Sports in Massachusetts

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Alumni Stadium, home of the Boston College Eagles Alumni Stadium Boston College.jpg
Alumni Stadium, home of the Boston College Eagles
Fall River, Massachusetts native, Bert Patenaude (front row, center), scored the first hat-trick in FIFA World Cup history in 1930 for the United States. Usa team v paraguay.jpg
Fall River, Massachusetts native, Bert Patenaude (front row, center), scored the first hat-trick in FIFA World Cup history in 1930 for the United States.

Sports in Massachusetts have a long history with both amateur athletics and professional teams. Most of the major professional teams have won multiple championships in their respective leagues. Massachusetts teams have won 6 Stanley Cups (Boston Bruins), [1] 18 NBA Championships (Boston Celtics), [2] 6 Super Bowls (New England Patriots), [3] and 10 World Series (9 Boston Red Sox, 1 Boston Braves). [4] The New England Revolution won the MLS Supporter's Shield in 2021 (the club's only major trophy to date). [5] Early basketball and volleyball was created in Massachusetts, which homes the Basketball Hall of Fame (Springfield), [6] and the Volleyball Hall of Fame (Holyoke). [6] Massachusetts also houses the Cape Cod Baseball League. It is also home to prestigious sports events such as the Boston Marathon and the Head of the Charles Regatta. The Falmouth Road Race in running and the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic in bicycle racing are also very popular events with long histories.

Contents

The Greater Boston region is the only city/surrounding area in American professional sports in which all facilities are privately owned and operated. The Patriots and Revolution both own Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Red Sox own Fenway Park, and TD Garden is owned by Delaware North, owner of the Bruins. The Celtics rent TD Garden from Delaware North.

The PGA Tour Deutsche Bank Championship is a regular professional golf tour stop in the state. Massachusetts has played host to nine U.S. Opens, four U.S. Women's Opens, two Ryder Cups, and one U.S. Senior Open.

Many colleges and universities in Massachusetts are active in college athletics. There are a number of NCAA Division I members in the state for multiple sports: Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern University, Harvard University, College of the Holy Cross, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Merrimack College, and Stonehill College.

Notable athletes from Massachusetts

Massachusetts has produced several successful Olympians including Thomas Burke, James Connolly, and John Thomas (track & field); Butch Johnson (archery); Nancy Kerrigan (figure skating); Todd Richards (snowboarding); Albina Osipowich (swimming); Aly Raisman (gymnastics); Patrick Ewing (basketball); as well as Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, Bill Cleary, and Keith Tkachuk (ice hockey). [7] [8]

Notable soccer (or association football) players from Massachusetts include Bert Patenaude, Billy Gonsalves, Geoff Cameron, Miles Robinson, Sam Mewis, and Kristie Mewis. Patenaude and Gonsalves (both inductees of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and natives of Fall River, Massachusetts) [9] [10] played for the U.S. men's national team at the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930 (hosted in Uruguay). Patenaude scored the first hat-trick in World Cup history. [11] The USMNT finished in third place. [12]

Sports Illustrated's 50 Greatest Sports Figures from Massachusetts

In 1999, Sports Illustrated published the fifty (50) greatest 19th and 20th century sports figures from each U.S. state. The criteria used was "not necessarily to where [the athletes] were born, but to where they first showed flashes of the greatness to come." The ten highest ranked Massachusetts athletes were as follows: [13]

RankNameSportHometownNotes
1. Rocky Marciano Boxing Brockton, MA Held the world heavyweight title from 1952 to 1956
2. Doug Flutie American football Natick, MA Played at Boston College; won the Heisman Trophy in 1984
3. Patrick Ewing Basketball Cambridge, MA Played at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School; 2× Olympic gold medalist (1984, 1992);
selected as one of the 75 Greatest Players in NBA History in 2021; Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
4. Bobby Carpenter Ice hockey Beverly, MA First U.S. player to jump from high school to NHL (in 1981)
5. Rebecca Lobo Basketball Southwick, MA Massachusetts' all-time leading high school basketball scorer (boys and girls); Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
6. Alberto Salazar Track & field Wayland, MA 3× New York Marathon winner (1980–82); Boston Marathon winner (1982)
7. Tom Glavine Baseball Billerica, MA 2× NL Cy Young Award (1991, 1998); 1995 World Series MVP; Baseball Hall of Fame inductee
8. Pie Traynor Baseball Somerville, MA Posted a career batting average of .320; Baseball Hall of Fame inductee
9. Harry Agganis Baseball
American football		 Lynn, MA Played at Boston University; Boston Red Sox (1954–55); College Football Hall of Fame inductee
10. Johnny Kelley Track & field Arlington, MA Olympian; competed in the Boston Marathon over 50 times (winning twice)

