Lynn's Fraser Field was built in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. The 73-year old field has a long and colorful history including hosting the 1940’s Lynn Red Sox, the farm club of owner Tom Yawkey’s Boston Red Sox. Other former tenants of the grand old park include the Lynn Tigers, Lynn Sailors, Lynn Pirates, Massachusetts Mad Dogs and North Shore Spirit.
The infield of historic Fraser Field is field turf while the outfield is natural grass. In late 2013, the existing artificial turf is scheduled to be replaced, and the new material will also include turfing all infield dirt areas except the mound.
Currently Fraser Field is home of the North Shore Navigators of the New England Futures League, which is a college level wood bat league (similar to the Cape Cod League.) The Navigators began play in 2008 and captured the championship of the New England College Baseball League in 2010.
Fraser Field is also home to the five Lynn High School Varsity Baseball teams: Lynn Classical, Lynn English, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, St. Mary’s and KIPP Academy.
The Fisher College Falcons of Boston, under the direction of Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach Scott Dulin, also call Fraser field home.
In 2011, Fraser Field hosted the MIAA State Baseball Championships. Annually, Fraser hosts many state tournament games, as well as the Agganis Classic, the Massachusetts High School Coaches All Star Game and the Lynn Invitational.
In 2012, under new ownership by Salvi Sports Group and General Manager Bill Terlecky, the Navigators switched to the Futures League, reaching playoffs in their first season of competition in that circuit.
The 2013 Navigators will be managed by Peabody native Jon Cahill and the roster will include Lynn’s Kyle Devin and Saugus’ Riley McEachern. Front office staff includes Lynn’s Joe Gill and Ashley Laramie. Fraser Field is located next to the former Manning Bowl, which was razed and replaced with the new Manning Field in 2008.
Manning Field
Manning Field was constructed after the demolition of the former Manning Bowl in 2004. The new field was formally dedicated on September 8, 2008 and, as with the old Manning Bowl, continues to be the home of the Lynn High Schools football and soccer teams as well as youth and adult football and soccer leagues.
The new facility was built in two phases, with the new field, track and lighting completed in 2006, and the building, stands, press box and parking lot completed in 2008. Play began in October 2006 with temporary stands. In 2012, the facility hosted over 600 games, meets and events between mid-March and the end of November.
East Lynn Pop Warner, West Lynn Pop Warner and the Lynn Chargers Youth Football share the facility on fall weekends involving 1,000 youth football players and cheerleaders. The 2012 East Lynn A and C squad cheerleaders captured the National Championship in Orlando, Florida.
Each fall, the MIAA Soccer and Football Playoffs are contested at Manning Field. All North Final Soccer games and a portion of the EMASS Final Soccer Games are played there annually.
For the last five years, Manning has hosted an EMASS Football Playoff Doubleheader on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. In 2011, Lynn English played Everett and in 2012 St. Mary’s defeated Shawsheen Tech. In 2011, the facility also hosted 2 MIAA Super Bowls.
Drum & Bugle Corp shows returned to Manning Field in 2010 and are now an annual summer event with both the Beanpot Classic and the Mission of Drums.
Manning Field is also home to the North Shore Generals Semipro Football team, as well as youth flag football, adult soccer, junior high and youth track and various sport clinics.
According to the Boston Herald, December 9, 2012: "Thank heavens for places such as Lynn’s Manning Field, whose caretakers actually take delight in hosting games and making it a great experience for all parties. As to not alienate other host venues, I just use Manning as an example because I was there and have personally seen the fine hospitality on display.”
More Manning Field History
Manning Bowl was the former football and soccer stadium of Lynn before its demolition in 2004 and reconstruction of the new Manning Field in 2008. Manning Bowl served as a home stadium for the Boston Yanks of the National Football League from 1944 to 1948, the Boston Rovers of the United Soccer Association in 1967, and the Bay State Titans of the Minor League Football System in 1990.
From 1966 to 1982, The Manning Bowl was home to Drum & Bugle Corps World Open Championship and drew large crowds. In 2003, wedding bells ring inside Manning Bowl 'chapel' as two drum and bugle band members, Sara Farnham and Mike Corrigham, get married prior to East Coast Drum and Bugle Classic. The City of Lynn is excited to be hosting The 2010 Beanpot Invitational Tournament of Drums in Manning Field.
The Manning Bowl opened on November 24, 1937 for the annual Thanksgiving Day football game between English and Classical. The stadium was not yet completed and was known only as Municipal Stadium. English defeated Classical 13-6 and Henry Pazik (father of future Major League pitcher Mike Pazik) scored the first touchdown in the stadium's history on a 33-yard pass play from
Joe McNulty.
The stadium was completed on June 21, 1938 and named for Mayor J. Fred Manning. The first football game held in the completed stadium was a night game between Peabody High School and Classical with Peabody winning 27-7.
In 1948, the city of Lynn became the first to televise high school football due to an arrangement with WNAC-TV in Boston.
The Harry Agganis All-Star Football Classic was played at the Manning Bowl from 1956–1959 and again from 1965-2003.
The final game played in the Manning Bowl was on November 25, 2004 and was the annual Thanksgiving Day game between English and Classical. English won the game 28-8. The final touchdown in Manning Bowl history was scored by Mike Orfanos on a 2-yard run.
Some notable concerts include; The Rolling Stones in 1966, Ray Charles in 1976, Mötley Crüe and Aerosmith in 1985
The first official event was a city-wide dance held on a specially made dance area in the end zone. This area was also used to show night time movies during the 1930s and 40s. The Manning Bowl hosted memorials following the deaths of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.
Some notable high school football athletes who played at Manning Bowl include;
| Bill Adams | Offensive Lineman | Swampscott High |
| Harry Agganis | Kicker/Halfback | Lynn Classical |
| Mark Bavaro | Tight End | Danvers High |
| Matt Bloom | Offensive Line | Peabody High |
| Billy Conigliaro | Running Back | Swampscott High |
| Tony Conigliaro | Quarterback | St. Mary's High |
| Boley Dancewicz | Quarterback | Lynn Classical |
| Joe DiVito | Quarterback | St. Mary's High |
| Richard Fecteau | Lineman | Lynn Classical |
| Jim Hegan | Lynn English | |
| Dick Jauron | Safety | Swampscott High |
| Greg Landry | Quarterback | Lynn English |
| Steve Lomasney | Quarterback | Peabody High |
| Mike Lynch | Kicker/Quarterback | Swampscott High |
| Doug Mackie | Offensive Line | Saugus High |
| Mike Pazik | Quarterback | Lynn English |
| Mitch Smiarowski | Quarterback | Lynn Classical |
| Art Spinney | Guard | Saugus High |
| Lou Tsioropoulos | Kicker/Tight/Defensive End |
Download the Manning Field Dedication Brochure containing some interesting historical facts and photos of this important piece of Lynn's history. Click here for the Acrobat (PDF) file.