Red Sox legends, city officials help welcome WooSox to Worcester

Red Sox legends gathered on Monday to help celebrate the new home of the team's Triple-A squad in Worcester.

City officials and baseball royalty were in attendance to help ring in the WooSox and their new city, with a new stadium and other developments in the works to revitalize Worcester's Kelly Square and improve traffic.

"We love you, Worcester!" former Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez said. "Thank you for giving me the chance to be here!"

Martinez threw out the ceremonial first pitch on Monday, right into the glove of former Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman, who is now the hitting coach for the PawSox and is also a Worcester native.

"It's actually the first time I got to catch a pitch from Pedro," Gedman said . "He has some pretty good control, so it wasn't bad."

PawSox chairman Larry Lucchino called the deal a win-win for the Red Sox, the city and the fans.

"Come back in five to 10 years, and see if we have succeeded and the city of Worcester has succeeded," Lucchino said.

>>RELATED: Worcester city council approves loan deal for WooSox, stadium

Local and state officials in Rhode Island had fought to keep McCoy in Pawtucket.

Built in 1942, their stadium has seen a dwindling attendance over the years, and it took many meetings and negotiations between baseball and city officials to settle on the new home in Worcester.

"I can honestly say this moment right now is my proudest as city manager," Ed Augustus said.

The move provides bittersweet feelings, but Red Sox greats are celebrating.

"Time marches on and you have to stay up with it," Steve Lyons said. "And I think the excitement of coming to Worcester is an amazing thing.

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