Major league professional teams

Current teams

ClubLeagueSportVenue (capacity)FoundedChampionships
Boston Red Sox MLB Baseball Fenway Park (37,500)19019 World Series
Boston Bruins NHL Ice Hockey TD Garden (17,565)19246 Stanley Cups
Boston Celtics NBA Basketball TD Garden (18,625)194618 NBA titles
New England Patriots NFL Football Gillette Stadium (68,750)19606 Super Bowls
New England Revolution MLS Soccer19950 MLS Cups; 1 Supporters' Shield

    Former teams

    ClubLeagueSportVenue (capacity)FoundedDissolvedChampionships
    Boston Braves MLB Baseball Braves Field (40,000)187119521 World Series
    Worcester Brown Stockings Worcester Agricultural Fairgrounds 18801882
    Boston Reds Congress Street Grounds 18901891
    Boston Bulldogs NFL FootballBraves Field (40,000)19291929
    Boston Redskins Fenway Park (35,000)19321936
    Boston Yanks 19441948
    Boston Breakers USFL Nickerson Field (15,000)19831984
    Boston Rovers NASL Soccer Manning Bowl (21,000)19671967
    Boston Beacons Fenway Park (33,375)19681968
    Boston Minutemen Alumni Stadium (30,000)
    Nickerson Field (15,000)    		19741976
    New England Tea Men Foxboro Stadium (60,000)19781980
    New England Whalers WHA Ice Hockey Boston Garden (14,448)197219741 Avco World Trophy

    Major league professional championships

    Minor league or semi-professional clubs

    The Fall River Rovers soccer club (a semi-professional club in the Southern New England Soccer League) after winning the 1917 U.S. Open Cup Fall River Rovers.jpg
    The Fall River Rovers soccer club (a semi-professional club in the Southern New England Soccer League) after winning the 1917 U.S. Open Cup
    ClubSportsEstablished [lower-alpha 1] LeagueVenue
    BOS Nation FC Soccer2026 National Women's Soccer League White Stadium
    Boston Bolts Soccer1986 USL League Two Alumni Field
    Boston Breach Esports2022 Call of Duty League
    Boston Cannons Lacrosse 2001 Premier Lacrosse League Harvard Stadium
    Boston City FC Soccer2015 USL League Two Malden Catholic High Stadium
    Boston Glory Ultimate Frisbee 2019 Ultimate Frisbee Assosciation Hormel Stadium
    Boston Renegades Football 2015 Women's Football Alliance Harry Della Russo Stadium
    Boston Thirteens Rugby league 2009 USA Rugby League Irish Cultural Center
    Massachusetts Pirates Indoor football 2018 Indoor Football League Tsongas Center
    New England Free Jacks Rugby union 2018 Major League Rugby Veterans Memorial Stadium
    New England Knockouts Baseball2024 Frontier League Campanelli Stadium
    New England Revolution II [lower-alpha 2] Soccer2019 MLS Next Pro Gillette Stadium
    Boston Fleet Ice Hockey2023 Professional Women's Hockey League Tsongas Center
    Springfield Thunderbirds Ice hockey 2016 American Hockey League MassMutual Center
    Western Mass Pioneers Soccer1998 USL League Two Lusitano Stadium
    Worcester Railers Ice hockey2017 ECHL DCU Center
    Worcester Red Sox Baseball2021 International League Polar Park
    1. ↑ The year the organization was established in Massachusetts.
    2. ↑ Currently branded as "Revolution II".

