77-572: The John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award (known colloquially as the John Olerud Award ) is a college baseball award given to the best two-way player of the season. The award is named after former Washington State Cougars All-American pitcher and first baseman John Olerud . College baseball NAIA : JUBF College baseball is baseball that is played by student-athletes at institutions of higher education . In
154-545: A humid continental climate ( Dfb ). Winters are harsh due the city's high elevation at 1,039 ft (317 m), with an average annual snowfall of 73.0 inches (1,850 mm) and temperatures dipping to 0 °F (−18 °C) or colder 13 times per year. Summers, however, are typically warm and pleasant, with temperatures reaching 90 °F (32 °C) just six times per year. The record high and record low are 101 °F (38 °C) and −26 °F (−32 °C), recorded on July 23, 1926, and February 15, 1943, respectively. Over
231-629: A 1791 by-law prohibiting anyone from playing "baseball" within 80 yards (73 m) of the new meeting house in Pittsfield. A reference librarian, AnnMarie Harris, found the actual by-law in the Berkshire Athenaeum library and its age was verified by researchers at the Williamstown Art Conservation Center. If authentic and if actually referring to a recognizable version of the modern game, the 1791 document, would be, as of 2004,
308-467: A Division I baseball player is between November 8 and 15; the late signing period dates for these players are April 11 to August 1. The substance policies for college baseball are very strict and set by the NCAA. There is a set list of substances a college baseball player is forbidden to put in his body, and there is severe punishment for those that defy it, whether it would be intentional or unintentional. There
385-692: A best-of-three series. The eight winners then advance to the MCWS, a double-elimination tournament (actually two separate four-team brackets) to determine the two national finalists. The finalists play a best-of-three series to determine the Division I national champion. The most recent Men's College World Series winner is Tennessee . The first intercollegiate baseball game took place in Pittsfield, Massachusetts , on July 1, 1859, between squads representing Amherst College and Williams College . Amherst won, 73–32. This game
462-597: A greater history of supplying players from the high school level to Major League Baseball (MLB). But many amateur baseball players may choose college, for the sake of physical preparation and a softer transition from the high school level to the minor leagues. If players opt to enroll at a four-year college, they must complete three years of college to regain professional eligibility, or have turned at least age 21 before starting their third year of college. Players who enroll at junior colleges (i.e., two-year institutions) regain eligibility after one year at that level. During
539-432: A household in the city in 2010 was $ 35,655, and the median income for a family was $ 46,228. Males had a median income of $ 35,538 versus $ 26,341 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 20,549. About 8.9% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over. Pittsfield employs the mayor-council form of government. The mayor
616-659: A result of GE's operations in Pittsfield. The highest concentrations of PCBs in the Housatonic River are found from the site of the GE plant in Pittsfield to Woods Pond in Lenox, Massachusetts , where they have been measured up to 140 mg/kg (140 ppm). About 50% of all the PCBs in the river is estimated to be retained in the sediment behind Woods Pond dam. This is estimated to be about 11,000 pounds of PCBs. Birds and fish that live in and around
693-400: A speculative investment. He planned to subdivide and resell to others who would settle there. He formed a partnership with Philip Livingston , a wealthy kinsman from Albany, New York , and Col. John Stoddard of Northampton , who had claim to 1,000 acres (4.0 km ) here. A group of young armed militia men came and began to clear the land in 1743, but the threat of Indian resistance around
770-728: A town, with the winning design submitted by Shaun Harris. On the state level, Pittsfield has a single elected representative to the Massachusetts House of Representatives : the Second Berkshire District , which covers the entire city proper and is represented by Tricia Farley-Bouvier . In the Massachusetts Senate , the city is represented by Paul Mark of the Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden district . Tara Jacobs (D-North Adams) represents Pittsfield as part of
847-518: A traitor, several years before Arnold defected to the British. Brown wrote in his winter 1776-77 handbill, "Money is this man's God, and to get enough of it he would sacrifice his country." Pittsfield was primarily turned into an agricultural area because of the many brooks that flowed into the Housatonic River ; the landscape was dotted with mills that produced lumber, grist, paper, and textiles. With
