WATERTOWN, NY – The Watertown Rapids, Watertown’s home baseball team,
are introducing a new “Wall of Fame” at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds.
The Wall will honor legendary baseball players who over the years have represented the Watertown community on the field. The wall will initially honor the nine greatest players who excelled in Watertown and went on to achieve success in Major League Baseball.
Notable Watertown alumni include former Major League All-Stars Moises Alou, Tim Wakefield, and Sean Casey.
The “Wall of Fame” is the first initiative in a series of many more to come as part of the newly announced Rapids Support Team set to focus on giving back to the Watertown community while promoting the history of the sport in Jefferson County.
Nick Czerow, Rapids’ General Manager, said “the tradition of baseball is deep in
Watertown, especially at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds where baseball has been
played for 150 years. For generations Watertown fans have witnessed some of
the game’s greatest players who wore “Watertown” on their uniforms.
Fans will be asked to vote in the inductees and details of the selection process will
be announced at a later date. In the meantime, fans are invited to visit the Rapids’
website and social media to suggest players for consideration to appear on the
“Wall of Fame” and voting ballots.
Czerow continued, “the ownership and management of the Rapids are teaming
up with the fans and sponsors in the community to help commemorate that great
legacy by selecting the top nine players of all time. The honorees will be
recognized in a display at the fairgrounds for fans of all ages to view for years to
come and gain an appreciation of our remarkable baseball heritage.”
The Rapids, Watertown’s current home team are part of a rich baseball history
that has included the Watertown Pirates and Indians of the 1980s and 90s of the
New York-Penn League. The fairgrounds also hosted such organizations as the
Watertown Collegians of the 1930s and 40s, the Athletics of the late 40’s and
early 50’s, the Royals of the 70’s, and more recently, the Wizards, Rams, and
Bucks.
Fans can follow the Watertown Rapids at “watertown-rapids.com” and on social media for when they will be eligible to electronically vote on the nine players they
feel have distinguished themselves as part of the inaugural “Watertown 9.”
The Rapids are members of the nationally respected Perfect Game Collegiate
Baseball League, a wooden baseball bat summer league that features top college
players from all over the country. The Rapids began play at Alex T. Duffy
Fairgrounds in 2018, suspending play due to the pandemic in 2020 and are
preparing to resume play in May 2021.