[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17209]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          25TH ANNIVERSARY OF MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IN VERMONT

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 25th 
anniversary of the return of professional baseball to Burlington, VT.
  I recall that moment 25 years ago with great clarity, as it occurred 
when I was mayor of the city of Burlington. After a series of lengthy, 
but eventually productive, negotiations with the Eastern League and the 
owner of one of its teams, my administration with the help of some 
local and very dedicated baseball buffs--was successful in bringing the 
Vermont Reds to Burlington. This AA-league team thrilled baseball 
fans--young and old, who watched them play at Centennial Field, which 
boasts a grandstand that is the oldest complete grandstand structure in 
use in Minor League Baseball. We watched Barry Larkin, Jeff Montgomery, 
Rob Dibble, Chris Sabo, Paul O'Neill and Norm Charlton play for the 
Vermont Reds. These fine athletes later went on to become the core of 
the 1990 World Champion Cincinnati Reds. Larkin won the National League 
MVP Award in 1995 and O'Neill won four more World Series rings with the 
New York Yankees. The Reds eventually left, to be replaced by the 
Vermont Mariners, and Vermont spectators had the thrill of watching 
certain Hall-of-Famer Ken Griffey Jr. speed around the bases as he 
played for our new team.
  When the Mariners left, the Single-A Expos took their place; when 
Montreal's franchise moved to Washington, the Expos became a Washington 
Nationals farm team and were renamed the Vermont Lake Monsters. Today, 
the Lake Monsters fill the stands during the summer months, as baseball 
fans come to watch America's pastime in picturesque surroundings.
  It is worth celebrating this quarter-century of baseball in 
Burlington, as Centennial Field has been called home by some 
outstanding players and amazing Minor League teams. Apart from those I 
have already mentioned--many of our players continued their careers in 
the Big Show. The scenic setting, the welcoming stands, the fan-based 
promotions, and of course the thrill of professional baseball all 
combine to make this a great family-friendly arena. Throughout the 
years, more than 2 million fans have enjoyed rooting for the home team.
  As mayor of Burlington, my work was centered on building civic life 
and creating a vital community. Baseball proved to be an excellent 
catalyst for bringing people together and helping to foster a greater 
sense of community. Perhaps Minor League Baseball would be taken for 
granted in a big State or a big city, but in Burlington, VT, it is 
cherished by many. It is a source of pride to me that, working with a 
citizens committee led by local businessmen, I was able to bring Minor 
League Baseball to Vermont and that it has continued to thrive in the 
quarter of a century since.
  As we look for a new dawn in this time of economic difficulty, the 
past 25 years of professional baseball in Burlington are a shining 
example of how important community-based activities are, and how much 
they can enrich a city and a State.

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