Westfield Starfires (Futures League) @ Billy Bullens Field (Westfield, MA)
A modern anomaly for the Futures League
SUMMER OF BASEBALL 2023: STOP 2
I realize I've never spoken about why the Futures League exists when the NECBL is a thing, but a big part of its existence is two groups trying to set up NECBL clubs but being denied (the Futures League started up in 2011). While the Futures League is, more or less, a "standard" summer baseball league, many of its teams play in stadiums much more "built" than NECBL teams as many Futures League stadiums are former minor and independent league stadiums, but there are some exceptions to that - including today's team.
The Westfield Starfires were added to the Futures League in 2019 after another team (who will be talked about later) moved to the NECBL (similar to Bristol). As the newest member of the league with no Minor and/or Independent League ties, there's not that much to say about their history, but that's also because they've only been to the league's championship series one time - which they lost.
As alluded to earlier, Billy Bullens Field is a bit of an anomaly in the Futures League (though it’s similar to the aforementioned team to be named later). Instead of being a former minor league/indie stadium, it’s basically a more built-up community ballpark (similar to, once again, Bristol). In that sense, the atmosphere is quite different from your average Futures League game: it’s more similar to a higher level NECBL field (or the Wilmington Sharks) than a regular Futures League game.
There is a rather large grandstand with plastic seat backs, but you could just as easily sit on the concrete of it (partially as some parts do not have the plastic seats). In my visits here, I’ve never really explored what’s on the first base line: the gate is on the third base side, and concessions and merch are right next to it heading towards the left field foul pole, so there's really no reason to go past the grandstand.
I will note, however, that this is the stadium where I learned the magic of putting barbecue sauce on plain mac and cheese, so there’s that...
MERCH
It’s hard to miss the merchandise tent, as it’s basically right after you walk in. While most of it isn't super "out of the ordinary", Bullens Field has apparently seen a lot of crazy and interesting things happen during games, as the Starfires use the term "Bullens Magic" quite a bit (to the point that it's all over their merch).
I’ll be honest: I think Westfield has my favorite hat in the Futures League; there’s something about the colors and logo that appeal a lot to me. Having said that, however...they didn’t have any hats I was interested in the first time I came here. I was able to get a hat the second time, however, and I actually got jerseys both times.
ON DECK
The non-Cape League team I've seen the most - in the Heart of New England.