http://www.theboss.us is broadcasting all of the American Legion tournament games over the internet. It is WOHS
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Showing posts with label American Legion Baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American Legion Baseball. Show all posts
August 21, 2008
May 8, 2008
Bristol strikes out
City leaders struck out in their bid to bring the 2010 American Legion Baseball World Series to historic Muzzy Field.
Jim Quinlan, spokesman for the American Legion, said today that Bristol lost out to Spokane, Wash. in a close vote of the national committee.
That probably closes the door on Bristol's chances of ever hosting the annual event because rule changes have made it so that in the future, the tournament will be held in the city where the Legion's national convention is taking place.
The five-day event will be held at Spokane's Avista Stadium instead of in Bristol.
"Spokane will be an outstanding site for the series, based on its strong community support and excellent organizing committee," said American Legion National Americanism Commission Chairman Joseph E. Caouette Jr., according to a Legion press release.
"The city of Spokane will be an outstanding host," he said.
This is the first time Spokane has hosted the American Legion World Series, though it's been held three times in Yakima, Wash., most recently in 2001.
Bristol competed against Spokane and Bartlesville, Ok. for the right to host the 2010 World Series, according to Quinlan.
He said that some of the decision-makers preferred Bristol, but Spokane got the majority.
Organizers for the nation's largest veterans organization said they expect the Spokane World Series will draw 25,000 to 30,000 spectators to Vista Stadium. Fans are expected to spend more than $4 million and book about 1,000 motel-room nights in the area.
Mayor Art Ward and city Park Director Ed Swicklas were among a handful of Bristol representatives who flew to Indianapolis last weekend to make a pitch for Muzzy Field. With ESPN's backing, they said they felt they made a strong case.
Representatives from Spokane's American Legion Baseball, the Washington State American Legion, Avista Stadium and the Spokane Regional Sports Commissioned also went to Indianapolis to seek the Series, according to KOZE-AM, a Spokane radio station.
The American Legion Baseball program, which has fielded teams at Muzzy for more than 80 years, is the nation's oldest high school aged baseball program. It claims more than half of today's Major League Baseball players played on a Legion team before reaching the pros.
The Legion's National Executive Committee – the group's board of directors - made the final decision on the World Series location.
Quinlan said that he would like to have made it possible for Bristol's Fran Mullins, a baseball legend in Legion circles, to see the group's World Series in 2010 at his home field, but the panel opted for Spokane for sound reasons.
After I spoke with Quinlan, the American Legion issued this press release:
INDIANAPOLIS, May 8 PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Avista Stadium in Spokane, Wash., will be the site of the 2010 World Series of American Legion Baseball, the nation's oldest high school aged baseball program for 15- to 19-year-olds.
The National Executive Committee, the formal name of The American Legion's board of directors, announced today at its annual spring meeting here that Spokane American Legion Baseball Inc., will host the series. The American Legion World Series will feature the nation's eight regional champions in a double-elimination tournament. The five-day event will be held Aug. 13-17, 2010.
"Spokane will be an outstanding site for the series, based on its strong community support and excellent organizing committee," American Legion National Americanism Commission Chairman Joseph E. Caouette Jr. said. "The city of Spokane will be an outstanding host." This is the first time Spokane has hosted The American Legion World Series. Yakima, Wash., hosted The American Legion World Series in 1954, 1978, and 2001.
Washington American Legion teams have had excellent success playing American Legion Baseball. There are no host teams at an American Legion World Series. To participate in an American Legion World Series teams must earn the right to participate. Thirteen Washington American Legion Teams have earned that right to participate. Those cities were Bellingham (07); Bellevue (81 & 95), Kennewick (99 & 04); Pasco (05); Vancouver (87 & 96); and Yakima, Washington (53, 75, 76, 79 & 88) have participated by winning the Northwest Regional Tournament.
There are more than 5,000 registered American Legion teams. More than half of today's Major Leaguers got their start in American Legion Baseball.
Fifty-two former American Legion Baseball players have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, including Ryan Sandberg, George Brett, Bob Feller, Brooks Robinson, Yogi Berra, Jim Palmer, Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, Reggie Jackson, Pee Wee Reese, Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers and Tom Seaver.
Organizers for the nation's largest veterans organization expect the Spokane World Series will draw 25,000 to 30,000 spectators to Vista Stadium. Fans are expected to spend more than $4 million and book about 1,000 motel-room nights. The 2.7-million member American Legion, http://www.legion.org/, is the nation's largest veterans organization.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
May 5, 2008
World Series decision by Thursday
The city should know by Thursday whether its pitch to secure the 2010 American Legion World Series won over decision-makers in Indiana.