    College sports

    Holy Cross takes on Boston College in 1916 at Fenway Park. BC won the game, 17-14. Holy Cross vs Boston College (Fenway Park 1916).jpg
    Holy Cross takes on Boston College in 1916 at Fenway Park. BC won the game, 17–14.
    Julius "Dr. J." Erving at UMass Julius Erving UMass.jpg
    Julius "Dr. J." Erving at UMass
    The Holy Cross Crusaders won the NCAA basketball championship in 1947 def. Oklahoma. Bob Cousy (All-American and NBA Hall-of-Famer) is in the front row, second from left NCAA champions 1947 Holy Cross (1963 NCAA Basketball Championship program).jpg
    The Holy Cross Crusaders won the NCAA basketball championship in 1947 def. Oklahoma. Bob Cousy (All-American and NBA Hall-of-Famer) is in the front row, second from left

    NCAA: Divisions I and II

    SchoolNicknameDivisionConference
    Boston College Eagles I Atlantic Coast Conference/Hockey East
    Boston University Terriers I Patriot League/Hockey East
    Northeastern University Huskies I Colonial Athletic Association/Hockey East
    Harvard University Crimson I Ivy League/ECAC Hockey
    College of the Holy Cross Crusaders I Patriot League/Atlantic Hockey America/Hockey East
    University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen/
    Minutewomen         		I Atlantic 10 Conference [lower-alpha 1] /Hockey East
    University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks I America East Conference/Hockey East [14]
    Merrimack College Warriors I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference/FCS independent (football)/Hockey East
    Stonehill College Skyhawks I Northeast Conference/Independent (men's ice hockey)/New England Women's Hockey Alliance
    American International College Yellow Jackets I/II Atlantic Hockey America/Northeast-10 Conference
    Bentley University Falcons I/II Atlantic Hockey America/Northeast-10 Conference
    Assumption University Greyhounds I/II Northeast-10 Conference/New England Women's Hockey Alliance

    In addition to the schools listed here, Franklin Pierce University, a full Division II member located near the state border in Rindge, New Hampshire, plays its men's and women's ice hockey home games in Massachusetts on the campus of The Winchendon School. FPU plays men's hockey in the Northeast-10 and women's hockey as a D-I program in the New England Women's Hockey Alliance.

    1. ↑ Joining the Mid-American Conference in July 2025; will remain an A-10 member in men's lacrosse.

    NCAA: Division III

    SchoolNicknameDivisionConference
    Amherst College MammothsIII Eastern College Athletic Conference/New England Small College Athletic Conference
    Anna Maria College Amcats III Great Northeast Athletic Conference/Eastern Collegiate Football Conference
    Babson College BeaversIII New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
    Brandeis University Judges III University Athletic Association/Intercollegiate Fencing Association
    Bridgewater State University Bears III Eastern College Athletic Conference/Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference/
    Little East Conference
    Clark University CougarsIII New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
    Curry College ColonelsIII Commonwealth Coast Conference/Commonwealth Coast Football
    Dean College BulldogsIII New England Collegiate Conference
    Eastern Nazarene College LionsIII New England Collegiate Conference
    Elms College BlazersIII New England Collegiate Conference
    Emerson College LionsIII New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference/Eastern College Athletic Conference
    Emmanuel College SaintsIII Great Northeast Athletic Conference
    Endicott College GullsIII Commonwealth Coast Conference/Commonwealth Coast Football/New England Collegiate Conference
    Fitchburg State University FalconsIII Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference
    Framingham State University Rams III Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
    Gordon College Fighting ScotsIII Commonwealth Coast Conference
    Lasell University LasersIII Great Northeast Athletic Conference
    Lesley University LynxIII New England Collegiate Conference
    Mount Holyoke College LyonsIII New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
    Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts TrailblazersIII Eastern College Athletic Conference/Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
    Massachusetts Maritime Academy BuccaneersIII Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference/New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology Engineers III New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
    Nichols College BisonIII Commonwealth Coast Conference/Commonwealth Coast Football/New England Collegiate Conference
    Regis College PrideIII Great Northeast Athletic Conference
    Salem State University Vikings III Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
    Simmons University SharksIII Great Northeast Athletic Conference/North Atlantic Conference
    Smith College PioneersIII New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
    Springfield College PrideIII New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
    Suffolk University RamsIII Great Northeast Athletic Conference
    Tufts University Jumbos III New England Small College Athletic Conference
    University of Massachusetts Boston BeaconsIII Little East Conference/New England Hockey Conference
    University of Massachusetts Dartmouth CorsairsIII Little East Conference/Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
    Wellesley College BluesIII New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
    Wentworth Institute of Technology PanthersIII Commonwealth Coast Conference/Great Northeast Athletic Conference
    Western New England University Golden BearsIII Commonwealth Coast Conference/Commonwealth Coast Football
    Westfield State University OwlsIII Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
    Wheaton College, Massachusetts Lyons III New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
    Williams College Ephs III / I New England Small College Athletic Conference
    Worcester Polytechnic Institute Engineers III New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
    Worcester State University LancersIII Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference

