[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF BASEBALL

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, on a warm spring afternoon, on 
June 19, 1846, the seeds of modern baseball were planted in the fertile 
soil of New Jersey. On that day, one of baseball's first teams, the 
Knickerbockers, invited a group known as the New York City Club to join 
them for a game of ball. They met on the Elysian Fields of Hoboken, NJ, 
and played under a unique set of rules, which the Knickerbockers had 
recently devised. With the first pitch, the modern game of baseball was 
born. The new pastime quickly captured the young Nation's interest and 
fired its imagination. Clubs were soon modeling themselves upon the 
Knickerbockers, and Hoboken's Elysian Fields became one of the first 
great centers of baseball activity in the United States.
  Over the last 150 years, the seed first planted in New Jersey became 
firmly rooted in the American landscape and then spread around the 
globe.
  But although baseball is enjoyed throughout the world, it is a 
uniquely American game. It both mirrors and molds our national 
character.
  It has been said that ``Whoever wants to know the hearts and minds of 
America had better learn baseball.'' This is undeniably true, because 
baseball is one of the world's most democratic games. Each team has 
equal opportunity to win, since no timeclock decides when the game is 
done. Only hard work and teamwork determine a winner. What could better 
reflect our national philosophy?
  But baseball not only mirrors our character, it also molds it. For 
generations of immigrant children, their first American experience 
often came on the baseball diamond. During World War II, when our male 
baseball players joined the war effort, all-female teams were formed. 
Displaying exceptional talent and tenacity, these ballplayers vividly 
demonstrated that a woman could fill a man's shoes. In 1947, baseball 
set a powerful example for the Nation; when Jackie Robinson joined the 
Brooklyn Dodgers, professional baseball became one of the standard 
bearers of the desegregation movement.
  For all that baseball has done, perhaps its greatest contribution is 
simply the bond that it forms between one generation of Americans and 
the next. It is a bond forged between children and parents who have 
spent long days together at the ballpark or on the ballfield.
  As Americans, we come from diverse cultures, often with very 
different customs and beliefs. It is only our common experiences that 
bind us together as a nation. Whether playing it or watching it, 
baseball has been one of the few shared experiences enjoyed by all of 
us, a common thread which has helped stitch together the tapestry of 
America. So, it is no exaggeration to say that baseball is, and will 
always be, a part of our national identity, our national heritage, and 
our national greatness.
  I am pleased to recognize the important role which New Jersey played 
in baseball's history. Too few people realize that baseball's first 
match game was played in Hoboken. Hopefully, the events taking place 
today in Hoboken, to celebrate that first game, will help spread the 
word. Congratulations Hoboken, and happy 150th anniversary to America's 
national pastime, the sport of baseball.
  Mr. President, I ask that a letter from President Clinton be printed 
in the Record.
  The letter follows:


                                              The White House,

                                        Washington, June 19, 1996.
       Warm greetings to everyone gathered in Hoboken, New Jersey, 
     to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the celebrated 
     baseball game on Elysian Fields between the Knickerbockers 
     and the New York Club.
       Throughout its long and storied history, baseball has 
     stirred the hearts and captured the imagination of the 
     American people. From hot summer days on the sandlot to cool 
     autumn nights at the World Series, baseball has passed from 
     generation to generation as new stars rise to replace the 
     legends of the past and new fans learn to root for the home 
     team.
       Through wars and depression, good times and bad, we have 
     been beguiled by the sights and sounds of this graceful and 
     timeless game. The crack of the bat on a hard-hit ball; the 
     slap of a fastball into a catcher's mitt; the smooth 
     precision of a well-turned double play; the thrill of a 
     stolen base; the sight of a home run as it clears the center 
     field fence--these are the things that have imprinted 
     baseball in the soul of America.
       I join you in celebrating this cherished national pastime 
     and the players, managers, coaches, and fans who have made it 
     a permanent part of American culture. Best wishes for a 
     memorable day.

     Bill Clinton.

                          ____________________