boards located next to the Manning Main Gate and at the Locust Street entrance provide detailed schedules for all events at both Fraser and Manning Field.

In the event of inclement weather, the track will be closed for public safety.

Directions To The Agannis Athletic Complex

The Agannis Athletic Complex (Fraser Field and Manning Field) is located in East Lynn. The entrance to either field can be accessed via Locust Street and Ford Street. The main parking lot for both fields is located at 28 Ford Street Lynn Ma 01904. Click on the map icon for a full map and directions.

You may also find this information helpful in getting to the complex by public transportation.

A Bowl Full of Memories
By Bob Keaney Lynn Sports Historian
Sportsbobk@hotmail.com

1936 -- PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT KICKS OFF MANNING BOWL HISTORY.

FDR's Work Progress Administration puts Lynn men and women to work constructing the city of Lynn’s first new football stadium. The facility will be on a large field on Locust street in East Lynn.

Previously, Lynn gridiron games, were played at GE Field, Barry Park, Memorial Park (then known as The Meadow), and old Ocean Park (on Surfside Rd.), which was site of the first Classical-English game in 1911.

In September of that 1936, the first shovel hits the ground. The football stadium will not be 'completed' until June, 1938. More than 1000 workers are involved. Manning Bowl will be named for Mayor J. Fred Manning. The gray cement structure will cost half a million dollars.

1937 -- ENGLISH WINS FIRST BOWL GAME: On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, the yet unnamed stadium is not fully completed, but why wait, say Lynn officials. Lynn English goes on to bowl over Lynn Classical 13-6 as Classical's Henry Pazik (father of future Major League pitcher Mike Pazik) scores Bowl's first TD on a 33-yard pass play from big Joe McNulty, all-state all-star. In fourth period, Andy Cogliano gets English's first TD and kicks extra point for 7-6 lead. English end Angelo Nicketakis cements victory, scoring on 40-yard pass play from Ray Bessom.

The grand stadium had not yet been named Manning Bowl. That first day, it was called Municipal Stadium. It was changed to Manning Bowl in September of 1938.

1938 -- MANNING BOWL COMPLETE! Mission accoplished. The Bowl is officially completed on June 21. A plaque is hung listing Stadium Commission members Gene Fraser, John P. Morissey, and Bowl's Architect / Engineer Cyril Harding.

1938 -- DANCING WITH THE STARS: The first official event in now-completed Bowl features a city-wide dance on the specially made dance area in the end zone. That area is also set up for showing night time movies.

1938 -- IN FIRST NIGHT GAME, PEABODY DIMS CLASSICAL: In September, Tanners and host Classical play the first game of 'inaugural season' with Bowl's first match under brilliant General Electric Company light bulbs. Walter Boverini recalls it like it was yesterday and still sad that Tanners dimmed his Classical eleven, 27-7.

1939 -- ENGLISH GOAL LINE STAND STOPS RAMS. Five days before the ’39 Classical-English game, Coach Joyce 'fires' his entire backfield, according the newspaper reports. Young QB Boley Dancewicz takes over and nearly pulls off upset, but English wins 7-2 with great goal line stand.

1940 -- THE FAMOUS 1-0 GAME. The Bowl is jammed on Turkey Day as Classical and English duel for state championship of Class A. The winner will be co-title holder with Everett. But there is no winner. They tie 6-6 when English's Norm Ely passes 45 yards to Alan Delany of Nahant in end zone with just minutes to go.

A week later, it is discovered Delaney was overage and the victory goes to Classical by a 1-to-0 forfeit score. All-time great lineman Mecca Smiarowski led Classical as did QB Dancewicz who won best state player trophy.

1941 – NEW ENGLAND TITLE FOR CLASSICAL and BOLEY DANCEWICZ. Boley quarterbacks Classical's Red and White to NE crown, later stars as Notre Dame captain and QB. He is NFL's first draft choice in ‘46 by the Boston Yanks (future Baltimore Colts) and NFL quarterback. Bob McNulty, Mecca Simiarowski, Ernie Savory, Al Saulenas, Captain Gasper Urban, Ben Glowik, Pete Spyropulos, Bob McNulty, Tom Brown and John Zales, 6-foot-4 end, excel. Boley is named top football player in state second year in a row.

1944 -- BILL JOYCE JAMBOREE BEGINS. Classical coach Bill Joyce starts the Jam. and English wins first duel 21-14 as 18,000 fans attend. Stadium Commission realized a profit of $6000, used for repairs. Each school received 50 bucks for expenses. Harry Agganis, a 15 year old sophomore, makes debut and reportedly his PAT kick misses in a one point loss. In the season, he tosses 8 TD passes as a halfback. He connected 23 of 43 for 65%.

1944 -- MECCA SMIAROWSKI leads Classical, goes on to captain and center at St. Bonaventure and is all-star pick. Drafted by the Colts, he signs with NFL New York (Yankees) in football. On1944 Classical team is Dick Fecteau, a lineman. Eight years later, Fecteau, piloting a spy plane for the CIA, is shot down and captured by Red China, and imprisoned for 19 years.

1944 -- FUTURE NFL GREAT ART SPINNEY of Saugus High displays greatness in Manning Bowl as a ferocious two-way player for unbeaten Sachems. He goes on to star at BC before becoming star left guard 8 seasons with Baltimore Colts and winning NFL championship with Colts in 1958 and 1959. English's Bob Whelan averages 7 yards per carry, later joins Agganis at BU.

1945 -- Bowl hosts Memorial for President Roosevelt. Great president dies in office April 12. Mournful fans fill The Bowl for tearful tribute.

1945 -- FANS JAM THE JAMBOREE. Director Bill Joyce reports that 23,000 fans attend this year's jam, a record. Agganis goes wild for Classical during regular season with a 66% passing mark (122 of 195) for 2185 yards, and a record 29 touchdown strikes. He kicked and he rushed for heavy yardages and played every defensive down.

1946 -- BOWL'S GREATEST GAME! In what is considered best game in Bowl history, Classical's Harry Agganis, now 17, and Dick Dooley fake an extra point kick play after a George Pike TD run. Harry passes to Vic Pujo in the end zone with seconds left to tie English 27-27. Rams remain unbeaten and qualify for national game. As usual, 21,000 fans filled Bowl to watch Agganis perform miracles. English's Nick Ricciardelli also was a magician, scoring three times. Charlie Ruddock and Billy Whelan also ran wild for Coach Tom Whelan's Red and Gray. Pike led the state in scoring with 128 points, followed by Rocco Cerone of Revere with 73 and Dick Dooley with 57.

1946 -- Jamboree draws 23,000 Agganis Addicts. In real season, a week later, Classical is stunned by opening game loss to mighty Peabody. But they go unbeaten rest of way as Harry finishes with 20 TD passes and 1,577 yards in air.

The official doctor at Jamboree games is Lynn's Dr. Thomas Raftery. George Tracy excels as stadium ticket boss.

1946 -- CLASSICAL IS NATIONAL CHAMP. On Christmas Day, Dick Dooley, Nils Strom, Dave Warden, George Pike, Harry Agganis and George Bullard lead Classical to national championship in Orange Bowl playoff by besting Granby High of Norfolk, VA. 24-20. More late game heroics: Agganis fired a 20-yard pass to an uncovered Jimmy Varzakis. Later Harry knocked down a Granby pass to clinch it. Granby, led by Chuck Stobbs, had won 31 straight games before Lynn, Mass. showed up.

