Discover Cranstons Sporting Past: Exploring the History of Sports and Culture in Rhode Island

Cranston, RI is a city teeming with history and culture. From its industrial roots to its diverse communities, Cranston has always been a vibrant place full of resilient people. One interesting aspect of the citys past is its rich sporting history. Visitors can explore this heritage by visiting various locations throughout Cranston.

Start your journey at the Sprague Mansion (1351 Cranston St., Cranston, RI 02920), home of former Governor William Sprague IV. The mansion was once used as a clubhouse for one of Americas oldest polo clubs Narragansett Park Polo Club where governors and other members played on wellmaintained grounds until it closed down in 1986.

Next up, head over to the site where cycling history was made Narragansett Trotting Park (Washington Road between Rutland Street & Waverly Street). The worldfamous track saw numerous records broken from 18971953 when it hosted horse racing competitions every summer weekend. Since then it has become defunct but still spoke volumes about gamblers obsession with trotters back in those days.

The last stop should be City Hall Annex (1450 Elmwood Ave., Building #2 , Cranston, RI 02910). It holds special significance because right across that big old building known as Twinkle Town stood an iconic baseball field Athletic Field or Twinkletown Grounds which had previously served as both a tennis court and soccer field before being transformed into beloved local baseball spot around early 1900s . Notable players who graced this hallowed ground include famous American Baseball player Babe Ruth during his barnstorming tours through New England during prohibition era .

Overall these three sites capture different aspects of sports heritage that reflect key parts of life for residents from Cranstons past. From polo to horse racing and baseball, Cranston has a rich sporting history that is just waiting to be explored.

Websites:

https://cranstonhistoricalsociety.org

http://www.cranstonri.com

Democratic Mayor Kenneth J Hopkins @CranstonRI

Twitter handles for local sports clubs:

Narragansett Park Polo Club: @NPoloClub

Babe Ruth Baseball League of Rhode Island: @RIBabeRuth