Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today received the 1997 USA Baseball Achievement Award during the 20th Annual USA Baseball "Salute to Excellence" Awards Dinner held at the Waldorf Astoria. The Achievement Award honors individuals who played amateur baseball and have since achieved success beyond the game. The Mayor was honored for his continued support of the Mickey Mantle Foundation and for his love of the game.
"It's a real honor to receive the USA Baseball Achievement Award," said Mayor Giuliani. "What is really being celebrated tonight is the spirit of the game of baseball. USA Baseball understands that the most important thing about baseball is not the number of homers a slugger hits in a season, but the feeling you get every time you're up at bat, the feeling you get when you throw a strike, or make a diving catch for the third out of the inning.
"That's how young athletes come to learn about achievement, teamwork, and perseverance. No matter how hard you try, the individual can't dominate a baseball game. You have to play together, and make the most of your strengths as a team. Anyone who's ever worked with the Mickey Mantle Foundation can tell you this and I can tell you this from watching my son Andrew play. I want to thank USA Baseball for teaching these valuable lessons to the amateurs and children of America and encourage them to continue teaching these values in the years to come," the Mayor concluded.
Past recipients of the USA Baseball Achievement Award include former President George Bush, Author John Grisham and 1996 Olympic Baseball Head Coach Skip Bertman.
Daniel F. O'Brien, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of USA Baseball, said "USA Baseball is honored to present Mayor Giuliani with the 1997 Achievement Award. His career accomplishments and continued support for our National Pastime make him an ideal recipient of this year's award."
The 1997 USA Baseball Salute to Excellence Awards Program is sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association, underscoring the commitment of Major League Baseball players to the grassroots development of baseball programs around the world, particularly for youth. The event is cosponsored by the Chase Manhattan Bank and Street & Smith's Sports Group.
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