1946 -- FOOTBALL AT BOWL MEANS BIG BUCKS FOR LYNN. George Tracy, Bowl supervisor, reports that Classical made $35,000 profit from football as 175,000 fans witnessed the action. In the Classical-Salem game, he hired 53 cops, 236 ushers, 12 ticket takers, an announcer, parking attendants, and electricians. At some games, he hired as low as 15 workers. The Jamboree drew 21,934. A year later, 21,748 show up. Some say Classical-Everett game outdrew both of them. A North-South All-Star game that fall drew 22,000 more.

1947 -- 23,000 BOWL FANS SEE AGGANIS LOSE TO PEABODY! Hurt by graduation, Classical still has Agganis, now a senior, but in the second game of the season, a nemesis Peabody defeats them again.

Perenial power Everett marches into Manning Bowl with a line (which appears in Ripley's Believe it or Not) that outweighs the line of the Chicago Bears. The Bowl's biggest crowd watched Harry The Horse gallop 48 and 35 yards and throw a TD pass, while Bullard ran for 2 into the end zone. Classical wins 19-2.

1947 -- ENGLISH-SALEM GAMES COMPETES WITH TED WILLIAMS. English student Robert McManus had a tough decision to make Saturday, September 23, when he bought a ticket for the much anticipated battle at the Bowl between English and Salem. At the same time, the Boston Red Sox with Williams, Pesky and Doerr were playing at Fraser Field! 'So, I stood at the top row near the Manning Bowl press box and watched both games,' recalled McManus. Bob played baseball with 291 and became Principal of Lynn Tech. His son Pat played football at English in the 1960s and later became Lynn Mayor.

1947 -- RAMS DISPLAY BEST OF AMERICANISM: Coached by Bill Joyce, Classical refuses to accept segregated teams as rivals and will not play in a north sectional game in Jacksonville, Florida. Don Cheever is LCH captain. Jacksonville wants Lynn to leave its two black stars home, Tom Brown and Paul (Swifty) Pitman. Joyce declines and Medford goes to Jacksonville in Classical's place. For Joyce's class, he is given 'The Award for Americanism.' The Rams capture the NE crown by beating Nashua 38-6 with Bullard (number 21) scoring four touchdowns. This is also the year that Jackie Robinson breaks baseball's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

1947 -- 'THE SHOE BOWL'. Two out of town teams meet in what is called The Shoe Bowl at Manning.

1948 – CITY OF LYNN BECOMES FIRST IN NATION TO TELEVISE HIGH SCHOOL GAMES. New invention called TV begins to broadcast all high school and college games at Manning Bowl. Lynn is first in nation to do so and WNAC-TV does the honors. Three TV cameras are set on top of the press box. Few Lynn homes have TVs yet, so kids swarm local bar rooms to watch the games. As a result, a fund raises money to buy an RCA Victor TV set for the Lynn Boys Club, where games for the kids are shown. English's TV star is Billy Whelan, all-scholastic and future Cornell great. (By the way, the Boys Club forms a formidable youth football team of its own.)

The 1948 Joyce Jamboree is first event on the tube with 10 area teams in action. Tickets cost 35 cents.

In Classical's Jam game, Mel Palombo makes debut as head coach, succeeding Bill Joyce. Doug Smith and Ted Rodrique have unenviable task trying to replace graduated Agganis as QB. Smith makes Harry-like debut with 3 interceptions, two great punt runbacks and nifty QB work, all at age 14. Among referees is Dick O'Connell, who later becomes Boston Red Sox General Manager. Games are also broadcast on WESX (Spike Jones) and WLYN Radio.

1948 -- FIRST GAME EVER FOR ST. MARY'S HIGH: The Bowl is the Sept. 18 setting for inaugural game for St. Mary's high and they show promise in 19-6 night game loss to Hal Martin's Swampscott Sculpins. Frank Sudak scores 'Marians' first td by knocking down a kick and running it in 40 yards. Dick Conway, Leo Kane, Art Frawley, Wayne Costley, Bill Dunn, Jim O'Leary, Ted McDermott, Lennie Wall, among Lynn stars. Swampscott's 60-piece school band thrills 3500 spectators by playing 'The Bells of St. Mary's' drawing thunderous ovation. In October, St. Mary's will duel Lynn Vocational (Tech) first time. Lynn Sporting Goods store on Liberty St. will award MVP to Lynn player in December. The first coach for St. Mary's is popular Art McManus, whose son Art becomes equally outstanding as a coach in soccer and basketball.

1948 -- FUTURE BOSTON CELTIC ON ENGLISH IS LOU TSIOROPOULOS. Big Lou becomes schoolboy all-American two-way football end at English, before turning to basketball with Kentucky Wildcats NCAA champs and the Boston Celtics NBA champs of 1957. He and St. George Church pal Agganis played sports together at Breed and one year at Classical before Lou's transfer. As end, he called plays in huddle. Lou kicked the extra point in 7-6 victory over Salem. Fullback Lee Paradise scored first period TD setting up Lou's kick (which hit the cross bar and bounced over) before 10,000 fans. Fred George and Charlie Eldridge gained much yardage. Only unanimous pick on Item all-stars.

1948 -- BEVERLY-BROCKTON IN 'EXCHANGE BOWL.' Beverly had beaten Salem 38-0 and Brockton had downed the Witches 20-7 prior to this high school Bowl game in Lynn.

1948 -- PENNY SALE DRAWS 20,000 BARGAIN HUNTERS. In July, the Bowl is brimming with folks trying to win a new car and RCA TV sets in a big raffle.

1948 -- MANNING BOWL, FRASER FIELD AND NEW HOCKEY ARENA! Lynn officials plan a hockey/basketball/boxing arena for 3500 fans on Boston Street. It takes shape of an airplane hangar, and is named North Shore Sports Center.

1949 --SAUGUS REPEATS AS STATE CHAMP. Sardi Nicolo. All-scholastic end who caught 55 yards pass from his brother Richie to win Exchange Bowl (at Manning Bowl).

1951 – THE FIRST 'HAIL MARY PASS' AT ST. MARY’S. Nick Consoles, who will later become head coach at St. Mary's, fires a game-winning toss to Billy Kennedy (a future Jesuit priest) to produce a Hail Mary pass in a blessed win over Lawrence Central.

1952 – MANNING BOWL MEMORIES KEPT DICK FECTEAU ALIVE. This year, the former Classical lineman is playing on a bigger team, Uncle Sam's. He flies dangerous missions for his country over Red China, but his plane is shot down in enemy territory. He is accused of espionage and held prisoner for 19 years, nine in solitary confinement, and finally released in 1971. 'To keep sane, I kept my mind occupied by recalling the names of my football teammates at Classical and BU,' he revealed. 'I thought daily of the plays we used at both schools. Then I began making a city street directory in my mind on the prison's dirt floor.' Fecteau's best friend was former Classical teammate Harry Agganis, and though Harry's death was in 1955, Dick's family spared him the news those 19 years. A year after heroic Fecteau, a CIA agent for 25 years, was released, BU rewarded him for his character and spirit by naming him assistant athletic director. The old Lynn Classical school is now named Fecteau-Leary School in honor of him and another graduate, Kay Leary. Retired State Sen. Walter Boverini played for BC against Fecteau, and Babe Boverini (Walt's brother) was a co-captain with Fecteau at Classical in 1944.

