[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 104 (Monday, June 23, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H5832-H5834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, AS BEING HOME TO THE EARLIEST 
                KNOWN REFERENCE TO THE WORD ``BASEBALL''

  Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1050) recognizing Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as 
being home to the earliest known reference to the word ``baseball'' in 
the United States as well as being the birthplace of college baseball, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1050

       Whereas Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is the home of a 
     historic document discovered in Pittsfield's archives by 
     noted baseball historian John Thorn in 2004;
       Whereas the historic document is a bylaw, passed by the 
     Town of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, during a town meeting on 
     September 5, 1791, which states that ``for the Preservation 
     of the Windows in the New Meeting House . . . no Person or 
     Inhabitant of said town, shall be permitted to play at any 
     game called Wicket, Cricket, Baseball, Football, Cat, Fives 
     or any other game or games with balls, within the Distance of 
     Eighty Yards from said Meeting House'';
       Whereas this bylaw was created to protect the windows of 
     the new meetinghouse in the Town of Pittsfield, 
     Massachusetts, which is currently the Congregational Church, 
     designed by renowned architect Charles Bulfinch in 1789 and 
     completed in 1793;
       Whereas Pittsfield, Massachusetts, through the First Home 
     Plate project will commemorate being known as the home of the 
     oldest known documentation of the game by erecting three 
     permanent monuments, Bat, Ball, and Glove, to recognize 
     Pittsfield's unparalleled position in baseball history;
       Whereas the monuments will highlight and represent the 
     great virtues of the game that have solidified baseball as 
     our national pastime;
       Whereas the virtues of baseball are innocence, youth, 
     bridging generations, and how it parallels the great history 
     of our Nation;
       Whereas Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is also the home of many 
     historical baseball moments;
       Whereas Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is the birthplace of 
     college baseball in the United States as it is the site of 
     the first intercollegiate baseball game between Amherst 
     College and Williams College, which took place on July 1, 
     1859;
       Whereas in 1865, Ulysses F. ``Frank'' Grant, generally 
     considered the best African American player of the 19th 
     century, was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts;
       Whereas Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is the home of Wahconah 
     Park, an enclosed ballpark and grandstand, originally built 
     in 1892 and placed on the National Historic Register in June 
     2005;
       Whereas Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is where in 1921 and 
     1922, the Boston Red Sox played 2 exhibition games at 
     Wahconah Park against the Hillies;

[[Page H5833]]