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#1732869905595924-482: A two-week tour through New England campaigning for Republican congressmen , the barouche transporting President Theodore Roosevelt from downtown Pittsfield to the Pittsfield Country Club collided head-on with a trolley . Roosevelt, Massachusetts Governor Winthrop Murray Crane , secretary to the president George Bruce Cortelyou , and bodyguard William Craig were thrown into the street. Craig
1001-792: A wood bat. As a result, in 2011 there was a drop-off in overall "long" drives or home runs relative to past years. All players resident in the U.S. and its territories, plus Canada, are eligible to be selected in Major League Baseball's Rule 4 Draft upon graduating from high school. However, once a player enrolls in a four-year college or university, he is not allowed to be drafted (or re-drafted) until completing three years of school or reaching age 21, whichever comes first. By contrast, players who enroll in junior colleges (i.e., two-year institutions) are eligible for selection at any time. The Rule 4 Draft of eligible college and high school players consists of 20 rounds, most recently reduced from 40 after
1078-410: A workforce that once topped 13,000 was reduced to less than 700 with the demise and/or relocation of General Electric's transformer and aerospace portions. On October 8, 2015, SABIC announced it would relocate its headquarters from Pittsfield to Houston, Texas. General Dynamics occupies many of the old GE buildings and its workforce is expanding. Much of General Dynamics' local success is based on
1155-440: Is a very long list of these substances, including alcohol, marijuana, anabolic steroids, and heroin, to name just a few. These substances fit into categories such as stimulants, anabolic steroids, diuretics, street drugs, hormones, anti-estrogens, and more. Failure to pass scheduled or random drug tests can result in ineligibility. After losing its license for Major League Baseball , EA Sports released MVP 06: NCAA Baseball ,
1232-632: Is about 10 miles (16 km) south, in Lee . Long-distance ground transportation in Pittsfield is based at the Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center , which serves as the station for Amtrak trains and Peter Pan buses. The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority, the transit provider for Pittsfield and vicinity, is based at the Intermodal Center and also uses it as a hub for most of its lines. Rail freight transportation
1309-413: Is classified by the NCAA as an "equivalency" sport, meaning that limits on athletic financial aid are set to the equivalent of a fixed number of full scholarships. Division I schools are allowed the equivalent of 11.7 full scholarships; Division II schools, only 9.0. Schools generally choose to award multiple partial scholarships rather than exclusively full scholarships. In Division I, the NCAA also limits
1386-544: Is currently Linda Tyer, who was elected for Pittsfield's first four-year term in January 2016, but will be succeeded in January 2024 by Peter Marchetti, who won the seat in the November 2023 municipal election. The city is fully functioning, with all the major public services, including Berkshire Medical Center which is the only hospital in the northern part of the county, and the region's only VA medical clinic . The city's library,
1463-401: Is generally faster than off a wood bat. Those against metal, and for wood, argue that a metal bat is not safe to use, and that a metal bat does not prepare players for the next level, as professional baseball uses a wood bat exclusively. In the 2011 season the NCAA changed the requirements for a metal bat, reducing the maximum allowed exit speed in a way that is said to produce a feeling more like
1540-746: Is played under the auspices of either the NCAA , the NAIA , the NJCAA , the CCCAA , or the NWAC . The NCAA writes the rules of play, while each sanctioning body supervises season-ending tournaments . The final rounds of the NCAA Division I tournament is known as the Men's College World Series (MCWS); while each of the three levels of competition sanctioned by the NCAA holds a championship tournament,
1617-463: Is provided by CSX Transportation and the Housatonic Railroad . The fixed-base operator at Pittsfield Municipal Airport offers access to the region via private and chartered aircraft ranging from single-engined piston to multiple-engined jet planes. They also offer scenic rides and flight training. The nearest airport with national service is Albany International Airport . Pittsfield has
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#17328699055951694-661: Is represented in the United States Senate by senior Senator Elizabeth Warren (D) and junior Senator Ed Markey (D). Pittsfield operates a public school system which has more than 6,000 students. There are eight elementary schools (Allendale, Robert T. Capeless, Crosby, Egremont, Morningside, Silvio O. Conte, Stearns and Williams), two middle schools (Theodore Herberg and John T. Reid), two high schools ( Pittsfield High School and Taconic High School ), and one private school ( Miss Hall's School ). The high schools both offer internal vocational programs. Students also come to
