Holly Camero
Brendan Grant loved playing baseball and had a knack for batting and hitting home runs, said his father, Casey Grant.
As a student at Belmont High School, Brendan played varsity football and served as captain of the Marauder wrestling and baseball teams in his senior year (1999 to 2000). In the spring of 2001, he was a first-year starter for the Yellow Jacket baseball team at American International College in Springfield.
During a summer league baseball game at the Belmont High School field on June 27, 2001, Brendan collided with a teammate, and on June 28, 2001, he died from his injuries. He was 18.
Having captured the hearts of his teammates, they rallied and, in 2007, completed the Brendan Grant Memorial Field using donations—including one from the Boston Red Sox—and fundraising efforts from the Brendan Grant Foundation.
“He had such a presence among his teammates, everyone felt as though something needed to be done to do something in his honor subsequent to such a tragic occurrence,” said Kathy Synnott, foundation board member.
Community members showed up in force to dig ditches, build dugouts, and do whatever was necessary to build the field.
“[Brendan] was my best friend, and he was my hero,” said Casey. “And the effort that we put in speaks to that.”
Fast-forward to 2024: The field was moved to make way for a new Belmont Middle and High School, and the rebuilt Brendan Grant Memorial Field will be re-dedicated on Saturday, May 11.
“Here we are two decades plus later, and there’s still a lot of people who are saluting all the good work that has been done,” Casey said.
The re-dedication ceremony will include a Fun Run, kids’ games, refreshments, and a baseball game between Belmont and Arlington high schools.
An inspiration for future generations
Jim Brown, head varsity baseball coach at Belmont High School, didn’t know Brendan personally. Still, he makes it a point that his players know of him.
“We talk about being appreciative that we are playing a game that we love, and someone lost their life playing a game [they loved],” he said.
He emphasizes the qualities Brendan embraced, too.
“It’s not about hitting and throwing and catching,” Brown tells his players. “It’s more about being a team player and representing [the team] on and off the field.”
As a further reminder, the letters BG are monogrammed on the team’s baseball hats every year.
Brendan played in a summer league with Synnott’s son and always led by example, she said.
“Despite his obvious gifts, he worked as hard, if not harder, than his teammates to get the desired result,” Synnott said.
Synnott is looking forward to celebrating the field again and sharing Brendan’s story.
Foundation Formed to Honor Cherished Son
The Brendan Grant Foundation is a charitable, nonprofit organization created in 2001 by Casey Grant to honor his son and serve the Belmont community and its youth by providing scholarships and being involved in charitable causes.
“People ask how many children I have – I have three – two daughters and a son,” Casey said. “Two on this side, one on that side. Brendan, he was just a great individual – a wonderful son, family member, friend, and we miss him.”
According to Synott, who has been with the foundation from the start, the foundation’s first major effort was the baseball field, which cost around $1 million to build.
The first scholarship in Brendan’s name was awarded in 2002 to Scott Masse, a graduating senior who embodied Brendan’s qualities. The scholarship program has been expanded to include eligible graduating seniors who have been a member of the baseball, softball, or wrestling teams. In 2021, a fourth scholarship was added to honor Masse, who died in 2020.
The foundation also maintains the baseball and softball fields around town and will do whatever is needed to “benefit the kids in town,” Synnott said.
More about the Brendan Grant Memorial Field rededication ceremony
WHERE: Belmont High School, 221 Concord Ave., Belmont
WHEN: 9 a.m., Saturday, May 11
SCHEDULE: 9 to 9:30 a.m.: Fun Run for Little League players
9:30 to 10:30 a.m.: Kids games, including wiffleball and “How Fast Can You Throw?” (radar gun will check speed)
10:35 a.m.: Belmont fire and police color guard; Casey Grant, Brendan’s father, will speak
10:55 a.m.: Ceremonial first pitch and National Anthem, sung by Al Gledhill
11 a.m.: Baseball game kicks off – Belmont High School vs. Arlington High School
DETAILS: Refreshments are available at no charge
INFO: brendangrant.org
