A baseball life for Casey

There are many towns or cities in the state of Massachusetts that claim to be "baseball towns," but Milford is surely at or near the top of the list.

If you’ve ever spent a summer night at Fino Field, there is a minor league ballpark feel to it that is almost indescribable. One Milford man, in particular, has been the epitome of a "baseball guy" for years now, ever since he grew up playing the game in Jamaica Plain.

This past January, before the world came to a standstill, Tufts University baseball coach and longtime Milford resident John Casey was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Casey, who will be entering his 38th year at the helm of his alma mater’s baseball program in 2021, was lucky enough to have the ceremony happen before the pandemic hit. The 76th annual ABCA Convention and Hall of Fame induction took place on January 3 in Nashville, Tenn.

Casey serves on the ABCA Board of Directors, and he admits he had an idea about the honor when he and legendary Vanderbilt University coach Tim Corbin were asked to leave the room during a meeting.

"It was interesting, because Timmy Corbin and I sit next to each other since seating goes alphabetically," Casey explained in a recent phone interview. "The Hall of Fame voting committee asked us to leave the room, and we sort of had an idea of what was happening. So, we both went out and stood in the hall, and I told Tim, I said, ‘I can’t believe my coattails are that big to get you in as well.’ But he’s won national championships, he’s done a lot. He’s a friend and a wonderful coach.

"What was awesome was, when I got (to the ceremony), there was probably about 75 people there, mostly former players, so that was really special."

Casey had gotten the good news about two months after taking the Jumbos program on quite a special trip, again highlighting just how quickly circumstances can change in a matter of weeks.

"We actually took our team to the Dominican Republic over Thanksgiving," said Casey, himself a 1980 Tufts grad after he played both football and baseball for the Jumbos. "We played there and it was probably one of the greatest experiences we ever had. We were in villages painting houses, just helping people, and it was an awesome trip. Then in January, we had the ABCA convention, and then literally two weeks later I was in Switzerland doing a clinic. So, 2020 couldn’t have been better, and then all of a sudden we got our legs cut out on March 14th when they said ‘That’s it, go home.’

"Maybe (the year) was going too good and we had to balance it off."

Despite the abrupt halt to what was turning into an incredible year for Casey, it’s impossible to ignore what he’s done for the game of baseball in this area. As a Milford resident, Casey and his family have been integral pieces in not only growing the game in the region, but helping make Milford the classic baseball town that it is. Milford Post 59 Legion manager and Milford High School softball coach Steve DiVitto has been close with the family for as long as he can remember.

"Coach Casey has always been a staple in the baseball landscape in New England," DiVitto said via email recently. "Growing up in Milford and being great friends with coach Casey’s son Brian (a 2003 Milford High and 2007 Tufts alum who is the current associate head coach at William & Mary), I have a firsthand look into the Tufts program. Heading to Medford, it was a thrill to be around a super program when I was a young kid. The structure, communication and drive was a major attraction for me as an individual as a young kid. Indirectly, this helped to form my philosophies as a coach to this day."

Brian, the oldest of John and Diane’s four boys, along with Casey’s other sons Kevin, Brendan and Chris, have all gone on to become players and coaches at different levels, as the reach of the Casey family continues to grow both here in New England and nationwide. Kevin Casey, a 2005 Milford High and 2009 Tufts alum, is entering his third year as the head baseball coach at Johnson & Wales after stints as an assistant at Daniel Webster, Tufts and Northeastern. Brendan Casey, a 2009 Milford and 2013 Azusa Pacific alum, is an assistant on his father’s Jumbos staff after he spent two years as an assistant at his California alma mater. And Chris Casey, a 2012 Milford and 2016 Western New England alum, was an assistant coach at Roger Williams before his current post with the Northeast Longhorns AAU club.

"The program has been so successful because of Coach Casey‘s leadership and drive to make Tufts not just a top program in New England, but a top program in the country," DiVitto added. "His induction to the Hall of Fame is extremely well deserved, and I couldn’t be happier for him."

Casey has coached hundreds of players and had a few even sign on to play professionally, but perhaps one of his most well-known pupils is 98.5 The Sports Hub host Tony Massarotti, a 1989 Tufts grad. Casey reflected fondly of his time coaching "Mazz" as a second baseman and utility infielder, one of the many players who helped Casey get to where he is today.

"I always tell people Mazz was one of those guys who just made people around him better," Casey said. "I don’t think he was the greatest player in the world, but he was an awesome teammate. Other guys might be dragging and he’d pick them up. Or, he just hustled and always had a smile on his face. We do a ‘First Pitch’ reception at Fenway and Mazz emcees it for us.

"He’s just a really good guy. I always give him a hard time because his older sister went to Tufts, too, and I tell him if you were just as good of an athlete as her you would’ve been an elite player. He’s a great supporter of the program though and it’s greatly appreciated."

Casey will call many of his former players good guys, but more importantly the feeling is mutual for so many who have come in contact with Casey and his baseball family over the years. His induction into the ABCA Hall of Fame is proof of just how valuable a role Casey has played in growing the game at Tufts, in Milford and well beyond.