1771-473: Is similar to that of the Major League Draft in that a high school athlete is taking the next step in his career. The NCAA places restrictions on the coaches that are trying to convince athletes to come play for them and attend their university. College baseball programs are only allowed to offer a limited number of scholarships each year, so the process of earning a scholarship is quite competitive. Baseball
1848-447: The Berkshire Athenaeum , is one of the largest in western Massachusetts, and is connected to the regional library system. Pittsfield is also the county seat of Berkshire County, and as such has many state facilities for the county. In 2011, the City of Pittsfield received 129 designs of prospective official flags from residents in honor of the 250th anniversary of Pittsfield's incorporation as
1925-467: The Official Baseball Rules . Exceptions include the following: Though a wood bat is legal in NCAA competition, players overwhelmingly prefer and use a metal bat. The metal bat was implemented in college baseball in 1975. Use of a metal bat is somewhat controversial. Supporters of an aluminum or composite bat note that it can increase offensive performance, as the speed of a ball off a metal bat
2002-774: The Pittsfield Mets and Pittsfield Astros (2001 only) represented the city in the New York–Penn League . The Astros have since moved to Troy, New York , and are now known as the Tri-City ValleyCats . In 2005, Wahconah Park became the home stadium of the Pittsfield Dukes , a summer collegiate baseball franchise of the New England Collegiate Baseball League owned by Dan Duquette , former Boston Red Sox general manager. The Dukes had played
2079-639: The United States Census Bureau , the city has an area of 42.5 square miles (110.0 km ), of which 2.0 square miles (5.2 km ), or 4.70%, are covered by water. Pittsfield is bordered by Lanesborough to the north, Dalton to the east, Washington to the southeast, Lenox to the south, Richmond to the southwest, and Hancock to the west. Pittsfield is 48 miles (77 km) northwest of Springfield , 99 miles (159 km) west of Worcester , 135 miles (217 km) west of Boston , and 39 miles (63 km) east of Albany, New York . Most of
2156-576: The "Men's College World Series" branding is reserved strictly for the final round of the Division I tournament. The MCWS takes place in Omaha, Nebraska in June, following the regular season. The playoff bracket for Division I consists of 64 teams, with four teams playing at each of 16 regional sites (in a double-elimination format ). The 16 winners advance to the Super Regionals at eight sites, played head-to-head in
2233-432: The "no agent rule" as a result of this, claiming it was to benefit the amateur athletes. The rule states that "[a]n individual shall be ineligible for participation in an intercollegiate sport if he or she has agreed (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent for the purpose of marketing his or her athletics ability or reputation in that sport". Representation of an agent is considered to be any direct contact with
2310-451: The 10 manufacturing plant areas within the city, and continues to conduct inspection, monitoring and maintenance activities. Cleanup of the polluted downstream river areas has not been completed as of 2023. Following a public comment period, EPA issued a permit in December 2020 for the final cleanup phase. In 2021 two of the citizen groups that were parties to the settlement filed an appeal of
2387-569: The 10 manufacturing plant areas within the city, and is conducting inspection, monitoring and maintenance activities. As of the census of 2000, there were 45,793 people, 19,704 households, and 11,822 families residing in the city. Pittsfield is the largest city by population in Berkshire County, and ranks 27th out of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. The population density was 1,124.3 inhabitants per square mile (434.1/km ), making it
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2464-527: The 1890s as multi-sport conferences. The first tournament to name a national champion was held at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, resulting in Yale being crowned champion. No other such tournament was held until the first College World Series in 1947 . Traditionally, college baseball has been played in the early part of the year, with a relatively short schedule and during a time when cold (and/or rainy) weather hinders
2541-754: The 2004 season in Hinsdale, Massachusetts , as the Berkshire Dukes. In 2009, the franchise changed its name to the Pittsfield American Defenders . The American Defenders' name refers to both the United States military and a line of baseball gloves produced by Nocona Athletic Goods Company . Duquette's ownership group also owned the American Defenders of New Hampshire , members of the independent Can-Am League . Since 2012, Wahconah Park has been
