Press Room
August 31, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Happy Birthday Baseball!
Pittsfield’s throwing a party!
PITTSFIELD
–
Mayor James M. Ruberto is inviting the Pittsfield
community and baseball lovers everywhere to wish the
game of baseball a very happy 215th birthday September
5th.
The event will take place at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday,
September 5, at Park Square, Downtown Pittsfield.
The oldest written documentation of the game of
baseball in North America is Pittsfield’s 1791 bylaw,
banning play near the town’s
then- newly constructed meeting house. That ordinance
was drafted on September 5th, 1791.
As a part of the festivities, the Boston Red Sox are
sending representatives and a camera crew to help
document the event. In addition, First Home Plate’s
characters of the game
– Bat, Ball, and Glove –
will be recognized at Fenway Park during the Red Sox
game in the evening of September 5th.
"What a great day for the City of Pittsfield, where
baseball was being played long before anyone ever
imaged," said Mayor James M.
Ruberto. "And to have the Red Sox come to Pittsfield
to showcase baseball’s birthday party, and to invite our
characters of the game to Fenway
–
that’s the icing on the cake!"
The event will also include a showing of the recent
segment on the Red Sox Nation program, featuring
Pittsfield and its unique place in baseball history.
Pittsfield resident and baseball enthusiast, Brian P.
Johnson, has been instrumental in the Happy Birthday
Baseball! event. Johnson, along with well-known local
musician Andy Kelly, co-wrote the catchy "Happy Birthday
Baseball!" song, along with well-known local musician
Andy Kelly. The song, performed by vocalist Vicki True
and Andy Kelly and his band, will also be featured at
Fenway Park on September 5th.
"The goal is to tell the world about Pittsfield’s
unique place in baseball history and help establish a
permanent memorial to honor
1791 and the characters of the game," said Johnson.
"We’re thrilled with the involvement and support of the
Red Sox organization."
WHO: Mayor James M. Ruberto, First Home Plate
principals Brian P. Johnson and Phil Massery, vocalist
Vicki True, Andy Kelly and his Band, representatives and
a camera crew from the Boston Red Sox, other dignitaries
WHAT: Happy Birthday Baseball! Honoring the 215th
anniversary of the game of baseball, 1791-2006
WHERE: Park Square, Downtown Pittsfield,
Massachusetts
WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 5, 2006
######
Contact: John Krol, 413-499-9322
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