PawSox fans to get another look at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket

It was a bitter pill for many residents of Pawtucket, Rhode Island to swallow when the Boston Red Sox organization announced it would move its Triple-A International League Pawtucket Red Sox to Worcester and out of the beloved McCoy Stadium, where they had played for decades.

The team was supposed to play its final season at McCoy in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of that season.

Many fans felt they never got the chance to say goodbye to their team or the stadium.

The PawSox became the Worcester Red Sox, or Woo Sox, in April 2021 with a new home, Polar Park.

Pawtucket Mayor Thomas McCoy laid the cornerstone for the stadium that would bear his name in 1940. Team records indicate that the stadium was first named Pawtucket Stadium but that be renamed when Mayor McCoy died in 1945.

McCoy Stadium was home to the Boston Braves and the Cleveland Indians affiliate before teaming up with the Boston Red Sox in 1969.

It wasn’t until Ben Mondor bought the club in 1977 that the PawSox and McCoy Stadium took off. The beloved Mondor died in 2010. A statue of him stood outside the stadium until it closed.

In November 2022, Pawtucket residents voted to demolish McCoy Stadium to build a new $300 million high school on the property.

Before McCoy Stadium comes down, Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien’s administration wants to give residents and fans another chance to enjoy the stadium.

Administration spokeswoman Grace Voll told me there are plans for a final celebration at McCoy.

“We’re planning to have it around the next Fourth of July and hopefully it will be a multi-day celebration,” Voll said.

For many years, the PawSox and the city of Pawtucket celebrated Independence Day with fireworks at the stadium.

“The goal is to tie it to the fireworks display, but I don’t have anything confirmed, and that could change,” Voll said.

As for when we can expect McCoy Stadium to be torn down, Voll said nothing is set in stone yet.

“We don’t have a timetable on the demolition yet. I would say it’s more likely to happen after the summer,” he said.

My wife and I were friends with Ben Mondor and other great people on the PawSox staff. We spent many hours attending PawSox games. My youngest son and I were lucky enough to throw out the first pitch for a PawSox game.

We miss the PawSox and we will miss McCoy Stadium.