Meet Clara: The newest member of the WooSox mascot family

WORCESTER ― WooSox fans will soon see a new "face" on the field. The team introduced its newest mascot — Clara, the Heart of the Commonwealth — this week, ahead of a six-game home series with the Norfolk Tides.

Clara, a heart-shaped mascot wearing a nurse's uniform, is named for Clara Barton, an Oxford native who founded the American Red Cross in 1881. Barton was a nurse and a teacher who worked as a medic on the front lines during the Civil War.

“Having the Heart of the Commonwealth fits in the theme of a ballpark that looks and feels and smells and tastes like Worcester,” WooSox president Dr. Charles Steinberg said.

On Tuesday, the new mascot took a tour around Worcester.

First, she visited Gates Lane School in Main South to honor local teachers. Her second stop was Assumption University's School of Nursing to recognize local nurses, followed by a visit to Veterans Inc. to recognize and meet a group of local veterans.

To honor her namesake, Clara also stopped by the local chapter of the American Red Cross, as well as the Clara Barton Birthplace Museum and Camp in Oxford.

Clara will make her first public appearance at Polar Park on Saturday during "Oxford Day." She joins other WooSox mascots: Smiley Ball, Woofster and Roberto the Rocket.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Meet Clara: The newest member of the WooSox Mascot Family