2618-467: The 2019 edition. Despite MLB's draft being considerably longer than that of the NFL or NBA, only about 9.1% of all NCAA senior baseball players are drafted by an MLB team. One of the biggest controversies with the draft and these amateur athletes is the use of agents . There have been many cases of college athletes consulting or hiring an agent prematurely in direct violation of NCAA rules. The NCAA came up with
2695-523: The 25% limit, as long as it also is included in the calculations for the team equivalency limit. Before September 1 of a potential college player's 11th grade year, it is illegal for a college program to give any kind of recruiting materials to the prospect. A phone call is not even permitted to the prospect until July 1 of the student's 11th grade year. Once the player is committed to the school of his choice, he must sign his letter of intent during one of several signing periods. The early signing period for
2772-788: The Civil War, first in the northeastern United States but quickly throughout the country. By the late 1870s, several northeastern schools were playing regular home and home series. The team with the best record claimed a "National Championship." Arguments over professional and graduate players led to the creation of the American College Base Ball Association in late 1879, consisting of six northeastern schools which sought to govern such issues and organize games. This organization lasted until 1887, when it dissolved in acrimony and waves of realignment. The Western Conference and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association were formed in
2849-661: The Eighth Massachusetts Governor's Council district. The city is patrolled by the Fourth (Cheshire) Station of Barracks "B" of the Massachusetts State Police . On the national level, Pittsfield is represented in the United States House of Representatives as part of Massachusetts's 1st congressional district , and has been represented by Richard Neal (D) of Springfield since 2013. Massachusetts
2926-572: The Hall's vice president, Jeff Idelson , has stated that "Baseball wasn't really born anywhere." In 1859, the first intercollegiate baseball game was played in Pittsfield. Amherst defeated Williams College , 73–32. Ulysses Frank Grant , born August 1, 1865, in Pittsfield (died May 27, 1937), was an African American baseball player in the 19th century who played in the International League and for various independent teams. Professional baseball
3003-705: The United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, it is governed by the All Japan University Baseball Federation [ ja ] (JUBF). In comparison to American football and basketball , college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional players, as Minor League Baseball tends to be more extensive, with
3080-410: The ability for games to be played, particularly in the northern and midwestern parts of the U.S. These and other factors have historically led colleges and universities across the nation to effectively consider baseball a minor sport, both in scholarships as well as money and other points of emphasis. College baseball's popularity has increased greatly since the 1980s. As increased efforts to popularize
3157-410: The awarding of government contracts related to its advanced information systems. In September 2018, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker , Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito , and other Baker administration officials attended the groundbreaking of a $ 13.7 million project to build a life sciences and advanced manufacturing center in the city. On September 3, 1902, at 10:15 am, during
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3234-602: The championship game, but fell to Norwalk, Conn. Both Pittsfield high schools are known for their baseball and softball prowess. Taconic High School won state championships in 2017 and 2019 and reached the Final Four in 2023. It was the No. 1 overall seed in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division III bracket in 2022 and beat city-rival Pittsfield High three times. Twice in
3311-597: The city lies between the Berkshire Hills to the east and the Taconic Range to the west. Sections of the Housatonic Valley Wildlife Management Area dot the banks of the river. The western portion of the city contains Pittsfield State Forest, an 11,000-acre (4,500 ha) facility with hiking and cross-country skiing trails, camping, picnic areas, and a beach for swimming. Pittsfield is at
3388-673: The course of a year, 173 days have measurable precipitation. Flowing through a historically rural area, the Housatonic River attracted increased industrialization in the late 19th century. William Stanley Jr. , founded the Stanley Electric Manufacturing Company in 1890 at Pittsfield. The company manufactured small transformers, electrical motors and appliances. In 1903, GE acquired Stanley Electric and subsequently operated three major manufacturing operations in Pittsfield: transformer , ordnance , and plastics . During