Mayor Art Ward said the presentation to the Legion’s national baseball committee on Sunday afternoon went well, but whether it proved convincing isn’t clear yet.
“Now it’s the sit back and wait,” Ward said.
Ward and five other city and Legion officials flew to Indianapolis over the weekend to put forward the case for holding the annual baseball tournament at Muzzy Field.
At least two other cities – Spokane, Washington and Bartlesville, Oklahoma – are also seeking the tournament. There may be others as well, Ward said.
Ward said that members of the national baseball committee will make a recommendation on the site to the Americanism committee. Ultimately, the Legion’s national committee will decide, probably on Wednesday.
Ward said he thought the most compelling arguments for Bristol were its easy access to Bradley Airport, its history of volunteerism through the Legion post on Hooker Court, the help of ESPN and the fact that there hasn’t been a World Series on the East Coast in more than a decade.
“Hopefully, we can bring it home,” Ward said. “That was our theme: bring it home.”
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Mayor Art Ward said the presentation to the Legion’s national baseball committee on Sunday afternoon went well, but whether it proved convincing isn’t clear yet.
“Now it’s the sit back and wait,” Ward said.
Ward and five other city and Legion officials flew to Indianapolis over the weekend to put forward the case for holding the annual baseball tournament at Muzzy Field.
At least two other cities – Spokane, Washington and Bartlesville, Oklahoma – are also seeking the tournament. There may be others as well, Ward said.
Ward said that members of the national baseball committee will make a recommendation on the site to the Americanism committee. Ultimately, the Legion’s national committee will decide, probably on Wednesday.
Ward said he thought the most compelling arguments for Bristol were its easy access to Bradley Airport, its history of volunteerism through the Legion post on Hooker Court, the help of ESPN and the fact that there hasn’t been a World Series on the East Coast in more than a decade.
“Hopefully, we can bring it home,” Ward said. “That was our theme: bring it home.”
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
May 2, 2008
Bristol makes pitch Sunday for American Legion World Series
Hoping to snag the 2010 American Legion Baseball World Series for Muzzy Field, a championship that would pump hundreds of thousands of dollars into the area economy, a delegation of officials heads Saturday to Indianapolis to make a pitch for the event.
Mayor Art Ward said he is “very optimistic” about the city’s chances of winning the right to hold the yearly event.
Ward is one of five people from the city and the American Legion post in Bristol who is making the trip to try to convince decision-makers to pick Bristol.
He said they’re slated to make a presentation on Sunday afternoon and may know the success of the bid by early next week.
Snagging the Legion’s World Series would likely be “the largest sporting event ever to take place in the city,” Paul LaFleur, general manager the American Legion Post 2 baseball team, has said.
There are about nine municipalities competing for the right to host the event.
Ward said this might be the last opportunity for Bristol to win the right because of a new national rule that puts the World Series in whatever city holds the national American Legion convention.
Since Bristol isn’t likely to host a major national convention – given its lack of hotels, restaurants and meeting space – the 2010 competition is probably the city’s final opportunity to play host to the event.
Muzzy Field was built in 1912, making it one of the nation’s oldest ballparks. American Legion teams from Bristol have apparently played there for the past 80 years.
Bristol is well known in American Legion circles because of its active veterans community and the success of its baseball program over the years.
But the trump card for Bristol’s pitch for the World Series may be ESPN’s willingness to lend its name to the effort.Ward said ESPN’s support is crucial because of its clout in the sports world.
If the city gets the right to hold the Series, the Legion post will need to pony up $60,000 to help pay for it. The mayor said there are pledges in hand for about half the money already.
Ward, Park Director Ed Swicklas and several Legion officials are flying to Indianapolis on Saturday. They intend to rehearse their presentation there today in order to be ready for the real thing on Sunday.
They fly back home on Sunday night.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Mayor Art Ward said he is “very optimistic” about the city’s chances of winning the right to hold the yearly event.
Ward is one of five people from the city and the American Legion post in Bristol who is making the trip to try to convince decision-makers to pick Bristol.
He said they’re slated to make a presentation on Sunday afternoon and may know the success of the bid by early next week.
Snagging the Legion’s World Series would likely be “the largest sporting event ever to take place in the city,” Paul LaFleur, general manager the American Legion Post 2 baseball team, has said.
There are about nine municipalities competing for the right to host the event.
Ward said this might be the last opportunity for Bristol to win the right because of a new national rule that puts the World Series in whatever city holds the national American Legion convention.
