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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 27, 2002 PR-230-02 www.nyc.gov |
MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG HONORS HARLEM LITTLE LEAGUE 2002 MID-ATLANTIC
LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today honored the Harlem Little League
All-Star team at City Hall. The team captured this year's New York
State Championship and the Mid-Atlantic Region Championship, and reached
the United States semifinals in the Little League World Series held
in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Sports
Commissioner Kenneth J. Podziba and Stephen D. Keener, President and
CEO of Little League Baseball, joined Mayor Bloomberg in congratulating
the team and Harlem Little League President Jeanette Spencer, team
Founders Dwight and Iris Raiford, and team Manager Morris McWilliams.
Each player received a Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding
Sportsmanship, as well as a $200 gift certificate to Modell's Sporting
Goods, which was donated by Modell's to the players.
"On behalf of all New Yorkers, I would like to congratulate the
Harlem Little League team on becoming the Mid-Atlantic Champions and
for their tremendous effort in the Little League World Series,"
said Mayor Bloomberg. "They played with passion and pride, and
today we get to show them how much we appreciated their performance
and good sportsmanship."
The Harlem All-Star team reached the United States semifinals of the
Little League World Series after completing pool play with a 2-1 record.
The Harlem team was eliminated from the World Series by the New England
Champions from Worcester, Massachusetts. The Harlem Little League
All-Star team was the fourth team from New York to make it to the
Little League World Series.
"The Harlem
Little League team created a tremendous sense of excitement that ignited
the hearts and imagination of New Yorkers," said Commissioner
Podziba. "We are proud of these young champions who represented
New York City with determination and dignity."
"The Harlem Little League is an outstanding testament to the
value of the Little League program to children in Urban America,"
said Little League Baseball President and CEO Stephen Keener. "The
dream didn't end in Williamsport for these kids - it really just began."
Little League Baseball was founded in 1939 by Williamsport resident Carl E. Stotz. By 1949, Little League Baseball had expanded to 307 leagues in the United States, and by 1978, there were more than 6,500 Little Leagues worldwide. The Harlem Little League was founded in 1989 by Dwight Raiford and his wife, Iris. Mr. Raiford was the first African-American to be elected Chairman of the Little League Baseball International Board of Directors in the 62-year history of the program.
www.nyc.gov
| Contact: | Edward
Skyler / Lark-Marie Anton (212) 788-2958 |
| Andy
Gould (Sports Commission) (212) 487-5665 |