1953 -- WITH ONE ARM, GERRY LeBRASSEUR IS RAMS ALL-STAR. The great Gerry LeBrasseur of Classical wins over the hearts of fans Manning Bowl and beyond as a tremendous player despite having the use of just one arm. He also excels at hockey and track at LCH, winning the first Pvt. Robert Zimman award for football. Later, he plays football for AIC as center and linebacker, and excels in college hockey, and named All-New England in both sports.

1953 –BOWL HOSTS HOLY CROSS VS. DARTMOUTH ON NATIONAL TV. Cables and outlets installed beneath Manning Bowl field with terminals on each side enable TV technicians to hook up first college game in Bowl. It is shown nationally.

1955 -- PEABODY CALLS BOWL HOME. The once grand Leo Buckley Field in Tanner Town is in such bad shape that Tanners eleven move into Manning Bowl for a few seasons. Ticket money goes into Lynn budget. At Classical, captain is Nick Pannes.

1956 -- ST. MARY'S 'MARIANS' BEAT BIG BLUE. Led by all-scholastic's halfback Lloyd Wescott, quarterback John Panneton, Red Sox draftee John Silvonic and great guard George McHugh, the Marians win 22-20 behind Coach Ray McNulty.

1956 -- LORNE 'TIPPY' JOHNSON SCORES 5 TDS VS RAMS. English beats Classical 46-14 as Tippy scores five TDs and adds 2 point run, reminding oldtimers of his famed father Lorne Johnson, ex-Classical star. Young Tippy leads state in scoring with 155 points. He has 150 college offers for football and many from pro hockey after leading English to two state ice crowns. He chose baseball and stars with Milwaukee Braves Triple A team, until a broken hand curtails his dreams. As a great hockey player, he had six straight hat-tricks game for English, and paced Hal Foote's team to state titles in 1954-55. He was sought by the Bruins.

1956 -- FIRST AGGANIS ALL-STAR CLASSIC FEATURES TIPPY JOHNSON. On a Sunday, in December, English's Tippy rallies the North from a 16-0 halftime deficit with two spectacular runs to spark a 19-16 victory.

1957 -- PISTOL PETE PEDRO is faster than a speeding bullet for Lynn Trade, a team that becomes Lynn Tech 'Tigers' years later. Trade's all-time best athlete later leads nation in scoring with 22 touchdowns and 132 points at West Texas State (in 1961) and is drafted by the Patriots. He plays on Pats taxi squad. Pete and Gloria's sons, Peter and Ricky, later star at Classical.

1958 -- SWAMPSCOTT BACKS WIN AGGANIS GAME. Billy Carlyn and George Blais, two of Big Blue's greatest backs, pace North win, on a December Sunday. In 1959, State Headmasters impose a moratorium on all-star games during the school year. The event becomes a summer game and is temporarily replaced by 'The Polio All-Star Game.'

1959: CHICAGO BEARS CLAW PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT THE BOWL. Two NFL team, Da Bears and the Eagles played here in Cardinal Cushing Charity Game in August. Cardinal Cushing presents pro teams with check for $40,000 raised from ticket sales. More than 17,000 fans saw Chicago win 24-21. hall OF farmer Norm Van Brocklin quarterbacked Philadelphia. Willie Galimore, Tommy McDonald shine.

1959 -- NEW LIGHTING. Mayor Tom Costin, noting that light fixtures at Manning Bowl are from original year 21 seasons ago, proposes $7500 to install new GE lamps. They illuminate field three times better than before.

1959 -- YOUTH LEAGUE TEAMS FROM BARRY PARK AND THE MEADOW played at Manning Bowl as did Magnolia and Connery. Bumps Bransfield coached Barry, which featured Mike Leonard at QB and Dick Neenan and Jim Sauchuk at star runners. Later, the program becomes Junior High League.

1959 -- BLACK KNIGHTS SEMI-PRO TEAM, featuring Pete Pedro, strut their stuff during summer weekends. Many amatuer clubs such as Gold Stars, featuring Art Hogan and the Cheever brothers, graced the Bowl. Kenny's Komets also played. Stasdium agent is Daniel Day.

1959 -- RAMS CAPTAIN JERRY COLLARUSSO wins Turkey Day Game MVP award second year in a row as Classical muzzles Bulldogs.

1960 -- English rebounds with win over Classical.

1961: THE LYNN MERGER WHEN 3 LYNN SCHOOLS COULD NOT BEAT ST. MARY'S. Tony Conigliaro is the winning quarterback as St. Mary's High shocks Lynn Lions (the city's experimental merged squad using players from English, Classical and Tech) by 22-6 on Turkey Day. Also leading the way: Tommy Iarrobino, Richie Nobrega, Paul Cavanagh, Fred Burt, Bill Kolaust, Joe DiVito and Ed Lipson for Coach Hal Foster's squad in front of 14,000.

The Lions, captained by Bill Hollow and George Caithness, went 2-7 and the merger experiment lasts one season. Dave Giarla of Classical and Dave Hussey of English are elected captains for the '62 Lions that will never play a game.

Among 1961 Lions were Ted Patrie, whose sister marries Paul McCartney's guitarist with group Wings. Also, Joey Silvonic, Charlie Flamer, Mel Willard, Bob Nash, Richie Benedetto, Ed Laurino, Al Bogart, Ray McClory, Dick Gaudet, Frank McNeil and 325 pound star Mike Chiaradonna.

1961 -- MANNING BOWL IN DIRE NEED OF REPAIR. A dressing room ceiling collapses and waterproofing, piping, and plastering will cost $7000. New wiring, work on the light towers, and new lighting below the stands are also needed.

1962 -- THE MERGER ENDS! NOBREGA STARS. Lynn de-merges itself, Classical, led by QB Bobby Nash, go 7-1-1 and topple English 6-0. Earlier in the season, Richie Nobrega of St. Mary's runs for 4 touchdowns in 34-19 victory over English. St. Mary's had trailed 19-6 after one period! Nobrega, Nahant's own, also scored winning TD as a sophomore against English on 66-yard run in 1960. Revere's great defensive ace was Mike Mucci, who became BC Hall of Famer.

1962 -- MAYOR WALL BOOSTS BOWL BUDGET. The Mayor placed 10 grand in the budget for upkeep of Manning Bowl and Fraser Field. Previously, only 250 bucks was appropriated. Even Chicken Little knew that The Bowl Was Falling.

1963 -- REVERE SINKS CLASSICAL RAMS. About 1000 waterlogged fans witnessed a sensational ending played in the steady downpour and in Manning Bowl mud. Lynn held a 7-6 lead and tried to run out the clock in the fourth quarter. However, Revere's John Stasio recovers a Rams fumble at the 36 to set up the winning score by the DelGaizio twins. Though Jim missed on a couple of passes to brother John, he did connect with one second left on the clock. Ram Dick Knight deflected the pass and bobbled it, but twin John D. dove for it and secured it for the game winner. No PAT was attempted as Revere fans stormed the field.

