The Arnold Mycock Building at Lowell Park (Photo by Joe Cavanaugh)
by Joe Cavanaugh
Kettleers Volunteer and Photographer
July 9, 2012
The Dedication Ceremony on YouTube
It takes a very special person to step onto the field at Lowell Park and upstage the beauty and elegance of perhaps the most lovely baseball field in America. In truth, there is only one person in the world who could accomplish such a feat. That person is Arnold Mycock, the legendary volunteer who is largely responsible for creating the magical baseball venue nestled at the corner of Lowell Avenue and Main Street in the village of Cotuit, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod.
On a glorious Sunday afternoon in early July, lovely Lowell Park played a distinctly secondary role. She was relegated to an unfamiliar back seat, when Cotuit Kettleers General Manager Emeritus, Arnold Mycock, took center stage on her emerald green grass so that hundreds of grateful Cotuit Kettleers fans could express their deep appreciation for Arnold’s 63 years of limitless, tireless, and most of all, humble, service and dedication to his beloved Cotuit Kettleers.
A large, and grateful, crowd packed the stands to publicly express their admiration to a special man who has given so much of himself to the community. Cotuit Athletic Association President, Paul Logan, chronicled Arnold’s unmatched resume of volunteer service and accomplishment in the most prestigious summer baseball league in the Nation. Logan noted that Arnold has done “everything imaginable” during his 63 years as a volunteer in the Cotuit Kettleers organization. He succinctly described Arnold as “a volunteer beyond belief.” Logan noted that, for many years, Arnold washed player uniforms, and even cleaned the bathrooms, when needed. These facts surprised nobody who has been fortunate enough to know Arnold Mycock, and to observe the many fruits of his efforts on behalf of the Kettleers.
Logan also recognized Arnold for his extensive contributions to the Cape Cod Baseball League, where Arnold served as the official scorer, scheduling director, Vice President, and Treasurer. Logan further recognized the integral role Arnold played in uniting the Upper and Lower Cape baseball leagues in 1963 to form what we all know today as the modern Cape Cod Baseball League.
The beautiful press box building at Lowell Park is, from July 8, 2012, forward, known officially as the “Arnold Mycock Building. (Photo by Joe Cavanaugh)
Cotuit Kettleers General Manager, Bruce Murphy, noted that for decades, Arnold mowed the grass at Lowell Park twice a week. Once again, not a surprise to anyone who has observed Arnold’s tireless efforts on behalf of the Kettleers during more than six decades of service. Murphy also praised Arnold for guiding the Kettleers to more than 700 wins, and bringing 12 Cape Cod Baseball League Championships home to Cotuit as the Kettleers’ General Manager from 1950 to 1994. Murphy observed that during Arnold’s 44 years as General Manager of the Cotuit Kettleers, 40 of his players went on to careers in Major League Baseball. Murphy thanked Arnold for his years of service, and observed the presence of many former Cotuit Kettleers players and General Managers who had returned to Lowell Park to celebrate Arnold’s amazing achievements on this special day of well-deserved recognition.
Kettleers Head Coach, Mike Roberts, expressed the heartfelt appreciation of the entire village of Cotuit, and called Arnold a “second father” to him. Roberts noted that Arnold always welcomed any person who came to the ballpark, and wanted to be part of the Kettleers organization, as family. Roberts specifically thanked Arnold for teaching him, by example, the meaning and importance of humility, self-motivation, caring for the community, and most of all, teamwork. On behalf of a grateful community, Roberts publicly informed Arnold that, “We definitely love you.”
Paul Logan formally announced that the beautiful press box building at Lowell Park is, from July 8, 2012, forward, known officially as the “Arnold Mycock Building.”
As a small show of appreciation from a grateful organization, the Cotuit Athletic Association presented Arnold with a Cotuit Kettleers team jersey bearing the only appropriate digit: Number 1. Arnold also received a baseball bat signed by the entire 2012 Cotuit Kettleers team. Arnold accepted the gifts, and the many words of gratitude, with his trademark humility and grace. In keeping with the man who has enriched the lives of so many with his warmth, humor, dedication, and humility, Arnold accepted the honor of having the Lowell Park press box officially bear his name on behalf of all Cotuit Kettleer volunteers, past, present and future. Arnold concluded by thanking the community, “…from the bottom of [his] heart.” And when Cotuit’s living legend, Arnold Mycock, finished making his brief comments, and stood on the field in his new Kettleers jersey, surrounded by his extended family, the magic and splendor of this special place suddenly snapped back into focus, and Lowell Park never looked so lovely.
From a deeply appreciative and admiring community: Thank you, to Arnold Mycock!