3465-569: The court rejected the plaintiffs' challenge. In the years since the settlement was reached, the EPA, state agencies, the City and GE accomplished one of the largest and most complex cleanups in the country. Cleanup work on the first previously PCB-laden half mile of the Housatonic River, adjacent to the GE facility, was completed in September 2002. $ 90 million was spent cleaning up the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) reach between Lyman Street and Fred Garner Park, which
3542-547: The crossroads of U.S. Route 7 and U.S. Route 20 , which join together in the city. Massachusetts Route 8 passes through the northeastern corner of town, with a portion of it combined with Route 9 , the central east-west road through the western part of the state, whose western terminus is in the city at Route 20. Route 41 begins in the southwestern corner of town, heading south from Route 20. The nearest interstate highway, Interstate 90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike )
3619-605: The earliest known reference to the game in America. ( See Origins of baseball . ) The document is available on the Pittsfield Library 's web site. A finding that baseball was invented in 1839 by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, New York , provided the rationale for baseball centennial celebrations in 1939 including the opening of a National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in that city. Few historians ever believed it and even
3696-457: The first college baseball video game . A second game, MVP 07: NCAA Baseball , was also released before the series was discontinued due to low sales. Pittsfield, Massachusetts Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts , United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Pittsfield’s population
3773-517: The first electric transformer. Stanley's enterprise was the forerunner of the internationally known corporate giant, General Electric (GE). Thanks to the success of GE, Pittsfield's population in 1930 had grown to more than 50,000. While GE Advanced Materials (now owned by SABIC -Innovative Plastics, a subsidiary of the Riyadh-based Saudi Basic Industries Corporation) continues to be one of the city's largest employers,
3850-573: The high schools from neighboring Richmond. There were two parochial schools open for many decades, but both recently closed (Saint Mark's for elementary and middle school students, and St. Joseph Central High School for high school students). Pittsfield is the home to the main campus of Berkshire Community College and Mildred Elley 's Pittsfield campus. The nearest state college is the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, and
3927-827: The home of the Pittsfield Suns of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League . Mark Belanger , eight-time Gold Glove winning shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles, Turk Wendell , relief pitcher for the New York Mets, and Tom Grieve , outfielder for the Texas Rangers, were all from Pittsfield. The love of baseball in the Berkshires, and especially Pittsfield, extends for all ages. Pittsfield has two Little League teams, Pittsfield American and National, who are
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#17328699055954004-455: The introduction of Merino sheep from Spain in 1807, the area became the center of woolen manufacturing in the United States, an industry that would dominate the community's economy for almost a century. The town was a bustling metropolis by the late 19th century. In 1891, the City of Pittsfield was incorporated and William Stanley Jr. , who had recently relocated his Electric Manufacturing Company to Pittsfield from Great Barrington , produced
4081-699: The mid-20th century, the Housatonic River and its floodplain were contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other hazardous substances released from the General Electric Company (GE) facility in Pittsfield. The contaminated area, known as the General Electric/Housatonic River Site, includes the GE manufacturing facility; the Housatonic River, its riverbanks and floodplains from Pittsfield to Long Island Sound, and former river oxbows that have since been filled in; Allendale School; Silver Lake; and other areas contaminated as
4158-669: The most densely populated community in Berkshire county and 92nd overall in the Commonwealth. There were 21,366 housing units at an average density of 524.6 per square mile (202.5/km ). The racial makeup of the city in 2017 was 87.4% white (84.4% non-Hispanic white ), 4.7% black , 0.4% Native American , 2.0% Asian (0.6% Chinese , 0.5% Indian , 0.3% Pakistani , 0.2% Filipino , 0.2% Korean , 0.1% Vietnamese ), 0.02% Pacific Islander , 2.0% from other races , and 3.5% from two or more races . Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 6.0% of
4235-480: The most recent NCAA regular season , 301 teams competed at the Division I level in the United States, with top teams progressing through the regular season, various conference tournaments and championship series, and the 2024 NCAA Division I baseball tournament to play for the Division I championship in the 2024 Men's College World Series . As with most other U.S. intercollegiate sports, competitive college baseball
