NECman joins elite baseball group

American Legion National Executive Committeeman Jerry Hedrick joined an elite group of more than 200 Legionnaires on March 12. The commander of Post 8 in Lexington, N.C., was inducted into the Department of North Carolina’s American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame, which was established in 1967.

“I am humbled and honored that I was selected,” Hedrick said. “I do think there are more people deserving than me, but I’m very appreciative of this honor.”

Hedrick’s involvement in Legion Baseball began in 1977 at Holt-Moffit Field, where he sold tickets, made hot dogs, chased foul balls, cleaned the fields and much more. “

You name it, I’ve done it,” Hedrick said. “I’m devoted to the kids, and Legion Baseball is a summertime program where we can give kids an opportunity to get off the streets and showcase their talents and play a sport they love. I love the game, and my wife and I go to every Lexington-Davidson Post 8 home game.”

Hedrick has been a member of the NEC for the past 18 years and currently serves as chairman of the Resolutions Subcommittee. His wife, Marie, is a former North Carolina Auxiliary president.

“Our whole life is the Legion and the Auxiliary,” Hedrick said. “We love The American Legion, and I couldn’t be associated with a better group of people and veterans.”

The 2011 North Carolina American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame induction banquet took place at Post 8 with 280 attendees. This year’s guest speaker was former New York Yankee second baseman Bobby Richardson.