Sons of The American Legion members are encouraged to become involved in Legion Baseball.
The time of year has come when young men start thinking of Americas favorite pass time — baseball. American Legion Baseball to be exact.
Let me give you a few facts. Legion Baseball was started in 1925 by the Department of South Dakota. When I think of South Dakota, baseball is not high on my list. The veterans there saw a need to give teenage boys an outlet to show their skills. In doing so, they helped make some of the best ball players in the world. Many a young man has set foot on a Legion ball field. They learned things like fitness, leadership and teamwork — all traits used by former great players (e.g., Sparky Anderson, Dusty Baker, Johnny Bench, Rodger Clemens and Ted Williams, to name a few). In fact, other sports’ icons such as Rocky Bleier, Bob Griese and Steve Young got their start in Legion Baseball.
The American Legion teams are splint into eight divisions, each having from five to as many as seven departments. Each department can have two age groups: Junior age 13-17 and Senior age 19 and under. Of the 51 Legion departments that have a program, only 30 departments can claim a National Championship.
For more information, contact your local department or visit www.legion.org/baseball.
Americanism Committee Member
Tom Chebro
- Sons