Local Historian Documents Savin Rock's Sports History Through Debut Book
- NYSS Admin
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Dominic Konareski has long been a familiar and respected name in Connecticut’s local sports circles, and to kick off 2026 he added a new title to his résumé: Published Author.
Konareski, a local sports historian and sports journalist, has released his first-ever book, Gloves, Engines & Glory: The Complete History of Savin Rock’s Golden Age of Sports.
This deeply researched work captures nearly a century of athletic life along West Haven’s famed shoreline.
For years, Konareski has built a reputation as one of the region’s most passionate storytellers of sports history. As the founder and host of New York Sports Show, he has cultivated a loyal audience of over 66,500 by blending modern sports commentary with an appreciation for the past. That same approach—where history is treated as something alive, personal, and worth preserving drives his debut book.
In Gloves, Engines & Glory, Konareski turns his attention homeward, chronicling Savin Rock not just as an amusement destination, but as a true sporting hub that shaped generations of athletes and fans.
The book begins in the 1870s, when organized baseball first took hold in the area. Konareski traces back “The Rock” to the Cameron and Weiss eras, along with showcasing early games.
Through rare photographs, and contemporary newspaper reports, Konareski reconstructs a time when baseball’s biggest stars and roaring car engines sat just steps away from the shoreline.
Konareski, 21, told the New York Sports Show that the idea to author a book specifically on Savin Rock came when he realized that there was very little detail on the area sports wise while working on an article about White City Stadium.
“It amazes me just how little is findable about one of West Haven’s biggest attractions, I truly cannot believe just how many residents, both young and elderly, know so little about the area they live in," said the 21-year-old author.
Although a book was not first in mind for him.
"It all started as an article that was supposed to be on newyorksportsshow.com, but then I was about 20 pages into a Google Doc and realized it needed to be something bigger, which is why I decided to look into book publishing."
Konareski created the New York Sports Show in 2018 at the age of 13, since then he has had the company sponsor over 50 stock cars across numerous divisions and states. Since 2018, the West Haven native has covered local high school sports, along with showcasing local sports history through YouTube videos and articles.
As the timeline moves forward, Gloves, Engines & Glory expands beyond baseball. One of the book’s central pillars is West Haven Speedway, which was also known as Donovan Field—a venue that became synonymous with midget car racing and high-octane excitement.
Konareski documents the Speedway’s rise, its role in the Northeast racing scene, and the larger-than-life personalities who competed there.
The narrative culminates with the Speedway’s demolition in 1967, a moment that symbolized the end of Savin Rock’s golden sporting era and a shift in West Haven as a whole. Rather than treating this as a simple ending, Konareski frames it as a turning point—one that underscores the importance of remembering what once was.
His work preserves stories, athletes and teams that might otherwise be lost to time, ensuring that Savin Rock’s athletic legacy remains part of the community’s collective memory.
Konareski’s influence on local sports culture extends far beyond the pages of his book.
Gloves, Engines & Glory: The Complete History of Savin Rock’s Golden Age of Sports is available for purchase exclusively with Barnes & Noble.
For Konareski, the book represents more than a personal milestone—it is a tribute to the athletes, fans, and local history that helped define West Haven’s sporting identity. In preserving Savin Rock’s legacy, Dominic Konareski continues to solidify his role as one of the region’s most influential voices in sports history.
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