       Whereas Boston won the first game with a score of 10 to 9 
     and the Hillies won the second with a score of 4 to 1;
       Whereas in 1922, Jim Thorpe, considered one of the most 
     versatile athletes in modern sports, played baseball at 
     Wahconah Park;
       Whereas in 1924, Lou Gehrig made his professional debut 
     with the Hartford Senators at Wahconah Park, where he hit a 
     home run into the Housatonic River;
       Whereas in 1942, future major leaguer Mark Belanger was 
     born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts;
       Whereas on June 1, 1976, a recreation of the 1859 Williams 
     and Amherst collegiate baseball game took place in 
     Pittsfield, Massachusetts;
       Whereas Pittsfield, Massachusetts, hosted a vintage 
     baseball game which was broadcast on national television in 
     2004;
       Whereas Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 2005, welcomed the 
     Pittsfield Dukes, a member of the New England Collegiate 
     Baseball League, who made their second season debut at 
     Wahconah Park in 2005; and
       Whereas on August 31, 2007, His Excellency, Deval L. 
     Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 
     proclaimed September 5, 2007, to be Pittsfield Baseball Day 
     in the Commonwealth: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the importance of college baseball to the 
     Nation; and
       (2) recognizes the birthplace of college baseball as 
     Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. 
Foxx) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during 
which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on 
H. Res. 1050 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1050, which 
recognizes Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as the birthplace of our Nation's 
great sport: baseball. This great sport is interlaced into American 
culture, history, and tradition. Baseball is our Nation's national 
pastime, and Pittsfield, Massachusetts, helped create the American 
sporting culture. Legendary players such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Cy 
Young, Hank Aaron, Cal Ripken, and other Hall of Fame players raised 
the level of play and integrity of the game.
  The first recorded mention of baseball in known history occurred when 
a Pittsfield bylaw passed on September 5, 1791, banned the playing with 
bats and balls near the town's newly constructed meetinghouse. This 
ordinance is the first known reference to the game in U.S. history.
  Other notable historic moments took place in Pittsfield. The very 
first collegiate baseball game in the United States took place there on 
July 1, 1859, between Amherst College and Williams College. Ulysses F. 
Grant, the most prominent 19th century African American player, was 
born in Pittsfield. Wahconah Park, a famous ballpark and grandstand 
built in 1892, is located there. The Boston Red Sox won their first 
game in that park. Lou Gehrig made his professional debut with the 
Hartford Senators there where he hit a home run into the Housatonic 
River. With every great baseball moment, Pittsfield is a part of the 
significance.
  The first home plate project will erect a bat, ball, and glove 
statues in Pittsfield. These monuments symbolize great virtues, 
innocence, purity, and parallels to American culture. Let Congress at 
this time recognize and honor the contribution Pittsfield plays in our 
Nation's history.
  I would like to recognize Pittsfield, Massachusetts' role in our 
Nation's history, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker I rise today in support of House Resolution 1050, 
recognizing Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as being home to the earliest 
known reference to the word ``baseball'' in the United States.
  The question of the origins of baseball has been the subject of 
debate and controversy for more than a century. Baseball, as well as 
the other modern bat, ball, and running games, were developed from 
earlier folk games. Previous beliefs held that baseball was invented in 
1839 by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, New York. This belief provided 
the rationale for baseball centennial celebrations in 1939, including 
the opening of a National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Still, few 
historians and even the hall's vice president believed that Cooperstown 
was indeed the birthplace of the game, most preferring to believe that 
``baseball wasn't really born anywhere.''
  In 2004, however, historian John Thorn discovered a reference to a 
1791 bylaw prohibiting anyone from playing ``baseball'' within 80 yards 
of the new meetinghouse in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The so-called 
``Broken Window Bylaw'' soon became the earliest known reference to 
baseball in North America and allowed Pittsfield to lay claim to the 
honor.
  Baseball is unique among American sports in several ways. This 
uniqueness is a large part of its longstanding appeal and strong 
association with the American psyche. Some philosophers describe 
baseball as a national religion. This popularity has resulted in 
baseball's being regarded as more than just a major sport. Since the 
19th century, it has been popularly referred to as the ``national 
pastime,'' and Major League Baseball has been given a unique monopoly 
status by the Supreme Court of the United States.
  Baseball is fundamentally a team sport. Even a team blessed enough to 
have two or three Hall of Fame-caliber players cannot count on success. 
Yet it places individual players under great pressure and scrutiny. 
Many Americans believe that baseball is the ultimate combination of 
skill, timing, athleticism, and strategy. The pitcher must make good 
pitches or risk losing the game. The hitter has a mere fraction of a 
second to decide whether to swing. The field players, as the last line 
of defense, make the lone decision to try to catch it or play it on the 
bounce, to throw out the runner at first base or to try to make the 
play at home.
  Baseball has truly provided countless Americans fond memories of 
their youth over the years, and I am honored to stand here today 
recognizing Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as being home to the earliest 
known reference to the word ``baseball'' in the United States.
  I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may 
consume to the sponsor of this bill, the gentleman from Massachusetts 
(Mr. Olver).
  Mr. OLVER. I thank the gentleman for yielding time.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased today that the House of Representatives 
is considering House Resolution 1050, which honors the city of 
Pittsfield for its rich baseball history. As a sponsor of this 
legislation, I would like to thank the Committee on Education and 
Labor, especially the gentleman from California Chairman George Miller 
for his assistance in bringing this resolution to the floor.
  Pittsfield, Massachusetts, can trace its baseball roots all the way 
back to 1791.

                              {time}  1730

  The city, which was only the town of Pittsfield then, was in the 
middle of constructing a new meeting house. Trying to protect the 
windows of this new building, the town enacted a bylaw that banned the 
playing of ``baseball'' within 80 yards of it. You see, even back in 
1791, youths were already breaking windows playing America's favorite 
national pastime. With that, the first mention of baseball was penned 
into history.
  Madam Speaker, besides being home to the earliest known reference to 
baseball, this resolution also honors the city for being designated the 
Birthplace of College Baseball by the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
  On July 1, 1859, the city hosted one of the Nation's oldest 
collegiate rivalries, Williams College versus Amherst College, in the 
first collegiate baseball game to be played in the Nation. Now this 
game was played under the old ``Massachusetts'' rules. No gloves were 
used, the ball was pitched under hand, only one out was necessary, and 
a foul ball, if uncaught, was considered a hit.

