Rivers Park baseball field re-dedicated in honor of Dan Dulchinos

Officials, residents, family and current and past baseball players gather to honor Coach Dan Dulchinos with the re-dedication of Dan Dulchinos Field at Rivers Park.
Reminder Publishing photos by Tyler Garnet

CHICOPEE — Officials, residents, family and current and past baseball players gathered in Chicopee on April 30 to re-dedicate the Rivers Park baseball field in honor of Dan Dulchinos, recognizing his impact on and off the diamond.

Dulchinos, who retired in 2012, served as the varsity baseball coach at Chicopee Comprehensive High School for 50 years, beginning in 1962, the same year the school opened. His teams won over 600 games, four Western Massachusetts titles and one state championship.

He was inducted into the Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, the Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame and the Chicopee Athletic Hall of Fame.

In addition to his legendary coaching career, Dulchinos served as a teacher, guidance counselor and athletic director at Chicopee Comprehensive High School

“My love is people,” Dulchinos stated. “I love to see people; I love to see them happy; I love to see them doing well; I love to see them successful. My philosophy when I was coaching, my number one job as a coach was to make these kids better people and then, in turn, teach them the game of baseball, teach them the skills needed to play the game, but also teach them the skills of life.”

Although he accomplished a lot on the field, many people at the event spoke about the legacy Dulchinos left beyond the baseball field, including Mayor John Vieau.

“The accomplishments are impressive, but that’s only part of the story,” Vieau said. “What truly sets Coach Dulchinos apart is the impact he’s had on young people. He showed what it’s meant to be committed not only to the sport but to this community.”

Vieau ended his speech by naming April 30 “Dan Dulchinos Day” in the city of Chicopee.

“The re-dedication is not just about the field. It’s about ensuring that every player who steps onto this diamond; they understand the legacy behind it,” Vieau said. “It’s about remembering the standard that Coach Dulchinos set and carrying it forward for generations to come.”

Chicopee Comp baseball coach Justin Franczek, who took over for Dulchino and is only the second baseball coach in Chicopee Comp baseball history, talked about Dulchinos’ sizable impact on the coach and the legacy he left beyond the final out.

“When you think about a great coach, you think about strategy, you think about knowledge of the game, you think about discipline, and Coach had all of that,” Franczek said. “What truly sets him apart as an incredible coach is who he was and who he still is as a person. Coach D didn’t just coach baseball players, he shaped people, and that’s what makes those wins and all those championships even more meaningful.”

Dulchino’s grandson, Ryan Kazeroid, also spoke on behalf of his family.

“You’ve inspired so many, and so many of those people are here today to honor you, even after you made them run laps or told them to shave,” Kazeroid said. “I’m sure everyone has a favorite story or memory of their time with [Dulchinos], but I think the greatest compliment to you is I bet most of those stories have nothing to do with baseball at all, but would have to do with life and love.”

Dulchinos explained that when people asked about a player who used to play for him, he first talked about them as a person before mentioning how they were as a ball player.

“It’s more important that you’re a person and how well you treat not only people on your own team, [but] on the opposing team too,” Dulchinos stated.

Dulchinos Field recently went through renovations, including new dugouts and fencing improvements, before the start of the baseball season. In 2021, the playing field was renovated during PARC improvements at Rivers Park, including a new playing surface and irrigation system.

The baseball field at Rivers Park was originally named in honor of Dulchinos in 1994. The re-dedication ceremony on April 30 took place 32 years to the day after the original naming of the field.

Chicopee Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Benjamin Strepka ended the ceremony by officially re-dedicating Dulchinos Field in honor of the coach.

“May his legacy continue to inspire and remind that every player who takes the field that becoming a great baseball player starts with being a good person,” Strepka concluded.

Dulchinos was gifted a framed Chicopee Comprehensive baseball jersey with his number of wins on it and the field’s home plate with the rededicated field name on it.