1963 -- PRESIDENT JFK ASSASSINATED. A frequent campaigner on the North Shore, JFK is assassinated on Nov. 22 in Dallas. Four days later, an ecumenical memorial mass is held inside Bowl before 11,000. Monsignor C. Sherlock of St. Mary's Church presides. More than 2000 Lynn students and all veteran's organizations participate.

1963 -- 50TH MEETING OF RAMS-BULLDOGS HONORS JFK. Classical, with Joe Silvonic, tops English 41-6 as game pays tribute to JFK. Announcer Ed McElligott read JFK's Thanksgiving Day proclamation at the half before 9,702 fans. Fran Pagnotta's Lynn school band plays 'Hail To The Chief.' After the game, English athletic director Maurice Twomey (LC class of 1914) steps down after 40 years. Nate Goodman continues as Classical faculty manager. Lynn Trade's game that sad weekend was canceled.

1963 -- NIGHT GAMES DRAW WELL. Four night games at The Bowl average 3000, while three day games average 1000. Only 75 folks showed up at the English-Rindge Tech game, but the stinker of the year was the Trade-Cambridge game, which sold two tickets. That's right, two.

1963 -- GEORGE TRACY LISTS TOP BOWL EVENTS. The beloved Bowl supervisor and ticket agent lists some top Bowl events. They include Holy Cross vs. Dartmouth, Item Music festival for five years; Philadelphia Eagles-Chicago Bears, Boston Yanks vs. Long Island Indians. He states Friday nights drew biggest crowds, Sunday second best and Saturday the poorest. This year Classical and English are charged $150 each time they use Bowl. Lynn Trade is not charged.

1963 -- BULLDOGS REFUSE TO PLAY IN STORM. A cold, rainy storm brewed one Saturday and English officials refused to show up and play. All other games were called off. Yet Salem snuck its way down to the field and held a mock coin toss before calling it off. Nobody fell for the trick and the game was played later.

1964: BISHOP FENWICK MAKES PIGSKIN DEBUT! The Peabody school kicks of its inaugural football program and becomes chief rival of St. Mary's of Lynn. In Fenwick's rookie season, they go 7-1-1. After 4 seasons, 30-4-1 with 721 points for and 183 against.

1964: BOWL HERO IS PAUL CAVANAGH leaves St. Mary's and stars for English in '64. He becomes Boston College standout and later an FBI agent from 1971 to 1991. In 2000, English High Field house is named in his honor, making proud the Cavanagh family, including popular Lynn court official Jackie Cavanagh.

1964 -- Classical's outstanding football team, led by Nick Ciarlante, earns the team LCH hall of fame induction in 2005.

1965 -- AGGANIS GAME REACTIVATED. Richie Moriarty of Classical, Frank Haskell of Marblehead and Dick Wallace of Beverly help North blank South 22-0. That 1965 season in the Fall, Nick Ciarlante leads Rams, and QB Chris Serino passed for more than 4000 yards for Saugus.

1966 -- IRELAND ARRIVES WITH A KICK. Pro Soccer arrives at Bowl and is televised. Lynn hosts Ireland based Shamrock Rovers, who tie 1-1 with Detroit Cougars in opener before 7300 fans. It is first attempt to start pro soccer league in USA. In Fall football, St. Mary's goes 14-0.

1966 -- ROLLING STONES CONCERT A GASSER! The Stones begin historic American Tour at Bowl on warm rainy June 24 night as 8,000 fans hear Mick Jaggar sing “Satisfaction”. After 10 songs, rain begins to fall harder and Stones rush from stage as youths follow. Lynn cops drop tear gas bombs to quell mob. The event makes world headlines. The Beatles consider concert here in August, but choose Suffolk Downs instead. Stones' concert tickets were 5 bucks.

1966: PEABODY TANS SALEM BEFORE 20,000, wins Class A title. Saugus, coached by David Lucy, challenges Peabody to a post-season game at Manning Bowl, which draws 15,000. Peabody won 19-7 and one of he standouts was Adam Adamopoulos, who later becomes Tanners coach.

1966 -- FROM MANNING BOWL TO THE NFL. Other Bowl graduates who played pro ball:

From Swampscott High: Dick Jauron with Detroit Lions and Bengals, and Billy Adams, a 1968 grad, as star lineman making blocks for OJ Simpson of the Bills; From Danvers: Mark Bavaro who starred for New York Giants;

From Lynn English: Ed Toner, Gordon Laro of Carolina Cougars/Jacksonville, and Greg Landry of the Patriots.

From Classical: Dan Dufour with the 1983 and 1984 Atlanta Falcons; Boley Dancewicz with Boston Yanks and Jeff Akers with Tampa Bay. Art Akers with SF 49ers. Dufour was starting center for UCLA's 10-1-1 Rose Bowl team in 70s.

From St. Mary's: Billy Stephanos of the Vikings and Jim O'Shea of the Steelers, and Joe DeVito, drafted by the Denver Broncos. From St. John's Prep: Mike Durgin of Lynn is drafted by Houston Oilers. From Peabody: Matt Bloom. From Marblehead: Brian Buckley, drafted by the Patriots.

1967 -- FUTURE BEARS COACH DICK JAURON BEATS CLASSICAL. Dick Jauron kicks game-winning point for Swampscott against Dad's old team, Classical. Dick becomes standout at Yale and in NFL with Detroit and Cincinnati, and is named head coach of Chicago Bears in 2002.

Jauron is selected 8th best Mass. schoolboy player of all-time in a 1999 poll during program's 100th anniversary. Charlie Brickley of the 1912 Everett team is named number 1, Agganis 2, Bobby Leo 3, Doug Flutie 4, and Wayne Millner of Salem 5.

1968 – ENGLISH’S MIKE PAZIK MAKES DAD PROUD. English High's all-star quarterback is Mike Pazik, who throws many a TD bomb with powerful left arm. Mike is son of Henry Pazik, who scored Manning Bowl's first touchdown in 1937. Mike enters Holy Cross and later pitches for Minnesota Twins, winning a Big League game against Detroit. Also in 1968, St. Mary's of Lynn, under new coach Paul Majeski, drops Marians name and become Spartans. It didn't help. They go 0-8.

In September, Gloucester wins its first Jamboree game in 19 tries at the Bowl by sinking Silvio Cello's Revere unit 6-0. Semi-pro soccer is played on field with Lynn athlete Kevin Lockhead among the standouts for a Swampscott team. Lockhead made his Bowl debut as a fan at Stones concert in '66.

1968: MIKE COTTER is standout quarterback at Lynn Tech and his TD pass to all-star Tom Bishop beats St. Mary's. Mike's brother Bobby Cotter plays for Classical.

1968 -- JIM SILVONIC PICKS OFF PAZIK. Classical Hall of Famer Jim Silvonic, now a mailman, 'delivers' for Rams with three interceptions off English's Pazik as Rams win Turkey tussle 22-7. Peter Mazareas, Class President, also excelled. Other Silvonics to star at Bowl: Joe of LCH and John of St. Mary’s.