[[Page H5834]]

The record shows that Amherst College won this first contest by a score 
of 73-32.
  Pittsfield is also the site of many other historical baseball 
moments. Among others, this resolution honors the city for being the 
birthplace of Ulysses F. Grant, born in 1865, who's generally 
considered to be the best African American player of the 19th century, 
as well as Mark Belanger, born in 1944, who spent most of his career 
playing for the Baltimore Orioles.
  In 1924, Lou Gehrig made his professional debut at Wahconah Park, the 
venerable ballbark in Pittsfield that is listed on the National 
Historic Register, and in that debut he appropriately hit a home run 
into the Housatonic River. Jim Thorpe, considered one of the most 
versatile athletes in modern sports, also played there.
  In recognition of its baseball past, the city of Pittsfield plans to 
erect three permanent monuments, Bat, Ball, and Glove, representing the 
virtues of the game.
  Overall, Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize the city of 
Pittsfield for its rich baseball history and I am honored to stand on 
the floor today to honor its significance to our national pastime.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, Madam Speaker.
  Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. The rising cost of gas and energy prices throughout this 
country threatens many aspects of our lives, and the ability to attend 
baseball games this summer is one of those. The notion that Washington 
is broken is exemplified in the Democratic majority's refusal to 
address soaring energy prices.
  Two years ago, then-Minority Leader Pelosi promised the American 
people a ``commonsense plan'' to lower gasoline prices, but Democrats 
have not only failed to offer any meaningful solutions, they've put 
forward policies that will have precisely the opposite effect. As a 
result of their inaction, oil, gasoline, and electricity prices are as 
high as they have ever been. Once a nightmare scenario, $4 plus 
gasoline has become a harsh reality on Speaker Pelosi's watch, and now 
Americans are paying nearly $1.50 more per gallon at the pump than when 
the Speaker took office.
  This Pelosi Premium is hitting working families hard, at a time when 
they are confronting high costs of living, a slowing economy, and a 
housing crunch. This has to change.
  Republicans are committed to a comprehensive energy reform policy 
that will boost supplies of all forms of energy right here at home to 
reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy, protect us against 
blackmail by foreign dictators, create American jobs, and grow our 
economy, all those things as basic to us as our of love of baseball.
  This includes increasing the supply of American-made energy, 
improving energy efficiency, and encouraging investment in 
groundbreaking research in advanced alternative and renewable energy 
technologies. With 21st century technologies and the strictest 
environmental standards in the world, America must produce more of our 
own energy right here at home and protect our environment at the same 
time. That is the change America deserves.
  To help ease the pain of the Pelosi Premium, House Republican leaders 
have also embraced short-term legislation that would suspend the 18.4 
cents per gallon Federal gas tax this summer and establish a 
corresponding freeze on all taxpayer-funded earmarks to ensure the 
Highway Trust Fund will not be impacted. Savings from the earmarks 
freeze also would be applied towards reducing the Federal deficit.
  A House Republican majority will work to deliver the change America 
deserves on gas prices with meaningful solutions that make our Nation 
more energy independent. Here's how we will do it. We will increase the 
production of American-made energy in an environmentally safe way. This 
includes the exploration of next generation oil, natural gas and coal, 
and the production of advanced alternative fuels like cellulosic and 
clean coal-to-liquids, all while protecting our natural resources for 
future generations.
  We will promote new, clean, and reliable power generation like 
advanced nuclear and next generation coal, while promoting clean power 
from renewable energy such as wind and hydroelectric power. Nuclear 
energy has proven itself as a safe, carbon-free, and environmentally 
friendly alternative, with France relying on it for 80 percent of its 
electricity needs, compared to just 19 percent in America.
  We will cut red tape and increase the supply of American-made fuel 
and energy. Limiting the construction of new oil refineries and 
bureaucratic regulations mandating the use of exotic fuels have 
decreased supply and increased the Pelosi Premium. We will encourage 
greater energy efficiency by offering conservation tax incentives to 
America who make their home, car, and business more energy efficient.
  We can do much to make it more feasible for families to attend 
baseball games this summer and participate in other normal summer 
activities by reducing our dependence on foreign oil and creating more 
American-generated energy, and I call on my colleagues to bring up the 
bills that will allow us to do that.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SARBANES. The discussion of energy and oil, on the one hand, and 
baseball on the other, got me thinking about something I read last 
week, which is a lot of the folks coming into baseball games around the 
country and sporting events are using public transportation wherever 
they get the chance, as opposed to driving their cars, and I am so glad 
that the Democratic Congress has put such an investment into proving 
our public transportation infrastructure in this country.
  Obviously, we have got to do more of that going forward so that we 
can conserve. That can help drive down some of the gas prices that have 
been alluded to.
  In any event, to get back to the main topic here with respect to 
recognizing the tremendous role of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in the 
establishment of the culture of our national pastime, I want to urge my 
colleagues to support H. Res. 1050.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1050, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________