Public invited to Mudville Base Ball Club game & following procession to install site

“He’s been cremated,” says Robert “Bobby” Blair.

“He” was the second “Casey at the Bat” wooden statue, located on school street, that had been created by Medway chainsaw artist Jesse Green back in 2011, but the 15-year-old carved homage to the Ernest Lawrence Thayer poem had suffered the toll of time and weather, finally falling into wooden decay this past winter.

“All the Mayor’s horses and all the Mayor’s men couldn’t put Casey back together again,” says Blair, affectionately known in town as “The Mayor of Mudville” for his civic involvement and for whom Blair Square is named.

The very first “Casey at the Bat” statue on School Street had been created by Russell Ehart, says Blair, adding he traveled to upstate New York to pick up the sculpture.

“I donated that to Casey’s (Pub), where I saw him the other day,” say Blair.

The new sculpture is being carved by Evergreen Carvings in North Scituate, RI, and he’ll be installed in fitting style.

On May 16, 2026, the Mudville Base Ball Club will be playing a vintage style game in celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary against The Lisbon Tunnelmen at Goodwill Park from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Residents are invited to the game as well as to a procession from the park to 57 School Street for the unveiling of Casey at the Bat #3.

“We’re going to form up a procession of both ball teams,” says Blair, adding he’s confirmed a fire truck will take part, as well as the new “Queen of Mudville,” Meghan Robshaw, and the first “Queen of Mudville,” Nancy Karis, taking part. At the statue site, town historian Joanne Halpert will read “Casey at the Bat,” and community members will have a singalong of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Blair has also invited State Rep. James Arena DeRosa, however he had yet to confirm at press time.

The event is one the events planned as “Holliston Celebrates America 250: A series of local events celebrating the 250th signing of the Declaration of Independence.” Blair took the reins of the project, and the replacement of the statue and Mudville Base Ball Club game became a natural first event. The event is sponsored by the Town of Holliston, Holliston Newcomers & Neighbors, Celebrate Holliston, and Ahronian Landscaping.

Later, on June 27th, ukulele ensemble The Unlikely Strummers, (https://unlikelystrummers.weebly.com/about-us.html) , will perform from 6-8 p.m. Then, on July 4th, says Blair, “We have a reading of the declaration of independence at Town Hall at 11 a.m. and Chris Cain, who’s another “Mudvian, will be the MC,” dressed in colonial garb. Different individuals of note in Holliston will be asked to read one of 13 parts of the declaration, explains Blair, and for that day, Mt. Hollis Lodge agreed to put on their pancake breakfast from 8-11 a.m.

Holliston’s celebration of the nations’ 250th will culminate with a concert by the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra on the evening of August 15th. Local Town Pages will print more details on the concert as that date approaches.