[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING THE CEDARTOWN, GEORGIA LITTLE LEAGUE, HOSTS TO THE 2000 
  SOUTHERN REGION JUNIOR LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT, AUGUST 4-11, 
                                  2000

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. BOB BARR

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2000

  Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, Little League Baseball is an 
American institution, yet many American don't realize it wasn't founded 
in 1939, in Williamsport, PA by Carl Stotz. At that time, a $30 
donation was sufficient to sponsor the first three teams. Since that 
time, Little League Baseball has experienced phenomenal growth that has 
imbedded it deeply into American culture.
  In 1953, the Little League World Series was televised for the first 
time by CBS: Howard Cosell announced the play-by-play action for ABC 
radio. In 1955, Cy Young made his last visit to the Little League World 
Series before his death in September. By that time Little League 
Baseball was played in all 48 states. In 1959, a National Little League 
Week was proclaimed for the second week of June by President Dwight D. 
Eisenhower to honor this portion of America's past time, and in 1964, 
Little League Baseball was granted a Charter of Federal Incorporation 
by the United States Congress. Paying tribute to the young athletes, 
and for his love of the game, former Little League and Harvard baseball 
player, Vice President George Bush threw out the first pitch of the 
1981 Little League World Series.
  Though America's past time, baseball is far from America's exclusive 
sport. In 1951, the first Little League was formed outside the United 
States, in British Columbia, and since then, Little League has spread 
throughout Mexico, Europe, and Asia. In 1982, the game was even able to 
break through the ``iron curtain'' to provide Poland, a then Eastern 
Bloc Country, certificates of Charter.
  This year, from August 4 through August 11, 2000, the Cedartown, 
Georgia Little League Organization, including members of the teams, 
coaches, and parents, will, with great pride, host the 2000 Southern 
Region Junior League Championship Tournament. Teams will be competing 
for the opportunity to advance to the Little League World Series 
Tournament in Taylor, Michigan, beginning August 14th. There are 13 
states in the Southern Region. Little League teams (which consist of 12 
to 14 players and three coaches) from each State will be playing their 
very best, in hopes of securing a trip to Michigan. ESPN will be on 
hand to cover all the scheduled games.
  Little League activities and tournaments are designed to be 100% 
funded through corporate, business, and individual contributions. Just 
a few of the Little League Corporate sponsors are Bubblicious Gum, DNA 
Insurance, American Honda, MUSCO Sport Lighting, MYTEAM.COM, New Era, 
RC Cola, Realtime Memories.com, Russell Corporation, Sport Supply 
Group, TV Guide, Welch's Foods, and Wilson Sporting Goods Company.
  Approximately three million children in countries all around the 
globe enjoy playing Little League baseball. The program is supported on 
the local level by adult volunteers from within the community. These 
volunteers give freely of their time to provide a wholesome, family 
oriented activity for the children in their community.
  I want to take this opportunity to salute the families, sponsors, and 
community leaders who will welcome these young people, their coaches, 
and their families to Cedartown, Georgia; and who will join with them 
in enthusiastic participation in this important, and positive American 
institution for the children of their community. The local teams, their 
coaches, and members of the community, have been busy with fund-
raisers, requests for corporate donations, in order to secure funds to 
pay for food and lodging for the 13 guest teams and their coaches. 
Whether in Cedartown, Georgia, Warsaw, Poland, or Williamsport, 
Pennsylvania, Little League Baseball provides children of all 
backgrounds, from the local to the global level the opportunity to 
compete fairly and proudly for their community, their state, and their 
country.

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