Since Bristol isn’t likely to host a major national convention – given its lack of hotels, restaurants and meeting space – the 2010 competition is probably the city’s final opportunity to play host to the event.
Muzzy Field was built in 1912, making it one of the nation’s oldest ballparks. American Legion teams from Bristol have apparently played there for the past 80 years.
Bristol is well known in American Legion circles because of its active veterans community and the success of its baseball program over the years.
But the trump card for Bristol’s pitch for the World Series may be ESPN’s willingness to lend its name to the effort.Ward said ESPN’s support is crucial because of its clout in the sports world.
If the city gets the right to hold the Series, the Legion post will need to pony up $60,000 to help pay for it. The mayor said there are pledges in hand for about half the money already.
Ward, Park Director Ed Swicklas and several Legion officials are flying to Indianapolis on Saturday. They intend to rehearse their presentation there today in order to be ready for the real thing on Sunday.
They fly back home on Sunday night.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
March 19, 2008
Ward's flight to be paid for by the city
After some anonymous posters on this blog questioned whether it was ethical for Mayor Art Ward to have the American Legion pay for his trip to Indianapolis to make a pitch for the 2010 American Legion World Series, the mayor asked about the issue.
Ward said today that he asked the city attorney for an opinion. He said that Ed Krawiecki, the city attorney, told him that all of Bristol's lawyers agreed it would be best if the city paid for the travel by the mayor and Park Director Ed Swicklas.
Ward said that he had thought it made more sense for the Legion to pick up the tab, since it was the applicant, but that if taxpayers have to shell out the money, it remains well worth it.
Ward said both he and Swicklas are still planning to go to Indiana in early May and do exactly what they would have done. But their travel costs will be paid by the city, the mayor said.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Ward said today that he asked the city attorney for an opinion. He said that Ed Krawiecki, the city attorney, told him that all of Bristol's lawyers agreed it would be best if the city paid for the travel by the mayor and Park Director Ed Swicklas.
Ward said that he had thought it made more sense for the Legion to pick up the tab, since it was the applicant, but that if taxpayers have to shell out the money, it remains well worth it.
Ward said both he and Swicklas are still planning to go to Indiana in early May and do exactly what they would have done. But their travel costs will be paid by the city, the mayor said.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
March 17, 2008
Bristol aims for home run in Indianapolis
A delegation of city and American Legion officials are heading to Indianapolis in May to make a pitch for the organization to hold its annual baseball World Series at Muzzy Field.“Needless to say, it would be great for the community,” said Mayor Art Ward, who’s one of the five people taking the trip.
If the delegation can pull it off, the Legion’s World Series would likely be “the largest sporting event ever to take place in the city,” said Paul LaFleur, general manager the American Legion Post 2 baseball team.
Ward said there are nine municipalities competing for the right to host the 2010 World Series, which might be the last one that Bristol could hope to snag. After that year, he said, the American Legion plans to hold the baseball tournament at the same time – and same city – as its national convention.
“It’s a once in a lifetime thing,” city Park Director Ed Swicklas, who is also heading to Indianapolis.
The American Legion is paying the tab for the five men – Ward, Swicklas, LaFleur and American Legion representatives Fran Mullins and Jay Meisinger – to address the selection committee on May 4.
Ward said that Bristol has several compelling arguments for the panel to agree to have the American Legion World Series at Muzzy Field, including the historical ballpark, the long tradition of American Legion baseball in town and the presence of sports giant ESPN in Bristol.
LaFleur said that Bristol has a proven track record of organizational support, “one of the best ballparks” anywhere and demonstrated community backing. It also has ESPN behind it.
The sports giant has given the effort its solid support, LaFleur said. “It’s not a hope. It’s not a promise. It’s documented.”
Ward, a Vietnam veteran who has long been active in the Legion, said he and Swicklas are going because the local chapter “believes it’s crucial for their presentation for the selection committee to know the city’s commitment.”
Bristol is already slated to hold this year’s five-day Northeast regional tournament for American Legion Baseball beginning August 14.
Organizers estimate that the regional tournament will bring 10,000 fans to Bristol and sink about $250,000 in extra revenue into Bristol’s retail economy.
But LaFleur said the World Series is “tenfold” bigger than the regional tournament.
He said he’s been to 14 of the Legion’s World Series over the years and has seen firsthand how popular and professionally run they are.
“This is the likes of which Bristol has never seen,” LaFleur said.
Ward said that in addition to the extra spending, holding the national World Series would be a phenomenal asset” to the community.