1969 -- TV-5's MIKE LYNCH HEROIC. Sportscaster Mike Lynch was a true hero for Swampscott and Harvard. His field goal beat Marblehead in Turkey Day game 15-14 to run Blue's streak to 27. Sandy Tennant made the snap to Peter Beatrice, who held for Lynch. Then Lynch grabbed headlines with his dramatic 26-yard FG to enable Harvard to whip Yale 10-7. Not well known is that Mike was a QB, too.

Meanwhile,1969 St. Mary's team is led by Ray McDermott, who will become team's head coach in future years. Starring also are Roger Ennis, Billy Collins, and Jerry Burke under Coach John Miller.

1972 -- SWAMPSCOTT WINS STATE'S FIRST EVER SUPER BOWL.

1973 -- MIKE WOLFE LEADS TECH TO UNBEATEN SEASON. Wolfe, senior captain, and in first graduating class of New Lynn Tech school, scores only touchdown in a stunning 6-6 tie with highly-favored Swampscott. The tie enables Tech, coached masterfully by Mike Carr and Jim Brown, to go unbeaten. Great play also comes from co-captains Brad Thomas and Glen Searles.

1974: BOWL IS CONDEMNED! In March, state officials closed Manning Bowl for repair. The wooden bleachers were rotted, concrete decayed. The city put un $300,000 to get the Bowl fixed for play. Lynn officials refuse to let English. Classical or St. Mary's play, but allow Tech two games.

1974-- ENGLISH'S CLARK CROWLEY IS LYNN PLAYER OF THE YEAR. The versatile quarterback led the Bulldogs at the Bowl. At Northeastern, he continued to amaze at QB and was elected co-captain of the Huskies. He would go on to coach at three Lynn schools.

1975 -- THE BIG BLUE & STAN THE MAN. Swampscott went 177-43 from 1953 (when they were the Sculpins) to 1975, and enjoyed 8 perfect seasons under legend Stan Bondelevitch. Among star players, running back Billy Conigliaro, who says 'Biggest sports thrill I ever had was not in the Major Leagues, but on Saturdays playing for the Big Blue.'

1975 – ST. MARY’S TAKES 3 STRAIGHT championships in Catholic Central League in 1975, 76 and 77 under Coach John Miller, a man who played in two NFL Super Bowls with Green Bay Packers. Super Spartans are Norm Costin, Tom Dawley, John Lawler, and Gary Molea.

1975 -- SAUGUS LINEMAN DOUG MACKIE is ranked as greatest East Coast lineman as High School All-American. He goes on to star at Ohio State and joins pro ranks in USFL with Doug Flutie and Hershel Walker.

1976 -- JAMBOREE HIGHS AND LOWS. Jamboree Friday night fans became unruly in the 1970s and event was held Saturday afternoon then stopped, but eventually renewed as Hoffman Jamboree paying homage to sportswriter Red Hoffman. John Hoffman served as director. Alas, the Jamboree event no longer exists.

1976 -- RAY CHARLES HITS THE ROAD, JACK. The legendary blind singer, croons Hit The Road Jack, Eleanor Rigby, and Georgia during brilliant summer performance at 50-yard line yard line to raise funds for Life Institute for Blind. Also on July 11 card: The Four Tops sing Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch, and Dorothy Moore performs Moody Blue. Charles, who died in 2004, tickled the ivories and was backed by his Raelettes. Concert tickets are 7 dollars.

1976 -- ONLY ENGLISH SIDE CONDEMNED, BUT... The English (or south side) side of Bowl is condemned in November because of neglect and ill-repair, but still 8,000 fans sit on that side anyway ... and 8,000 more on Classical side to watch Bulldogs-Rams fight for a Super Bowl berth. Rams win 7-0. Patches in the concrete were repaired this year but seasonal cycles of freezing and thawing continued to do damage through the years.

1976 -- RAMS WIN SUPER BOWL by whipping Wilmington under Coach Bill Wise. Saugus all-scholastic John Nicolo leads Sachems.

1976 -- BASKETBALL IN THE END ZONE! The Agganis Football Game is preceded by the first ever Agganis All-Star basketball game at the Bowl. Expertly directed by Art Fiste, known hereabouts as Mr. Basketball, the game is played on a tar court near the entrance end zone. Classical ace Eddie Thurman plays in hoop game AND football game that night. Fiste, a state hall of fame coach, also steers the North team to 104-95 victory. Ronnie Woods and Ronnie Perry starred. Portable hoops were shipped in from Salem High. The football and hoop games were rained out five nights in a row before they got to play.

1970s -- SOCCER STARS, SHAWN BLEAU of English and many other boy and girl players create sports history here. Ken Noyes, Al Jackson among top coaches. Teacher-coach Ed Boyington of Classical helped start city school program.

1970s – CIRCUSES AND WRESTLEMANIA took over the Bowl one summer featuring the Van Erich brothers. Elephants and camels gained good yardage when a Circus came to town. Fireworks have lit up the place and even movies were shown in the 1940s. Jeff Blydell, former English athlete, did a TV commercial for a sneaker company on the track. Ladies softball leagues also found space for games under lights. Helicopters landed on the field during medical emergencies. Tony Lena of sub shop fame and Eddie Toner of Patriots and Lynn English stardom wrestle at pro show at Fraser Field nearby.

1977 -- ST. MARY'S cops Central League football championship with home games at Bowl.

1978 -- WORLD'S FASTEST SOFTBALL PITCHER. Known as The King and His Court, Eddie Feigner hurls no-hitter in a game on make-shift diamond near end zone. 'He was untouchable,' said batter Steve Fiste. In August of 2005, Feigner returns to Lynn as guest of North Shore Spirit (and invited by Bob Keaney) as King draws 3000 fans with Manning Bowl standing tall in the outfield.

1979 -- RAMS WIN SECOND SUPER BOWL. Under Bill Wise, with quarterbacks Tony Hill, Eddie Thurman, Tony Thurman and Stu Primus, Classical loses only three games in three year span. In December, Rams beat Scituate 31-13 at BU Field, led by Tim and Tom Dempsey, Pancho Bingham, James Runner, Joe Pennucci, Dan Dufour, Ken Bonner, Bob Stephanos, Sandy McGee, Mike Sanders (who scored 3 TDs) and Tony Thurman. Tony and English's Peter Holey and Saugus' Steve Peach wind up helping Doug Flutie and BC win Cotton Bowl game in 1984. Peach and Saugus beat the Rams this season as Peach threw for 258 yards and ran for two TDs. Joe Gillis also starred for Sachems. Thurman is Lynn's only consensus All-Amrica football player, appears on Bob Hope TV show, led nation in interceptions with 10 at BC...BC Hall of Famer.

That Fall, St. Mary's goes 13-1.

1981 -- BABY, YOU CAN DRIVE MIKE CARR TO 100 WINS. Mike Carr coached his 100th career victory on Oct. 24 with an 18-0 romp over Whittier. In his 20th season with Tech (counting 9 with Lynn Trade), Carr is now 100-69-6. John Kane scored three touchdowns, Darryl Benjamin shined at QB and Steve Chandler and Rick Duvall excelled both ways.

