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Eddie's Memorial plaque on the Franklin Town Common.
Photo Credit: Franklin Observer
Eddie Grant Kickball Tournament
If you’ve spent any time on the Franklin Town Common, you’ve surely noted the beautiful Franklin Veterans Memorial Walkway. Surrounding the brick pathway are 45 granite posts with the names and ages of local fallen heroes who lost their lives in service. What sticks out are the ages: 22, 20, 19, etc. It is a humbling reminder of the Franklin men who gave their lives before reaching fatherhood.
One of the ages on the plaques, however, sticks out for the opposite reason. Capt. Edward L. Grant was 35 years old when he gave that last measure of devotion to his country.
Eddie Grant was a Franklin native who brought fame and pride to his hometown through his prowess in baseball during the early part of the 20th century.
After graduating from Franklin High School and later Dean Academy, he enrolled at Harvard to study law, joining the team’s baseball club. “Harvard Eddie,” as he was nicknamed, was known for his consistent play on the field and in the batter’s box, as well as his smarts on and off the diamond.
Baseball card circa 1911.
During the summers and after graduation, Eddie spent time playing professionally for the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Giants. He even played in two World Series games before retiring from baseball to open a law practice in 1915.
When the United States was thrust into World War I two years later, Eddie was one of the first men to enlist, rising to the rank of captain within the U.S. Army’s 77th Division.
Eddie was sent to France and entered into one of the deadliest conflicts of the war, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, pinning Allied troops against the advancing Germans. While leading his men in search of a group of pinned down comrades, Eddie was killed in action on October 5, 1918.
Eddie represented the best of Franklin, answering the call for his country at a time when many men of his age were content watching from the bleachers. The baseball field at Dean is named in his honor, and every fall on October 5th, members of Edward L. Grant American Legion Post 75 and residents gather on the Town Common to lay a wreath in his honor.
Photo Credit: Society for American Baseball Research
Franklin Fathers was proud to host the inaugural Eddie Grant Kickball Tournament in June 2026.
Eight teams of players of all ages came together at Beaver Pond to play through a double-elimination tournament in support of two great Franklin causes: American Legion Post 75 and the Franklin Food Pantry.
Even more than the thousands of dollars raised, we were proud to raise up the name of legacy of this Franklin hero, and we hope to continue this new tradition each summer.
We have begun outreach for sponsorships for 2027's tournament. If you or your organization is interested in sponsoring our event, please reach out via email below:
