I. in 1954, IS still fresh in the mind II of Farner Tom Seaver. who gh the cour.se of his later life in many all important ball game opening day through the World , the glory days or pitching for iracle Mets in 1969 and beyond cial [0 Seaver, but the picture 'ned in his mind of his muther sit the first base bleachers and the of her voice, and his fat her d the home run marker in the OUI [with tbe family dog (a nome run baU that d eared the chalk line on s. and the dog was smart enough 'Yo' not to cross onto the field) are ~ .. he carries around with him to ,y. He also knows that be was No, the uniform." had green trim. a . ~ Seaver, along with the great lefty Jerry Koosman, hel ped Je celebrate not only the opening 2007 Little League season, but !'and new dedicated Little League at Crossway 3, the memori es fl ooding back on Saturday mom pri1 14. hty Seaver threw the first ball to Schwall Jr. of the Pirates, lefty 10 Matthew Katz of the A' s. ,en you' re growing up, the start season is so special." said Seaver. ,Iayed Little League and L ~ a mem the national board. "rClO a begin lof the season for the game you .aler in life it changes as you go, ing more of an art form and even ou sec how special it is." sman never really had an opening Legion baH and in hll> mid- e was aJready playing semi-pro certainly was a different time. something you look forward to ter, so it' s great when the bell get going." Koosman said while ! a baseball at Last Licks Friday. mericu' s game and you just want lut and play ball." t the kids have today lS nothing at Koosman had.. ay they' ve got their metal bats, oes, gloves and uniformlo and J old bull with no hi de on it," nn said. "ICs like night and day." il e Seaver and Koosman may their memories from youth base- the pros, the memories created nl!W field are ummaginable. No ows what i ~ In store for the kiili whave a field 10 caH tlJeir ow a ki d. He played one year of ew season, field excitesballplayer Dugouts are one of the many new features at the dedicated Little League field at Crossway 3. ..----....-----------------------------..- IIiit:::=:::=l i t
fieli.l at Crossway lion Little Leagu d-under in grades 3-6, 1l1e fiel ; brand new dugouts, JeDces out e backstop. an outfield fence that res 200 feel, bullpens for bolb , fenced in on-deck circl es. an onic scoreboard, a tlagpole and ers on both sides of the field In n to the obvious amenities, borne wa:. moved forward 10 feet, a new infield was put in with a new r system, drainage and sod. field used to be just a backstop bench for each team. , a dream come true for field com co-chairs Frank Schwall Sr. and ,ell Katz and the 250 families and esscs that contributed to the 000 effort. s very fulfilling to see the project gh to completion," Little League president Schwall said. "Nothing us happier than having a field for Ids to play baseball on. Hopefully I have a lot of fun at this field." k only two years for the field to to fruiti on from the initial propos I the village to opening day. clion began last September and ing was in place in time for the D. (ost people haven't seen it yet and all of a sudden they show up and are blown away by it," Schwall "diU.. 1111111" II ause the didn't see it in progress some orus have,' In addition Lo the Litlle Leal!uc. there were a lot of different agencle; Involved with the ficlu. ,It was U cllllaoonttivc. effort with many people from the PRC to SuzOlnne Jnd the department to the vil l:lge office to Ih e truSh.'Cl.," Schwall "1\ great III see how peoplc can work togelher 10 produce something ., While the field IS certilinly a spdcial place antl :I . focal point for tht': Little League, }he game is II Iill what mailer!'. moM to those .imolved, 'There art: S I) muny greal \aluc:-. in Litlll.! Lctl1;.ce like leam-.man!>hip. sport!>fllanship, Ic:tming how to phlv a ",\J , U 1"", 1\,.14"-' a\t Lillie League:- preSidem Katz s.aid. "To Ihut is whutit' !