Governor Patrick and Baseball History
PITTSFIELD -- Mayor James M. Ruberto today announced that Governor
Deval Patrick has issued an official Proclamation honoring the City
of Pittsfield's unique place in baseball history. Governor Patrick's
Proclamation is dated today, September 5th, in recognition of the
anniversary of Pittsfield's 1791 bylaw that stands as the earliest
known documentation of the game of baseball in North America.
Mayor Ruberto thanked Governor Patrick for the special recognition
of Pittsfield and also voiced his appreciation for First Home Plate
co-founders Brian P. Johnson and Phil Massery, who have spearheaded
the effort to build permanent monuments in honor of Pittsfield as
Baseball's "Garden of Eden."
"I'd like to thank Governor Patrick for taking the time to
acknowledge this important date in the history of the game of
baseball, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the City of
Pittsfield," said Mayor Ruberto. "His proclamation will give even
more momentum to the work being done by First Home Plate to create
permanent fixtures in Pittsfield that will serve as a true historic
and cultural destination."
The gubernatorial Proclamation is the latest of several milestones
of the First Home Plate cause, which has included recognition at
Fenway Park for the 215 th anniversary of the 1791 bylaw, a feature
on the Boston Red Sox program, Red Sox Stories, the production of
the song, "Happy Birthday Baseball," and numerous features in local,
regional and national press outlets.
"We are confident that the Governor's Proclamation will be another
springboard forward," said First Home Plate co-founder Brian
Johnson. " Pittsfield's truly remarkable distinction in the history
of baseball is something that should be celebrated by generations to
come and a permanent monument will become another key historic and
cultural draw to a revitalized Pittsfield."
The Proclamation is available for viewing in the Mayor's Office and
the text is also available. Please contact the Mayor's Office for
more information at 413-499-9321.
