American Legion Baseball activities encouraged to be put on hold

With the number of COVID-19 cases growing daily and state governments limiting social interactions through statewide restrictions, the National American Legion Baseball Committee is strongly encouraging and recommending that American Legion departments put on hold all baseball activities (team meetings, tryouts, practices, etc.) until all restrictions have been lifted. The recommendation has the endorsement of the National Americanism Commission.

A memo was sent out to American Legion department commanders, adjutants and baseball chairmen from National Americanism Commission Chairman Richard Anderson with the guidance. The memo states that “Currently the National American Legion Baseball schedule remains in place per dates approved by the National Executive Committee; however, the schedule is subject to the respective state restrictions where the Regional and World Series tournaments are scheduled. It remains the goal of the Americanism Commission to hold our Regional and World Series tournaments this summer if possible.”

The National American Legion Baseball Committee is continuing to monitor COVID-19 developments through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while COVID-19 updates from National Commander James W. "Bill" Oxford are appearing daily on The American Legion national website. The committee will communicate with American Legion department leadership on a consistent basis to provide additional information as it becomes available.

Anderson requested that all American Legion departments “review the guidelines, restrictions and regulations established by local, state and federal governments to ensure doing whatever is required for the safety and well-being of everyone involved. The more prepared we are moving into this 2020 program season, the better we are in the face of all possible contingencies.”