Guv Fuller Field - Falmouth Commodores
- Paul Baker
- Jun 23
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 26
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Guv Fuller Field
790 Main St
Falmouth, MA 02540
Year Opened: 1964
Capacity: 8,000
Easy Like a Sunday Morning
Organized baseball has been played in the town of Falmouth since before the Civil War. The first report of an organized game in town was reported by the Barnstable Patriot in 1857. Teams representing towns across Cape Cod played against each other throughout the late 19th and early 20th century. Central Park Field, located just steps from the ocean in Falmouth Heights, served as the home of the Falmouth teams until the 1960s. The official “Cape League” began play in 1923. Leagues came and went over the following decades, undergoing numerous forms and with numerous teams representing towns until 1963, when the NCAA officially sanctioned the league.
In 1964 the Commodores moved from the waterfront to a new home at Guv Fuller Field, located in downtown Falmouth. Guv Fuller Field was constructed in the 1930s in conjunction with the Work Projects Administration. The field was dedicated in 1952 in honor of Elmer E. “Guv” Fuller, longtime coach and athletic director at Falmouth’s Lawrence High School. Fuller’s nickname referenced 1920s Massachusetts Governor and Falmouth native Alvin Fuller, who remained a figure in Falmouth High School athletics until his retirement.
In 2004 the baseball diamond was named in honor of Arnie Allen, who began his association with the Commodores at the age of seven as a bat boy. Allen remained with the club for 46 years, serving mostly as the team’s equipment manager. He received the Cape League’s initial Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.
In the modern era of the Cape League, which is generally considered to have begun in 1963, the Commodores have won six titles. Their most recent title was won in 1980. Dozens of Major Leaguers have played in Falmouth over the years. Some of the more notable players to play in Falmouth include Baseball Hall of Famer Pie Traynor, Darin Erstad, Tino Martinez, Jeff Weaver and Adley Rutschman.
Food & Beverage 2
The Commodores operate a concession stand in the old football press box building far down the right field line. A decent menu is served here, with chicken tenders, hot dogs, empanadas, burgers and veggie burgers available. Fans can also grab some french fries, a fried dough, or an ice cream treat to enjoy during the game.
Cans of Coca-Cola products and water are available at the concession stand. You may be wondering, did he just say “cans” of water? Single-use plastic has been outlawed in the town of Falmouth, so cans it is at Fuller Field.
Fans are welcome to bring their own drinks and snacks to Cape League games. No alcoholic beverages are allowed.
Atmosphere 3
The atmosphere at Fuller Field is similar to most Cape League ballparks. Going to a Cape League game is a bit like stepping back in time. Absent is much of the noise and distraction present at so many ballparks today. The game on the field is the focus here. Music is only played between innings, and PA announcements during the game are limited to lineup details and the occasional sponsor announcement. A small scoreboard in left field shows basic game information. Fans looking for some Commodores swag will find a good assortment of gear in the team store behind home plate.
There are some features here at Fuller Field designed to entertain the more casual fan. There is a game area behind home plate featuring a cornhole setup and a fast pitch booth. There is a large video screen on the side of the press box building should you want to catch a replay or find yourself on the broadcast. Team staff roam the crowd selling 50/50 tickets.
On the Cape, more than just a cash prize is up for grabs. Several local sponsors put up prizes for the daily raffle. A mascot named Homer, a person dressed in a Commodores uniform with a giant baseball head, participates in the day’s festivities as well.
Neighborhood 5
The town of Falmouth has a year-round population of over 32,000 residents, making it the second-largest municipality on Cape Cod. Fuller Field is located just off of Main Street, tucked in behind the Police Station, Senior Center and Community Center. Downtown Falmouth is less than a mile from the ballpark.
Visitors to the area will definitely want to check out the walkable downtown, which is filled with restaurants, shops and hotels. Also located here is a statue of Katherine Lee Bates, the author and poet best known for writing “America the Beautiful.” Be aware that the area will be crowded (and pricey) during the height of the tourist season.
Falmouth Heights is another popular destination in town. In addition to the aforementioned Central Park Field, the town beach is located here, as well as the finish line of the popular Falmouth Road Race. Woods Hole, is located a 15-minute drive away. Ferries to Martha’s Vineyard arrive and depart here, and an aquarium, waterfront restaurant and shops attract summer visitors.
Beyond the town of Falmouth, Cape Cod is filled with popular destinations, world class eateries and first-rate beaches. There’s no wonder this is one of the more popular summer destinations on the east coast.
Fans 3
Going to a game in Falmouth can feel like crashing a private party. It seems like everyone here knows everyone else. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just the close-knit nature of games on the Cape. These games are community events, and many people here have been involved with the teams for most of their lives. With the tight geographic footprint of the league, it’s not unusual to see a good turnout from visiting fans as well. If you would like to avoid the larger crowds and busier traffic of the summer tourist season on Cape Cod, plan to visit earlier in the season, before the tourist crowds hit the area.
The Commodores generally land in the middle of the Cape League attendance rankings each season, drawing about 1,500 fans per game to Fuller Field. You’ll find a mix of locals, tourists, die hard baseball fans and families out to enjoy an affordable evening of entertainment.
Access 4
Fuller Field is located just off of Main Street near downtown Falmouth. Main Street, also known as Route 28, is the main drag that runs along the south coast of Cape Cod from the Bourne Bridge to the Orleans Rotary. The ball field is tucked in behind a municipal complex. The recently renovated parking lot here contains ample parking for the typical Commodores crowd. Visiting fans will find the rest rooms for the facility inside the Community Center. Plan ahead, it’s a bit of a hike from the bleachers.
Fans will enter Fuller Field in deep right field from behind the old football press box. The field is no longer used for football, but the football bleachers remain. The old wooden bleachers have been replaced with new aluminum bleachers. The old press box building is now the snack bar. Most fans will proceed towards the ball field, where both sides of the field contain bleachers and a berm.
Many will settle in on the home (first base) side of Fuller Field. The berms here are not as large as at other Cape League fields, and are not terraced, so if you bring your chairs you’ll be looking to sit at the top or the bottom of the hill. Netting runs past the bases on both sides of the field. Seats further down the lines are free from obstructions.
Return on Investment 5
There is no charge to attend a Commodores game. The team will happily accept a donation, in exchange for which they will give you a program, rosters, and Cape League Magazine. Parking is free in the parking lot adjacent to the Community and Senior Centers. If you purchase food at the concession stand, prices are affordable.
Extras 2
In 2024 a total of 415 Cape Cod League alumni played in the Major Leagues. This means that one out of every four players to play in the Majors spent a summer on the Cape. If you are going to a game here, you’re not seeing a few guys who might make it someday, you’re seeing an All-Star game every night of the summer.
Behind the football bleachers in right field is an informational display describing the migratory patterns of the osprey and Falmouth’s Osprey Project, which strives to create safe nesting areas for these birds that are such a symbol of the Cape. If you look around Fuller Field, you’ll see several Osprey nests atop the light poles surrounding the field.
Final Thoughts
While Guv Fuller Field is rarely mentioned as being one of the better fields in the circuit, it shares many features with the most popular ballparks. Fuller Field’s location in downtown Falmouth makes it a destination location in a league filled with them. With all ten teams located within an hour of each other, there is no need to choose just one field during a visit to Cape Cod. It’s entirely possible to visit them all in a short period of time.
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