1982 -- QUARTERBACK CHRIS HOWARD of St. Mary's becomes a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in 1994 but in '82 he leads school with 8 touchdowns and is Lynn city scoring leader with 67 points. At English, George Wilcox shines.

1982 -- BREED STUDENT TIM FRAGER IS BOWL LEGEND. As a Breed 9th grader this year, Tim Frager had no football program to play in, and becomes eligible to join a high school squad. Tim first joins Lynn Tech Tigers summer workouts, but switches to Classical and plays for Jayvees. Late in the season, Rams varsity suffers injuries and Tim is elevated. The short, lightening-quick running back, number 34, rewrites record books by becoming MVP in Thanksgiving classic. He astonishes fans by scoring all 24 points in the Rams' romp. A year later, he scores 4 more TDs to again beat English. As a senior, he gallops for 5 TDs in a mid-season Bowl battle. He played at BC.

1982 -- PRO MARK BAVARO LED DANVERS, and later played tight end with the two-time Super Bowl champion New York Giants. He even Bill Belichick with the Cleveland Browns. Often injured, Bavaro later inked a $3 million contract with the Eagles.

1983--AGGANIS GAME MOVED TO WAKEFIELD as the Bowl was being repaired. The West beat East 14-6 before 7,500 fans. The Game returned home to Manning Bowl in 1986.

1984 -- GOOD VIBRATIONS FROM BEACH BOYS IN BOWL SHADOW. In September, Brian Wilson's Beach Boys play in the shadow of Manning Bowl while creating Fun, Fun, Fun concert on Fraser Field outfield as 8,000 attend.

1984 -- RAMS LED BY PETE PEDRO AND TIM FRAGER. Jeff Hill, Emerson Foster, Darren Langis, Mark Eaton, Pete Grocki, Dexter McKenzie, and Conny Harris also pace Rams under Coach Dick Cerone, former Ram from the 50s. At Tech, Marvelous Marvin Avery saved the day with a game-winning blitz and QB sack in a 14-12 thriller at the Bowl on Sept. 22. Bobby Boynton, Mark Anderson, Cordell Jones and Brian Taylor also excelled. Bulldog coach was Paul Duchane who featured Henry Rucker, QB Mike Strangie

1985 -- A MOTLEY CRUE (no, not the kids who ruined the Jamboree) perform in front of 15,000 Bowl rockers in August.

1985 -- AEROSMITH DRAWS 25,000 AT BOWL. Aerosmith sang Walk This Way, and fans did to set a Bowl attendance record in September. Also on the card: Rocking Rick, Fahrenheit, and The Knee Tremblers. Neighbors hated the noise and fans crossing their lawns. Concerts were halted.

1985 -- ST. MARY'S RETURNS TO HOLIDAY GAME. For the first time since 1961, St. Mary's plays a Thanksgiving time game at Bowl, the last being in 1961.

1986 -- JAMES SMITH ALA ADAM VENITERI. Lynn English place-kicker James Smith dramatically boots a field goal at the end of the game to beat Classical 16-14.

1988 -- BILL WISE RETURNS TO BOWL. Wise, one of Rams all-time best coaches, switches to Springfield Cathedral and wins another Super Bowl. He begins this season with a 14-7 loss at Manning Bowl to his old team, Classical. Later the Rams' 14-7 win over Wise is reversed as use of an ineligible player is discovered.

1989 -- GARY MOLEA'S BULLDOGS ARE NEC CHAMPS! The Bulldogs win crown in '89 (tied with Salem) and again in 1990 under Coach Bill Hall and Gary Molea. Mark Fauci was Saugus QB and later led BU as QB and captain.

1990 -- BAY STATE TITAN TURNS PRO. This Minor League football club uses Bowl during summer months and a future NFL player named Eric Swann (who never played college ball) later joins Phoenix Cardinals and earns 5 million dollars.

1991 -- TECH PLAYS CLASSICAL FIRST TIME. Tech is neighboring school of Classical but this is the first clash. Coach Jim Brown's team is led by Melvin Lark, Gordon Budwah and QB Archie Dean. Rams counter with Lex Thornton, Geoffrey Boyd and James Ball.

1991 -- DEMPSEY DEDICATES SEASON TO ABEL MARQUEZ. Prior to the season, four former members of the Rams, including Item Student-Athlete Award winner Abel Marquez, died in a car crash (in August). Coach Dave Dempsey and Rams go on to win NEC championship missing out on a Super Bowl berth with their lone loss to Gloucester.

1990 -- MATT REDDY is all-star and captain of St. Mary's with Bill Norcross. Matt's brother Chris Reddy was a Spartan all-star player and captain before him.

1992 -- THE LYNN ASTRO DOME? The city, with Mayor Patrick McManus encouraging it, wanted to host a new domed NFL football stadium for the New England Patriots on the Lynnway. Chip Clancy, a State Rep., hoped the Pats, Celtics and Red Sox could all commit to using the facility. Clancy gave great credit to Ted Grant and the Lynn Business Partnership for expert marketing of Lynn as site for stadium.

1993 -- NATIONAL CHEERING HONORS. Girls were stars at Manning Bowl too with important cheerleading and playing performances in the all-female Powder Puff Football Games. In December of '93, East Lynn Pop Warner cheerers finish second nationally in California finals. Denise Thibault is coach.

1994 -- STEVE LOMASNEY LEADS PEABODY to Super Bowl football glory vs. New Bedford as quarterback but forgoes the game to become a catcher with the Boston Red Sox. Salem sueld Whitman-Hanson in Super Bowl.

1995 -- RAMS ROMP 54-0. Ken Green, Chris Mulcahy, Brian Smith, QB Mike Zukowski, Steve Fiste, Jeremy Collins, Jim Magner, Dennis Murphy and Bari Gibson led the way over Marblehead. Brian Wilson, Joe Ferrini and Kevin Norris excelled at St. Mary's.

1996 – BUSH IS OUR GREAT LEADER. At Swampscott, Coach Peter Bush's QB is son Peter Jr., whose grandfather Lou was UMass Hall of Famer.

1996 - WREAKING HAVOC. Classy semi-pro squad, Lynn Havoc, with Don Werner at QB, and Scott (Tiny) Thompson, Tim O'Neil, Poo Anderson, Rob Green, Don Coture, win two NE flags under coaches Werner and Ed Nizwantowski.

1998 -- FRANKLIN SANCHEZ of Lynn Tech speeds to victories on the Bowl track, though his claim to fame is being a state record holder and national star as a long distant runner. Tech track coach Paul Buccheri, Tech's culinary arts director, fed Sanchez expert advice. Also at Tech, Leanne McGuinness, a 5-foot-1, 113-pound female freshmen joins Tech football squad. Her uncle Bobby Kennedy, former Tech player, and grandfather Bill McGuinness, along with Coach Marvin Avery are proud of her play.

1998 -- BISHOP FENWICK goes to the Super Bowl for the third time in four years.

2002 -- THAT'S THE TICKET, BY GEORGE. Long time Bowl ticket agent George Tracy celebrates 100th birthday in Lynn. Among legendary Manning Bowl gate attendees through the years are Mickey Smith, Red Frawley, Tom Keaney and Johnny Bagdizarian.

