World Series MVP Steve Pearce has family ties to Rehoboth

REHOBOTH, Mass. — His big bat is creating a lot of buzz in one small Massachusetts town.

World Series MVP Steve Pearce grew up in Florida, but his father is from Rehoboth.

And that community is embracing the World Series champ as one of their own.

"We’re proud of that connection, whatever connection we have, we’ll take it," said Henry Hayes, who grew up across the street from Pearce's father.

Steve Pearce Sr. lived in a historic home on Homestead Avenue. Hayes said his house "is one of the oldest houses in Rehoboth, if not the oldest in Rehoboth, and that’s where the parents grew up."

The Pearce family eventually moved to Florida. That's where the Red Sox slugger was born and raised.

But Pearce's roots run deep back in Rehoboth.

"That is a rare chance for that to happen for a small town like Rehoboth. I would never have expected it," said town resident Ken Romanowiz.

Even though the World Series MVP never actually lived here, many in Rehoboth said they're getting a big kick that their small town is getting a lot of notoriety because of the connection.

Rehoboth resident Erin Scialdone said Pearce's name is "all you hear" around town.

"Everyone (is) trying to figure out who he is, who his parents are, if they’re still around here and stuff, so yeah, he’s definitely the big buzz around here," she said.

Cox Media Group