HARWICH, Mass. — For more than 100 years, the Cape Cod Baseball League has served as a premier stage for collegiate athletes, with many players going on to All-Star careers in professional baseball after spending a summer or two on the Cape. However, only a select few have their names etched into Cape League history by being inducted into the Cape League Hall of Fame.
This year, seven former players and coaches will be inducted into the Hall: Andrew Calica, Todd Cunningham, Todd Helton, Pat Neshek, Nick Senzel, Brick Smith, and Jeff Trundy. On Sunday, November 17, in Harwich, MA, this group will be honored for their contributions to the game and their excellence in the Cape League.
Todd Cunningham (Falmouth ‘09) said it “feels a little surreal just to be recognized with some of the folks that are already in or are going in this year.” In 2009, he led the Cape League in batting average (.378), hits (59), and on-base percentage (.458), earning the Thurman Munson Batting Championship Award.
He would go on to be drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2010 and made his MLB debut in 2013. Cunningham recalled a special moment involving a fellow 2024 Cape League Hall of Fame inductee. “My first big league game was against the Rockies. Got a hit my first at-bat, and the first person to congratulate me was Todd Helton.”
“It’s kind of a full-circle moment,” Cunningham added.
The news of his Hall of Fame induction brought back countless fond memories for two-time Cape League All-Star, Thurman Munson Batting Champion, and Daniel J. Silva Sportsmanship Award recipient Brick Smith (Hyannis ‘79-80).
“It means everything,” Smith said. When he learned of his induction, his initial reaction was to think it was a prank. But as the reality of the honor set in, he said, “it touched my heart and rekindled [memories]—it was a wonderful time.”
Smith was eventually drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 1981 and had an accomplished coaching career after his playing days. He stressed the importance of building lifelong relationships during his two summers in the Cape League, attributing that to part of his success.
“I love the people up there. It was the first time I’d ever been away from home, but I wouldn’t change a thing for the world.”
Nick Senzel (Brewster ‘15), who played for both the Washington Nationals and Chicago White Sox in 2024, won the Cape League MVP and Most Outstanding Pro-Prospect Award during his one summer on the Cape in 2015.
“It’s a product of the work and preparation I put in, something I can be proud of,” Senzel said. “Knowing the history of the league and how many great players go on to have great careers, I’m proud to be alongside the players in the Hall of Fame.”
Senzel also spoke about how the Cape League was his first introduction to what life playing professional baseball would look like. “You get a little glimpse of what Minor League or professional life is like,” he reflected. Another takeaway that he’s carried to this point in his career was the importance of building a routine.
“The league forces you to want to be the most prepared and give yourself the best chance,” Senzel added. “You have to have the confidence that you’re better than everyone else there.” Learning what his body needed, how he felt, and what his daily schedule needed to include were all factors of his professional career that began to develop during his summer in Brewster.
“The Cape [League] taught me so much that I didn’t really realize at the time, but looking back now, it really did prepare me.”
A common theme that each of these three inductees shared was their initial surprise upon learning of their Hall of Fame enshrinement.
“I was absolutely shocked. This came out of the blue,” Smith admitted, “but I’m truly, truly honored.” Senzel shared a similar sentiment; when asked how he reacted to the announcement, he “would say [he] was shocked.”
“You go there to try and compete against the best players around the country. Having the honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame was surreal,” Senzel said.
Cunningham expressed his excitement to reconnect with his host family. “My host family was awesome,” he said. “The whole summer and relationship growth with them were pretty memorable. It will be cool to reunite.”
For all of the Hall of Famers—not just Cunningham, Smith, and Senzel—the Cape League was where they learned they could really compete with the best. Performing at such a high level under the brightest lights was a pivotal step in their careers.
Cunningham remembered telling himself, “I can hang with these guys,” after an impressive performance against none other than Chris Sale. “That was a pretty cool moment—having moments like that to build on throughout my career was impactful.”
Smith grew emotional reflecting on his time in the Cape League and his career as a whole, making it clear that those formative summers meant a lot to him. While baseball obviously shaped his career, he also spoke fondly about the off-field memories.
“Swimming at Craigville Beach, going over to the Jaws Bridge on Martha’s Vineyard,” were two memories Smith joked about. His induction brought him back to his summers in the Cape League. “They just came popping back,” he said, “and I was like, holy catfish! I'd completely forgotten about that!”
Now, the trio of Cape League greats looks ahead to their official induction ceremony in Harwich in just a couple of weeks. “I’m looking forward to the induction next month,” Cunningham said.
The Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame holds deep meaning for both the inductees and the history of the game. Countless baseball greats have made their names playing the Cape League.
“The game has done well by me,” Smith said, “and hopefully I’ve done well by the game.”
A limited number of tickets to the 2024 Cape League Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony remain, and can be purchased online or by calling Mary Henderson at (508) 922-7388.
Top photo courtesy of MLB Photos