      NAIA

      SchoolNicknameConference
      Fisher College Falcons Independent

      USCAA

      SchoolNicknameConference
      Bay Path University WildcatsIndependent
      Hampshire College Black Sheep Yankee Small College Conference

      NJCAA Division II

      SchoolNicknameRegion
      Massasoit Community College Warriors21

      NJCAA Division III

      SchoolNicknameRegion
      Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology Shockers21
      Bristol Community College Bayhawks21
      Bunker Hill Community College Bulldogs21
      Holyoke Community College Cougars21
      Mass Bay Community College Buccaneers21
      Northern Essex Community College Knights21
      Quinsigamond Community College Chiefs21
      Roxbury Community College Tigers21
      Springfield Technical Community College Rams21

      High school

      Matt Hasselbeck (Pro-Bowl NFL quarterback) playing at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Massachusetts Matt Hasselbeck XBHS.jpg
      Matt Hasselbeck (Pro-Bowl NFL quarterback) playing at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Massachusetts

      The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) is an organization that sponsors activities in thirty-three sports, comprising 374 public and private high schools in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. The MIAA is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), which writes the rules for most U.S. high school sports and activities. The MIAA was founded in 1978, and was preceded by both the Massachusetts Secondary School Principals' Association (MSSPA) (1942–78) and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Council (MIAC) (1950–78).

      Rugby will become the MIAA's 35th sport in 2016, following a 2015 MIAA vote that passed by a wide majority. [15] As of 2015, there are 19 boys’ teams and 5 girls’ teams across the state, with the majority of the Catholic Conference schools fielding rugby teams. [15]

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      References

      1. ↑ "Stanley Cup Winners". Hockey Hall of Fame . Retrieved October 19, 2009.
      2. ↑ Rosenstein, Greg (June 17, 2024). "NBA Finals: Celtics defeat Mavericks for record-setting 18th championship". NBC News . Retrieved June 18, 2024.
      3. ↑ "Super Bowl History". National Football League . Retrieved October 19, 2009.
      4. ↑ "World Series Winners, Records, and Results and Postseason Series" . Retrieved October 30, 2014.
      5. ↑ Le Miere, Jason (October 23, 2021). "New England Revolution win 2021 MLS Supporters' Shield". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
      6. 1 2 "Volleyball pushed as official team sport of Mass". Boston Herald . October 4, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
      7. ↑ "25 Olympians from Massachusetts". GoLocalWorcester. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
      8. ↑ "Ranking the Top 50 Athletes from Massachusetts". May 30, 2017.
      9. ↑ Jose, Colin (1998). The American Soccer League: The Golden Years of American Soccer 1921–1931. Scarecrow Press. pp. 11, 477.
      10. ↑ Foulds, Alan E. (2005). Boston's Ballparks & Arenas. University Press of New England. p. 53.
      11. ↑ Williams, Jack (July 19, 2015). "Bert Patenaude, the forgotten hero who scored the first ever World Cup hat-trick". The Guardian. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
      12. ↑ "Timeline".
      13. ↑ "The 50 Greatest Sports Figures from Massachusetts" Sports Illustrated (December 27, 1999)
      14. ↑ http://www.americaeast.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14000&ATCLID=669426
      15. 1 2 "Tuesday's school roundup: MIAA votes to add rugby for 2016–17", Boston Globe, Eric Russo, May 6, 2015.
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