2003 -- WEDDING BELLS ring inside Manning Bowl 'chapel'. Two drum and bugle band members Sara Farnham and Mike Corrigham get married prior to East Coast Drum and Bugle Classic, an annual event that drew throngs through the decades.

2003 -- MIKE STELLATO coaches St. Mary's Spartans to undefeated season in the Catholic Central League, the school’s first since 1977.

2004 -- NIGHT GAMES CALLED OFF. Due to the need of electrical repairs, night games were banned. Structural problems forced the south side of the Bowl to be condemned.

2004 -- SAD NEWS. Alluding to Gov. Romney's refusal to allow 2 million dollars to help preserve Manning Bowl, Mayor Clancy urges that the Bowl be torn down to make way for a modern facility. Construction of the new stadium will mean that Lynn's four high schools will not have a home field in the Fall of 2005.

2004 -- ENGLISH GIRLS WIN LAST POWDER-PUFF GAME AT BOWL. On Sunday, Nov. 21, the English girls defeated Classical 14-0 in a game covered by Jonathan Weiner.

2004 -- ST. MARY'S WIN FINALE. Mike Stellato, head coach of St. Mary's, steers Spartans to 27-14 victory over Lynn Tech as each team says sayonara to the 67-year old Bowl. Mike Pappas scored on a 58-yard punt return and Broderick Lincoln added a TD when David Wyckoff fired a 9-yard strike and Lincoln made a leaping grab. He also took in soph Chris Dwyer's pass for another TD. Stephen Masella scored when he scooped up a blocked kick by Tech. Lincoln won the Harrington and Fauci's Pizza award as top offensive player, while Pappas was selected best defensive player.

2004 -- LYNN TECH BIDS BOWL FAREWELL. Gary Sverker, a Rams ace player in a 1967 loss to Jauron's Big Blue at Bowl, coaches Tigers in final Tech-St. Mary's match here. Ray Kulakowski, Tech's Offensive Player of the Game Award winner (named in honor of Chub Fallon) scored both Tiger touchdowns and gained 106 yards. Justin Griffin won the T. O'Connor Defensive Player award.

2004 -- COACH CLARK CROWLEY COACHES CLASSICAL IN CURTAIN CLOSER CLASSIC. Crowley, who starred for English as QB in the 1970s, is at the Rams helm as they drop last game. Later, he says 'The departure of Manning Bowl is like losing a bit of your self as an athlete.'

2004 -- ENGLISH, FIRST WINNER, IS LAST WINNER. In The Bowl's Last Hurrah on Thanksgiving Day, Gary Molea's Englishmen dog Classical 28-8. Appropriately, English, which won stadium's first game in '37, takes the last one in front of 8,000 fans who sit on 'Classical' side as 'English' side is once again 'condemned.'

NEW GOLDEN GREEK: English's Mike Ofanos, a Greek lad, scores Bowl's final TD, recalling former English star Angie Nicketakis, also Greek, who scored the last TD for English in '37 Manning Bowl opener.

Fraser Field History

Lynn's Fraser Field was built in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.  The 73-year old field has a long and colorful history including hosting the 1940’s Lynn Red Sox, the farm club of owner Tom Yawkey’s Boston Red Sox.  Other former tenants of the grand old park include the Lynn Tigers, Lynn Sailors, Lynn Pirates, Massachusetts Mad Dogs and North Shore Spirit.

The infield of historic Fraser Field is field turf while the outfield is natural grass.  In late 2013, the existing artificial turf is scheduled to be replaced, and the new material will also include turfing all infield dirt areas except the mound.

Currently Fraser Field is home of the North Shore Navigators of the New England Futures League, which is a college level wood bat league (similar to the Cape Cod League.)  The Navigators began play in 2008 and captured the championship of the New England College Baseball League in 2010.

Fraser Field is also home to the five Lynn High School Varsity Baseball teams: Lynn Classical, Lynn English, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, St. Mary’s and KIPP Academy.

The Fisher College Falcons of Boston, under the direction of Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach Scott Dulin, also call Fraser field home.

In 2011, Fraser Field hosted the MIAA State Baseball Championships.  Annually, Fraser hosts many state tournament games, as well as the Agganis Classic, the Massachusetts High School Coaches All Star Game and the Lynn Invitational.

In 2012, under new ownership by Salvi Sports Group and General Manager Bill Terlecky, the Navigators switched to the Futures League, reaching playoffs in their first season of competition in that circuit. 

The 2013 Navigators will be managed by Peabody native Jon Cahill and the roster will include Lynn’s Kyle Devin and Saugus’ Riley McEachern.  Front office staff includes Lynn’s Joe Gill and Ashley Laramie.

Fraser Field is located next to the former Manning Bowl, which was razed and replaced with the new Manning Field in 2008.

Lynn High School State Titles and Other Fun Fraser Facts

Fraser has been home to a few state titles for Lynn teams:
1937: English High, under Coach Tom Whelan and Jim Hegan and George Bontaitis.
1947: Classical, with George Bullard, John McCarthy and Harry Agganis, and Coach Bill Joyce.
1973: Lynn Tech, with Rick Ford on the hill, and Bart Conlon as skipper.
1980: The English Bulldogs, spearheaded by pitcher Mark Ricker, Joe O'Connor and Tom Day and Coach Ron Bennett.
1986: St. Mary's, with pitcher Tim Fila and Coach Jim Tgetis in charge.
1987: St. Mary's repeated with Bill Norcross, Derek Dana, Mark Giardina and Tgettis.

Fun Facts!

Mike Pazik pitched Fraser’s only perfect game...

It was June of 1968 when Pazik's Lynn English nine beat Haverhill 8-0. The tall high-kicking southpaw fanned 18 of 21 batters. Catcher that day was Doug Anderson. For the spring, Pazik had a string of 59 scoreless innings, and finished 18-2 lifetime before starring at Holy Cross, throwing a no-hitter with the Yankees' Syracuse team, winning a game with the Minnesota Twins, and becoming Chicago's big league pitching coach. As a Bulldogs senior for Coach Dave (Jingles) Barry, he fanned 106 in 60 innings.

FRASER NO-HITTERS: Salem High's Jeff Juden threw a 1989 state tourney no-no with 19 strikeouts vs. Wakefield, a week before signing with Houston Astros. His Salem record: 30-4.

Leo Estabrook of English held Gloucester hitless in '96 on his way to a 30-9 record. Gregg Burke of Classical fired a no-no vs. Beverly in '98. Beverly got back at Classical in 2005 when Dave Silvio no-hit Rams here. English lefty Fred Cole turned the trick in ‘05 for Coach Joe Caponigro, and Bulldog David Kolozetski spun his gem here for St. Mary's in '04. St. Mary's Spartan Tim Burt had a no-no in the 1980s on Tony Conigliaro Day.

More English mound legends: Ed Turmenne, now a Lynn school principal, owned 0.44 earned run average ion his heyday. Dick Newton won 25 in a row; Jim Leonard ws a marvel in the 1950s; Tippy Johnson (18-5), Turmenne, Vin Jarvis, the late Mark Ricker (27-2), Vin Maribito and Leo Estabrook (he bagged 30 wins) won more than 170 games for Lynn English. Ray Bessom reportedly won 30 games in a row for English in the 1930s.Maribito holds the record for most strikeouts at Fraser with 23 in a 12 inning thriller in 1972. In 2007, Maribito, now a city worker, is presently caretaker of the Fraser diamond prior to schoolboy games.