4312-604: The nearest state university is Westfield State University . The nearest private colleges are Williams College in Williamstown and Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington. In addition, the Berkshire Music School, a non-profit music school, offers private and group lessons in multiple instruments. Pittsfield is the geographic and commercial hub of the Berkshires —a historic area that includes Tanglewood ,
4389-399: The permit, criticizing the design of a planned landfill to be located in Berkshire County. In February 2022 the US Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) denied the permit appeal. Following the EAB ruling, EPA continued to design the new PCB disposal facility and conducted public meetings in 2022. Two citizen groups appealed the EAB decision to the First Circuit Court of Appeals , and in July 2023
4466-467: The population (1.9% Puerto Rican , 0.9% Mexican , 0.6% Ecuadorian , 0.5% Dominican , 0.4% Spanish , 0.3% Peruvian , 0.3% Honduran , 0.2% Colombian , 0.2% Salvadoran , 0.1% Cuban ). The ten largest ancestry groups in the city were Irish (22.5%), Italian (17.5%), French (11.7%), German (9.9%), English (8.6%), Polish (6.7%), American (4.1%), French-Canadian (3.7%), Scottish (1.7%), and Russian (1.5%). Immigrants accounted for 7.3% of
4543-457: The population occupies roughly one-quarter of the city's land. Pittsfield lies at the confluence of the east and west branches of the Housatonic River , which flows south from the city towards its mouth at Long Island Sound , some 149 miles (240 km) distant. The eastern branch leads down from the hills, while the western branch is fed from Onota Lake and Pontoosuc Lake (which lies partly in Lanesborough). Like much of western Berkshire County,
4620-535: The population. The ten most common countries of origin for immigrants in the city were, Ecuador , China , Mexico , the Dominican Republic , India , El Salvador , Canada , Ghana , and Brazil . In 2010, there were 19,704 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who
4697-567: The professional team during the contract negotiations. This contact can be made many different ways, whether through direct conversation, via mail or through the telephone. This rule is strongly enforced by the NCAA and has harsh consequences if broken. Recent changes to NCAA rules regarding compensation to college athletes for the use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL) have clarified that players can sign with agents to negotiate endorsement deals without loss of eligibility, though not for negotiating with professional teams. The recruitment process
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#17328699055954774-433: The regular season and once again in the PVIAC Western Massachusetts Class B Championship Game in front of a crowd of over 3,500 at Wahconah Park. However, the two teams met in the Division III Sweet 16 and Pittsfield High pulled off the upset to send its crosstown rival home. Pittsfield is at 42°27′N 73°15′W / 42.450°N 73.250°W / 42.450; -73.250 (42.4522, −73.2515). According to
4851-421: The river contain significant levels of PCBs. Starting in 1991, legal proceedings by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the General Electric/Housatonic River Site. Initial cleanup work began in 1996 when EPA issued a unilateral order to GE that required the removal of highly contaminated sediments and bank soils. EPA added the site to its Superfund list in September 1997. The year 1999
4928-507: The sport resulted in better players and overall programs, more television and print media coverage began to emerge. The ESPN family of networks have greatly increased television coverage of the NCAA playoffs and the College World Series since 2003. For 2008 and succeeding seasons, the NCAA mandated the first ever start date for Division I baseball, thirteen weeks before the selection of the NCAA tournament field, which takes place on Memorial Day. The rules of college baseball are similar to
5005-423: The summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra , and author Edith Wharton 's estate The Mount . Many buildings in Pittsfield are listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Downtown Pittsfield is home to the gilded-age Colonial Theatre , the Berkshire Museum , the Beacon Cinema (multi-plex), the Barrington Stage Company , Berkshire Athenaeum , Wahconah Park and Hebert Arboretum . In recent years,
5082-416: The surrounding area until the early 18th century, when the population was greatly reduced by war and disease brought by white invaders. Many migrated westward or were subjugated to live on the fringes of their land. In 1738, a wealthy Bostonian named Col. Jacob Wendell bought 24,000 acres (97 km ) of land known originally as "Pontoosuck", from a Mohican word meaning "a field or haven for winter deer", as
