FALMOUTH, Mass. — The Rev. Nell Fields was honored as the ‘Hero of the Game’ during the Falmouth Commodores' ‘Red Shirt Friday’ event at Guv Fuller Field. The event, part of the Cape Cod Baseball League's Massachusetts State Lottery initiative, pays tribute to local military members, first responders and community figures.
Fields, a prominent figure in the Falmouth community, expressed her delight at the recognition.
"It's a trip. I love it. It's so much fun. And we live in a great town, and I love baseball," she said. "For me to finally come back to a hometown where we have a hometown baseball team, and to be a part of everything that you do. I just really feel like it's a full circle moment."
Fields is an avid supporter of the Falmouth Commodores, regularly following the team's social media updates and hosting the annual Baseball Sunday at Waquoit Congregational Church, where she serves as pastor. Her contributions to the community are extensive; she was nominated as the 2023 Falmouth Person of the Year and is involved with numerous local organizations, including the Barnstable County Human Rights Commission and the Falmouth Service Center.
The Cape Cod Baseball League's ‘Hero of the Game’ campaign honors local heroes by bringing them onto the field during the middle of the fourth inning. Each honoree receives a signed baseball, a brief introduction to the fans and a photo feature on the league's social media platforms.
Fields underscored the importance of baseball in fostering community spirit amid challenging times.
"Just with all the craziness going on in the world, you know, we'd need games like baseball to just sort of anchor us and to remind us that we're all on the same team, even though we have different shirts. Baseball is such an American game, and quite frankly, I think that if everybody watched baseball, everybody would just be a kinder, gentler, nice nation," she remarked.
The Massachusetts State Lottery's partnership with the Cape League continues to be a significant community-driven initiative, with each home team participating in ‘Red Shirt Fridays’ to honor those who serve by wearing red jersey tops.
The Falmouth Commodores have two more ‘Red Shirt Fridays’ this summer, honoring the 'Hero of the Game' again on July 12 and August 2.
