Advertisement. Advertise with us

Seward Bill OK’d

For Baseball To Be

NY Official Sport

Assembly, Governor Must Now Act

On CCS Fourth Graders’ Request

State Sen. Jim Seward

ALBANY – State Sen. Jim Seward’s bill designating baseball New York’s official state sport has passed the Senate, the Milford Republican’s office announced today.

“It is time that we formally recognize baseball as our official state sport,” Seward said.

“Baseball is known as our national pastime but the game has deep roots and a rich history here in New York State,” he continued.  “From the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in storied Cooperstown, to the Mets and Yankees – the pinnacles of Major League Baseball, to countless college, high school, and Little League teams, New York State is clearly the epicenter of baseball history and greatness. “

Seward’s legislation was crafted after receiving an appeal from Anne Reis’ fourth graders (now sixth graders) at Cooperstown Elementary School.

“While studying New York State government and state symbols, the students realized that we lack a state sport,” Reis said.  “They immediately decided that baseball would be the perfect fit to fill the void and set to work building a strong case to present to Senator Seward.  Learning that legislation based on their work is advancing at the state Capitol is extremely rewarding and exciting.”

New York State has previously designated an official gemstone (garnet), fossil (sea scorpion), shell (bay scallop), bush (lilac), salt water fish (striped bass), and reptile (snapping turtle), to name a few.

The bill makes sense to Baseball Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson, who called Cooperstown “the spiritual home of baseball, and the eternal home of our Hall of Famers,” visited by 17 million fans since 1939.

Companion legislation has been introduced in the state assembly by Assemblyman Bill Magee and referred to the Assembly Governmental Operations Committee.

 

Posted

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Related Articles

SCOLINOS: It’s All We Need To Know: Home Plate 17 Inches Wide

COLUMN VIEW FROM THE GAME It’s All We Need To Know: Home Plate 17 Inches Wide Editor’s Note:  Tim Mead, incoming Baseball Hall of Fame president, cited John Scolinos, baseball coach at his alma mater, Cal Poly Pomona, as a lifelong inspiration, particularly Scolinos’ famous speech “17 Inches.” Chris Sperry, who published sperrybaseballlife.com, heard Scolinos deliver a version in 1996 at the American Baseball Coaches Association in Nashville, and wrote this reminiscence in 1916 in his “Baseball Thoughts” column. By CHRIS SPERRY • from www.sperrybaseballlife.com In 1996, Coach Scolinos was 78 years old and five years retired from a college coaching…

Piper Seamon Scores 1,000th point

1,000 THANKS! Piper Seamon 5th CCS Girl To Hit High Mark The Cooperstown Central student section erupts as Piper Seamon scores her 1,000th career point in the Hawkeyes’ 57-39 win over Waterville at home last evening. Seamon becomes the fifth girl and only the 14th player in school history overall to score 1,000 points.  Inset at right, Pipershares a hug with teammate Meagan Schuermann after the game was stopped to acknowledge her achievement. Seamon will play basketball next year at Hamilton College. (Cheryl Clough/AllOTSEGO.com)  …

Sports Can Resume, Superintendents Told

CLICK HERE FOR MEMO TO SCHOOLS Sports Can Resume, Superintendents Told COOPERSTOWN – In a memo released Friday evening, county Public Health Director Heidi Bond advised local school superintendents that sports can resume as early as Monday. “Effective Feb. 1, participants in higher-risk sports may participate in individual or distanced group training and organized no/low-contact group training,” Bond wrote, “…including competitions and tournaments, if permitted by local health authorities.”…