Bill Text: NY K00469 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 30, 2019, as Women in Baseball Day in the State of New York
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 19-9)
Status: (Passed) 2019-05-30 - adopted [K00469 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-K00469-Introduced.html
Assembly Resolution No. 469 BY: M. of A. Romeo MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 30, 2019, as Women in Baseball Day in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is with noble admiration that this Legislative Body pays just tribute to those venerable female athletes who distinguished themselves through notable achievements and represented their State and Nation with pride and determination; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 30, 2019, as Women in Baseball Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of the 76th Anniversary of the opening day of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL); and WHEREAS, With the entry of the United States into World War II, several major league baseball executives started the AAGPBL with women players in order to maintain baseball in the public eye while the majority of able men were away fighting for their country; and WHEREAS, The founders included Philip K. Wrigley, Branch Rickey and Paul V. Harper; it was their fear that Major League Baseball might even temporarily cease due to the war because of the loss of talent, as well as restrictions on team travel due to gasoline rationing; and WHEREAS, From 1943-1954, over 600 women played in the AAGPBL, which would eventually consist of 10 teams located in the American Midwest; perhaps the most famous team, the Rockford Peaches, won a league-best four championships and were featured in the 1992 motion picture "A League of Their Own"; and WHEREAS, In those 12 years, the AAGPBL helped change how society viewed women in America and paved the way for other professional women's sports teams; at its peak in 1948, more than 900,000 spectators rooted for their favorite team; and WHEREAS, The USA Baseball Women's National Team (WNT) was established in 2004, when an 18-player team was chosen following open tryouts across the nation; the team went on to capture the Gold Medal in the first-ever International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Women's Baseball World Cup in Edmonton, Canada; and WHEREAS, Team USA repeated as IBAF World Cup Gold Medalists in 2006, in Taiwan, before taking home the Bronze Medal at the 2008 World Cup in Japan, and again in 2010, in Venezuela; in 2012, the WNT won a Silver Medal at the World Cup in Edmonton, Canada; and WHEREAS, In 2014, the Women's National Team took home the Silver Medal from the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women's Baseball World Cup, which was played in Miyazaki, Japan; and WHEREAS, The Women's Baseball World Cup platform is built for the top women in the sport, and as it expands and helps break down barriers, so will the number of opportunities for females across all levels of baseball, ultimately helping to evolve and redefine the notion of women's sports; and WHEREAS, To further this cause, the WNT hosts a Women's Development Program, leads youth clinics, and works to grow the game of baseball among women in the United States; and WHEREAS, Both the AAGPBL and the WNT provide a legacy of commitment and excellence exemplified by the athletes, bringing them distinction as well as serving as role models to all young women and girls who aspire to become professional athletes; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 30, 2019, as Women in Baseball Day in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York; and the women athletes of both the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and the USA Baseball Women's National Team.