\ ahout. "Thls fiel d is nol anything Ih at thl! compelilh'cness of base balL ]t's Just a fun place to he. Ifs not j ust f()r championship games amI the best teams. for everyone in third grade and up to get a chance to play on the field." Four games were played (Ill the fi el d Saturday, induding the opener featuring the Pirates and A's JJl the fi flh- and sixth-grade league. "It feels reall y good because we'l"! the first people ever 10 walk on the field," Neh an Sheth of the A's "ald. "It's great si lt in g here in Ihe new dugout. You feel li ke a real player:' "I love it because pt!ople CJn come with their frien d!> to play bu\eha\l instead of going home and playing there," Max Bernstein of the A's said. "I love the fences and the du gouts because it makes you feel like you' re in a real major league game." ven the parents were enjoyi ng the new mi nor league-hIking field. though in the end seeing their kids happy and acti ve was the main thing. very nice." mom Belh Bernstein said she watched the gam from the bleachers. "I think for our kJ(ls to play the fir..l g,lme;: here is exching. I C t:... _ I n;:] this Illorning. They couldn' , wait." For Beth who grew up in Nebraska. there was u central Incalion where all of Lhe were. so having them <Jmund town in Scarlodale a, it hit of H chunge. 'The great thing i.. thal thc\' have a thaI this is their field,"' said. All part of rhe dedication. Schwall announced the Scarsdale Little League Horne Run Challenge. The fi rsl player to hit II homt: run liver the rence wins u learn pil.la and ice .: ream party frll m Amore Pilla :lnd Culd Stone Creamerv. Babe Ruth hit the first home run ;1 Yankee Swdiilm in 1923. Who will Oc thi: answer to thaI trivia in Scarsdale:!
d. '''We' re very c\citcd for to playing 111cres a sense 01 satisfaction because thiS is such Ol beautiful ad dition to cUMaJe:' The dedication NBC sponscaster :lJld Scarsdale resI dent Bruce Beck served a<; emcee of the event ami opened by noti ng how "awe somc" the lield is and thaI "lhere may bt' a nor'easler comi ng tomorrow, but even tile perf\!ct :-.torm couldn't stop us tuda\,:' has coached on the fields of Scarsdale dnd his youngest son Mike an umpire in the league. Beck s first C)pening day memories are from Li ving'aon, N.J ., 1964, where after three throwi ng and catching errors he made it horne safe with whal he stiIl, to thiS day. considers a home run on a ballthm didn' t even clear the pitcher's mound "Little League is about much more than hllting uud fiel ding and base running," Beck told lhe crowd. "You learn how to be a winner and a loser. anJ about fair play and team work." MJyor Noreen FISher noted Ihe "per fect example" of how the local govern men t and tbe community can come was Ihat il wuk only 1\1.;0 yel opposed lo the "25 year,,' it u takes the village III th My hope!' are you have man of sunshine and that the on tun." Fillhcl said. Bo) SCOUI Troop 4 present color [!uard and led the Plee Allegla'fll:e and senior Failla perforn1t::d "The Star-Sp: Banner,' Beck let! the Little League which illC.luded such youth sport as fair play, "triving to win and vour hurdes\. He noted that m today' s major league herQe!. li k Yorl. Me! Da,jd Wright, have tal oath in thclf cJuldhooili.. In Introdul.: lng Ihe special it h Koosman one of the mnst "uncle pitchers ever . W Cl struck out over 2,500 was a two-t ime AII -Stnr and tw 20-game "'lOner in his 19-yeur 12 wi th the Metl>. For the 11)69 Coosman won two games in the Series. And. exactly 40 years to . sman made his maj(lr leag agamst the Phillies. The mOlin attract J(l n, howe v Seaver, the 1967 Rookie of th three-time Cy Young A ward and 12-time All-St ar, who w games and struck out over 3,600 in his 20 years. Tom Terrific w! ed to the Ba<;ebaJl Hall of Fame i and has the distinclion of havi highe!>J percentage of votes ever. Seaver, who played four y Little League. urged the kids to the gam\!, because it's not abo ning." He also told them to the game' and "have fun." "[Little League l was the begJ a love affair with a great game,'l said. "Little did I know that W()ul me to Cooperstown, Those se rooted in lillie League." Whether or not Scarsdale pr major league talent, the memorie: new field s boys and girls of slJ willlao;t a lifetime.