Cotuit Kettleers History
The Cotuit Athletic Association was organized in 1947, primarily as a sponsor for the Cotuit Kettleers baseball team. The Cotuit Athletic Association was chartered in Massachusetts as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in 1963, and has grown tremendously in its scope since that time. Cotuit Athletic Association members fully maintain the Lowell Park baseball facility (field maintenance and capital improvements), find housing and jobs for the team members and coaches, provide uniforms and baseball equipment for a 44-game schedule, and operate baseball/softball clinics for youngsters. The Cotuit Athletic Association gives college scholarships to local residents, awards high school MVP trophies in both boys and girls baseball and hockey programs, donates baseball clinic camperships, and sponsors seven baseball/softball teams in local community recreation departments.
The Cotuit Kettleers were selected by the Cape Cod Baseball League as the first recipient of its Franchise of the Year Award in 1990 and in 2000 was named the Best Amateur College Program of the Decade by Baseball America. In 2006, the Cotuit Kettleers received the prestigious Commissioner’s Cup as the CCBL Team of the Year. The Cotuit Kettleers have won a record 15 Cape Cod Baseball League championships. The officers, directors, and members of the Cotuit Athletic Association devote their time and energies as volunteers, working year-round to raise funds and organize activities which provide the enjoyment of baseball games in the community every year.
The Cotuit Athletic Association, a non-profit corporation, depends entirely on private donations for its support of the Cotuit Kettleers baseball team, community youth programs, and maintaining Lowell Park. In fact, Lowell Park is presently the only Cape Cod Baseball League playing field and Town of Barnstable field maintained by private funds. Raising money for field maintenance and capital improvements is a year-round, non-stop effort for our volunteers. Accumulation of capital resources for these expensive capital projects is a very slow process.
Origin of Cotuit Kettleers Name
More than 300 years ago, according to legend, the Indians bartered with the early settlers for the land on which the villages of Cotuit and Santuit now stand. The terms of the sale were a brass kettle with a hoe thrown in for good measure. Thus, the Cotuit baseball team’s nickname, KETTLEERS, was derived from that early real estate transaction. The story is told that Ed Semprini, former Sports Editor of the CAPE COD STANDARD TIMES, coined the Kettleers’ name in his coverage of the Cape Cod League games.