5159-409: The time of King George's War soon forced them to leave, and the land remained unoccupied by Englishmen for several more years. Soon, many colonists arrived from Westfield, Massachusetts , and a village began to grow, which was incorporated as Pontoosuck Plantation in 1753 by Solomon Deming, Simeon Crofoot, Stephen Crofoot, Charles Goodrich, Jacob Ensign, Samuel Taylor, and Elias Woodward. Mrs. Deming
5236-643: The total number of players receiving baseball-related financial aid to 27, and also requires that each of these players receive athletic aid equal to at least 25% of a full scholarship. The 25% rule does not apply to schools that offer aid based solely on financial need (most notably Ivy League members), and also does not apply to a player in his final year of athletic eligibility who has not previously received athletically related aid in baseball at any college. A long-standing official NCAA rules interpretation also allows schools to count aid that would otherwise be exempt by NCAA rule (such as purely academic awards) toward
5313-459: The two dominant powers in Berkshire County Little League and Western Massachusetts. The 2022 Pittsfield 13U Babe Ruth baseball team made a run to the Babe Ruth 13U World Series Championship game. Winning the New England Regional and going all the way to the Title Series, before losing to Kado, Hawaii. Pittsfield hosted the 2023 Babe Ruth 15U New England Regional Tournament at Wahconah Park. Pittsfield received an automatic bid for hosting and advanced to
5390-471: Was 43,927 at the 2020 census . Although its population has declined in recent decades, Pittsfield remains the third-largest municipality in Western Massachusetts , behind only Springfield and Chicopee . In 2017, the Arts Vibrancy Index compiled by the National Center for Arts Research ranked Pittsfield and Berkshire County as the number-one medium-sized community in the nation for the arts. The Mohicans , an Algonquian people , inhabited Pittsfield and
5467-457: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.89. In 2010 in the city, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males. The median income for
5544-420: Was a milestone for Pittsfield, when negotiations between EPA, the state, General Electric and the city resulted in a settlement agreement , valued at over $ 250 million, to clean up Pittsfield and the Housatonic River. The settlement was memorialized in a consent decree entered in federal court the following year, making it a binding legal agreement. Between 2005 and 2018 GE completed remediation and restoration of
5621-485: Was completed in June 2007. Biological and sediment samples showed reductions of approximately 99% of PCB concentrations compared to conditions before remediation. GE removed contaminated soil and restored 27 residential properties abutting the river. As of 2006 more than 115,000 cubic yards (88,000 m ) of PCB-contaminated sediment, bank, and floodplain soil have been removed from the river and residential property. As of 2019 GE has completed remediation and restoration of
5698-411: Was killed; he was the first Secret Service agent killed while on a presidential protection detail. Roosevelt, whose face and left shin were badly bruised, nearly came to blows with the trolley motorman, Euclid Madden. Madden was later charged with manslaughter , to which he pleaded guilty . He was sentenced to six months in jail and a heavy fine. In 2004, historian John Thorn discovered a reference to
5775-882: Was one of the last played under an earlier version of the game known as " Massachusetts rules ", which prevailed in New England until the " Knickerbocker Rules " (or "New York Rules") developed in the 1840s gradually became accepted. The first ever nine-man team college baseball game under the Knickerbocker Rules still in use today was played in New York on November 3, 1859, between the Fordham Rose Hill Baseball Club of St. John's College (now Fordham University ) against The College of St. Francis Xavier, now known as Xavier High School . Students at many colleges began organizing games between colleges, particularly after
5852-689: Was played in Pittsfield's Wahconah Park from 1894 through 2003. Teams included the early Pittsfield Colts and Pittsfield Hillies , the Pittsfield Electrics of the 1940s, the Pittsfield Red Sox from 1965 to 1969 with such then A-league players and future major leaguers as George Scott , Carlton Fisk , and Reggie Smith , the Pittsfield Senators (later Rangers) of the 1970s, and the 1985–1988 AA Pittsfield Cubs featuring future stars Mark Grace and Rafael Palmeiro . From 1989 to 2001,
5929-708: Was the first and the last of the original colonists, dying in March 1818 at the age of 92. Solomon Deming died in 1815 at the age of 96. Pittsfield was incorporated in 1761. Royal Governor Sir Francis Bernard named Pittsfield after British nobleman and politician William Pitt . By 1761 there were 200 residents and the plantation became the Township of Pittsfield. By the end of the Revolutionary War , Pittsfield had grown to nearly 2,000 residents, including Colonel John Brown, who in 1776 began accusing Benedict Arnold of being
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