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.