Let's not forget Lynn English's Larry Kelly, who reportedly won 26 in a row during The Roarin' Twenties. In 1949, Kelly bought the Lynn minor league franchise in the N.E. League from the Boston Red Sox. He hired Hap Clancy (Mayor Chip Clancy’s uncle!) as business manager and Pip Kennedy as skipper for his Lynn Tigers, a Detroit Tigers minor league squad.

Classical greats include Eric McGrath, Bobby Nash, Bobby Cronin, Stan Dubis, Sam Sapira, Dick Champa, and Ken Hill, who won 117 games in the Major Leagues. Bullet Bob Remson fanned 18 in 7 innings at Fraser while besting Pazik in a title showdown in '68. Ram ace Jackie Carroll (a perfect game hurler for Connery at Peabody) had a 17-strikeout game here, and old timers recall Donnie Cross whiffing 20.

Lynn Tech hurling heroes include Gene D'Amico (career 4 no-hitters), Mike Mesalbas, Richie Wancewicz, and Tech’s Al Donovan, but will anyone ever top the four no-hitters in a row by Mike Wetmore?

St. Mary's mound aces include Tim Burt, Richie Wancewicz, and Chris Howard who was a combined 2-0 with both the Red Sox and White Sox during his big league career. Howard is now on the staff of the Navigators.

St. Jean's was a high school in Lynn, making five in the city dur9ng the 1950s. Larry Lessard logged 20 strikeouts in a state tourney win at Fraser. In 1959, the blond-headed right-hander halted Hamilton, whose own hurler fanned 22. The combined total of 42 K's set a tournament and Fraser record. Other talented Allouettes stars for Coach Mike Carr were Carl Deveau, Billy Beaton, Jack Koloski, Ed Gaudet, Eddie Gagnon, Rob Roy and Ken Cormier.

One Fraser Field hero from Gloucester was 1962 Boston Red Sox hurler Billy MacLeod. With the Fisherman, in 1960, he pitched at Fenway with the Red Sox, but not before he sailed into Fraser to strike out 19 Lynn English batters and 17 Classical swingers in victories. MacLeod, here to honor Dick Radatz in 2005, recalled: "I once had a no-hitter going for 8 and two-thirds innings against Classical, but I lost it when Mike Agganis got a single." Yes, Mike was Harry's nephew, who spoiled the no-hit bid. Mike later became owner of the Lynn Pirates, the Fraser Field team that was beaten by The Rocket, Roger Clemens, back in 1983.

 

The Fraser Story by Robert Keaney

LYNN WAS RED SOX NATION, 1946-48
When Fraser Field hosted its first ever Minor League game in 1946, the Lynn Red Sox dueled the first racially integrated team based in the United States in the 20th century -- the Nashua Dodgers.
In the historic contest, before 4000 fans, Nashua's burly catcher Roy Campanella (who was African-American and Italian) connected for his first professional home run on his way to a Hall of Fame career. It was the park's first ever pro homer, also.
The playoffs that year were weirdly scheduled. During the series, a doubleheader began at Fraser in the afternoon. Then both teams rode a bus to Nashua, New Hampshire, to play the nightcap!

Tom Yawkey liked cozy Fraser Field in Lynn, just 10 miles north of Fenway Park. For his Class A New England League team -- the Lynn Red Sox --Yawkey named Pip Kennedy, a St. Mary's High coach, as skipper. Yawkey even brought his Fenway Park Sox with Ted Williams and Johnny Pesky to play here twice!
In 1948, the Lynn Sox featured the long ball as Dale Long, Lynn's first baseman, lashed out 28 homers, a local pro record. Dale became a Big Leaguer with the Pittsburgh Pirates and set a MLB record with home runs in 8 straight games, a mark shared by Junior Griffey and Don Mattingly. In three seasons, Yawkey's "Lynn Red Sox" compiled an impressive 253-118, but moved out after 1948.

DETROIT TIGERS GIVE FRASER A TRY
In 1949, a former Lynn English baseball star named Larry Kelly became owner of Fraser's next Minor League squad. His Detroit Tigers farm club moved into the Fraser "Cage" in the Eastern League. The Lynn Tigers were tame, but did wind up signing Lynn Classical shortstop George Bullard to a Major League contract at Fraser ceremonies. Soon, it was goodbye Tigers and farewell to Minor League baseball at Fraser for the next 31 long summers.

LYNN SAILORS ANCHORED HERE, 1980-82
In 1980, like a breath of fresh ocean air, the Seattle Mariners farm club -- The Lynn Sailors -- rode the waves into Fraser waters. After smooth sailing for two seasons, attendance sank like an anchor causing the Sailors to ship out. Sixteen Sailors, including Spike Owen, short-stop with the pennant-winning Red Sox in 1986, made it to The Show. Remember Spike Owen, Alvin Davis, Mike Moore, Jim Presley, Matt Young, Clark Crist, Orlando Mercardo, Tito Nanni, Hal Reynolds, Rodney Hobbs, Karl Best, and Bud Black? All became Major Leaguers. Black is now manager of the San Diego Padres! The Sailors were also popular in 1981 and 1982, but sailed away in favor of the new Lynn Pirates.

PIRATES WERE SHOT DOWN BY THE ROCKET, 1983
In 1983, Roger Clemens The Rocket smashed Lynn's championship dreams. That year, former Lynn Classical infielder Mike Agganis (Harry's nephew) and Red Sox great Rico Petrocelli brought in the Lynn Pirates. The owners and players were super, but didn't draw well, and were beaten in the championship finals by none other than future 7-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens of the New Britain Red Sox.

THE MAD DOGS HAD BITE, 1996-98
In 1996, Fraser Field became The Dawg Pound.The Massachusetts Mad Dogs were unleashed here for three good years, and were led by pitcher Jay Murphy, Tony Nicosia Jr., Eric Roepsch, all of Lynn; Mike Giardi of Salem, Doug Spofford of Swampscott, and MVP Roy Marsh. The skipper was George Scott, who was "The Boomer" for the '67 Red Sox. They made it to the finals but lost in the thrilling finale.

PLENTY OF SPIRIT AT FRASER, 2003-2007
In 2003, Nick Lopardo's Spirit became the most popular minor league squad in Fraser history. Lopardo spent millions and redesigned the historic park (erected in 1940), called it Fraser Field, and hired Fenway favorites John (Super Sub) Kennedy as manager; Dick (The Monster) Radatz as pitching coach, and Rich Gedman, coach. The trio, along with coaches Frank Carey and Jim Tgettis, steered the Spirit to the league's Little World Series finals two seasons in a row. Ken Ray of the 2005 Spirit went on to pitch for the Atlanta Braves and, in his debut, fanned Barry Bonds on three pitches! The Spirit had much success and popularity, but moved on after five seasons. Fans fretted, but Rosenfield, Falcon and their young Navigators saved the day. They navigated their way here to deliver baseball-hungry North Shore fans more summers of fabulous family fun at fabled and friendly Fraser Field.