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[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 224 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 224

To designate September 23, 1996, as ``National Baseball Heritage Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 6, 1996

  Mr. D'Amato (for himself and Mr. Moynihan) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
To designate September 23, 1996, as ``National Baseball Heritage Day''.

Whereas it is universally accepted that the idea of baseball was created by 
        Abner Doubleday in 1839 in Cooperstown, New York when Doubleday 
        attempted to chase cows out of Elihu Phinney's cow pasture;
Whereas, New Yorkers in Manhattan in 1842 witnessed the birth of modern day 
        baseball when ``a number of gentlemen . . . casually assembled on a plot 
        of ground on Twenty-seventh street . . . to play ball'' according to 
        Charles A. Peverelly in The Book of American Pastimes;
Whereas these men, led by Alexander Joy Cartwright, Jr., created the set of 
        rules to transform a childhood game into the game of baseball and to 
        provide a model for future early clubs;
Whereas these men played the game because of sheer enjoyment and casually called 
        themselves the ``New York Baseball Club'';
Whereas Harold Peterson, in The Man Who Invented Baseball, notes that on the 
        historic day of September 23, 1845, these men, now numbering more than 
        forty, formally organized themselves into the first ever organized 
        baseball club known as the ``Knickerbocker Baseball Club'';
Whereas the Knickerbockers dedicated their efforts to the creation of regular 
        games on the Twenty-seventh street field so they could play their new 
        game;
Whereas others noticed the games of the Knickerbockers and created teams of 
        their own for inter-club play with Alexander Joy Cartwright, Jr. and the 
        Knickerbockers, according to Cartwright's ``Rules of Play'';
Whereas baseball has grown into America's national pastime and ingratiated 
        itself into the collective heart of America;
Whereas America has cherished baseball and fallen in love with baseball heroes 
        like Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, and Babe Ruth;
Whereas baseball has given Americans a common and shared experience, as well as 
        provide a bond between generations;
Whereas parents and children enjoy baseball together throughout the countless 
        generations;
Whereas baseball has become as much a part of the United States as the hot dogs 
        sold at the games;
Whereas baseball has become a part of our national character; and
Whereas the designation of ``National Baseball Heritage Day'' will provide 
        Americans with a chance to celebrate the history of the game and reflect 
        on how much it has affected our collective lives and national identity: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate, in recognition of the essential role 
that baseball has played in the history of the United States and our 
individual lives, designate September 23, 1996 as ``National Baseball 
Heritage Day''. The President is authorized and requested to issue a 
proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
such a day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
                                 <all>
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