Senate Resolution No. 2351

BY: Senator ORTT

URGING Major League Baseball to reconsider its
consolidation proposal and maintain its robust Minor
League system, including the many proud franchises
in New York State

WHEREAS, New York State is proud to be the "Birthplace of Baseball",
after Union Army Officer Abner Doubleday invented the sport in
Cooperstown in 1839; and

WHEREAS, New York has a long tradition of Minor League Baseball,
with the famous New York-Penn League forming in Batavia in 1939; and

WHEREAS, New York currently boasts 10 Minor League teams in cities
and towns across the State; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body urges Major League Baseball to
reconsider its consolidation proposal and maintain its robust Minor
League system, including the many proud franchises in New York State;
and

WHEREAS, New York's only Major League teams compete in New York
City, therefore Minor League teams serve as the only opportunity to see
professional baseball for many fans across Upstate and Western New York;
and

WHEREAS, Minor League baseball teams are an important piece of the
cultural heritage in cities and towns across New York State, and provide
an affordable means of family fun; and

WHEREAS, Minor League baseball teams play an important role in local
economies by attracting tourists, filling hotel rooms and restaurants,
and creating jobs; and

WHEREAS, Currently, Major League Baseball is considering a
consolidation of Minor Leagues that would eliminate 42 of those teams,
including the Auburn Doubledays, Batavia Muckdogs, Binghamton Rumble
Ponies, and the Staten Island Yankees; and

WHEREAS, Losing these teams would strike a large cultural and
economic blow to many small cities across New York State; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the importance of Minor
League baseball and wishes to see it grow in New York State; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pauses in its deliberations to
urge Major League Baseball to reconsider its consolidation proposal and
maintain its robust Minor League system, including the many proud
franchises in New York State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred, Minor

League Baseball Commissioner Pat O'Conner, all Major League Baseball
clubs, and all of New York State's Minor League Baseball clubs.