He said it help improve the image of Bristol while showcasing Rockwell Park and Muzzy Field – as well as honoring “the members of the baseball committee throughout the years that made the [Bristol] Legion program such that it would be considered.”
In its document for cities interested in hosting the tournament, the American Legion says it is looking for “experienced tournament committees with strong community support, as well as excellent ballparks.”The American Legion World Series brings eight teams together from around the country to compete for the national title.American Legion Baseball has been around since 1925 and claims that millions of young men , ages 15 to 19, have played on its teams over the years.The last time the tournament was held in New England was in 1999, when Middletown hosted the World Series.According to the American Legion Baseball website, Bristol’s American Legion teams have won two regional championships, in 1984 and 1997, and 13 Connecticut championships, most recently in 2006.
Muzzy Field was built in 1912, making it one of the nation’s oldest ballparks. American Legion teams from Bristol have apparently played there for the past 80 years.
Bristol “is an excellent baseball community,” LaFleur said, and its team and organization are legendary in Connecticut Legion history.
Its proponents, including LaFleur and Mullins, are well-known in Legion baseball circles after decades of activity. If the World Series comes to Bristol in 2010, it would mark a highlight for Mullins, who would be putting in his 60th year with American Legion Baseball.
Those personal ties may help, officials said, and they at least got Bristol an inside tip: try to get ESPN on board. Major corporate backing is helpful, the national director told Bristol leaders during a trip to town this winter.
That done, LaFleur said, “We feel absolutely and totally qualified.”
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
November 28, 2007
Bristol seeks 2010 American Legion Baseball World Series
City park commissioners are hoping to hit one out of the park.
The Park Board unanimously agreed Wednesday to try to snag the 2010 American Legion World Series for historic Muzzy Field.
“It would showcase Muzzy,” said Lori DeFillippi, a park panel member.
“It would also showcase the city,” added Mayor Art Ward.
Communities interested in hosting the five-day tournament are required to submit an extensive bid package by March 1 and to put up $60,000.
Ward said the money would be raised by the American Legion post on Hooker Court, which has a long history of involvement with American Legion Baseball.
He said there is “not a long time” to get everything together, but it’s worth trying.
The 2007 tournament was held in Bartlesville, Ok. while next year’s tournament is slated for Shelby, N.C.
Park Director Ed Swicklas said the city hosted the Northeast regional tournament for the American Legion about 12 years ago. It was successful, officials said.
The American Legion Baseball website says the 2010 tournament is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 13 to Aug. 17, a time that Swicklas said would not pose problems for use of the field.
tourn
In its document for cities interested in hosting the tournament, the American Legion says it is looking for “experienced tournament committees with strong community support, as well as excellent ballparks.”
The American Legion World Series brings eight teams together from around the country to compete for the national title.
American Legion Baseball has been around since 1925 and claims that millions of young men have played on its teams over the years.
The last time the tournament was held in New England was in 1999, when Middletown hosted the World Series.
According to the American Legion Baseball website, Bristol’s American Legion teams have won two regional championships, in 1984 and 1997, and 13 Connecticut championships, most recently in 2006.
The Park Board unanimously agreed Wednesday to try to snag the 2010 American Legion World Series for historic Muzzy Field.
“It would showcase Muzzy,” said Lori DeFillippi, a park panel member.
“It would also showcase the city,” added Mayor Art Ward.
Communities interested in hosting the five-day tournament are required to submit an extensive bid package by March 1 and to put up $60,000.
Ward said the money would be raised by the American Legion post on Hooker Court, which has a long history of involvement with American Legion Baseball.
He said there is “not a long time” to get everything together, but it’s worth trying.
The 2007 tournament was held in Bartlesville, Ok. while next year’s tournament is slated for Shelby, N.C.
Park Director Ed Swicklas said the city hosted the Northeast regional tournament for the American Legion about 12 years ago. It was successful, officials said.
The American Legion Baseball website says the 2010 tournament is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 13 to Aug. 17, a time that Swicklas said would not pose problems for use of the field.
tourn
In its document for cities interested in hosting the tournament, the American Legion says it is looking for “experienced tournament committees with strong community support, as well as excellent ballparks.”
The American Legion World Series brings eight teams together from around the country to compete for the national title.
American Legion Baseball has been around since 1925 and claims that millions of young men have played on its teams over the years.
The last time the tournament was held in New England was in 1999, when Middletown hosted the World Series.
According to the American Legion Baseball website, Bristol’s American Legion teams have won two regional championships, in 1984 and 1997, and 13 Connecticut championships, most recently in 2006.
American Legion Baseball's website
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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