[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 22, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H3414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING 100 YEARS OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY BASEBALL LEAGUE

  (Mr. CLINE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Rockingham County 
Baseball League as they celebrate 100 years of America's favorite 
pastime.
  Founded in 1924, the Rockingham County Baseball League is the second 
oldest continuously operating league in the United States. J.R. 
``Polly'' Lineweaver, a sportswriter for the Daily News-Record, helped 
organize the league. This effort brought players together from seven 
communities across Rockingham County in both spirit and game, with a 
consistent schedule and designated rules. From there, the league would 
go to include teams up and down the Shenandoah Valley.
  The league has a rich history. It survived the Great Depression, 
World War II, and integrated with African-American players in the 
1950s. RCBL boasts players who went on to play in Major League Baseball 
and even the National Basketball Association. Today its fields remain a 
welcoming place that brings athletes together.
  Recently, the league's storied history and many accomplishments were 
highlighted in a new exhibit at the Rocktown History Museum in Dayton. 
It calls attention to the hard work of players, coaches, fans, and 
other community members who have shown care toward each other through 
the common love of baseball.
  I congratulate RCBL on the many wonderful seasons they have enjoyed 
over the last century, and I wish them many more to come.

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