Senate Resolution No. 1500

BY: Senator GRIFFO

CONGRATULATING the 1983 Utica Blue Sox upon the
occasion of their 40th Anniversary of capturing the
NY-Penn League championship

WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports can be
achieved only through strenuous practice, team play and team spirit,
nurtured by dedicated coaching and strategic planning; and

WHEREAS, Athletic competition enhances the moral and physical
development of players and instills in them the value of teamwork while
imparting a desire for continued success, fair play and competition
within athletes; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate the
1983 Utica Blue Sox upon the occasion of their 40th Anniversary of
capturing the NY-Penn League championship, to be celebrated with a "Meet
and Greet" party on Friday, September 15, 2023, at Tiny's Grill in
Utica, New York; and

WHEREAS, In attendance at the "Meet and Greet" party will be team
members, coaches, and staff members that were nominated to be inducted
into the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame at the 33rd Annual Induction
Ceremony on September 17, 2023; at the event will be team member
inductees: Jim Gattis, Rocky Coyle, Don Jacoby, Ed Wolfe, Joe Picchioni,
Bob Hendershot, and Robin Dreizler; coach inductees: Barry Moss, Player
Coach; Bob Veale, Pitching Coach; staff member inductees: Joanne Gerace,
General Manager; James Ruffing, Clubhouse Manager; Evander Schley, Owner
Group; lastly, Michael Zalewski, Traveling Secretary; also in
attendance, will be Brad Weatherly, coming from Toronto to make a movie
about the Utica Blue Sox; and

WHEREAS, 40 years ago, the 1983 Utica Blue Sox team rose to the
occasion to capture the NY-Penn League championship on that historic
year and the team remains Utica's last professional team to win a title
in their league; and

WHEREAS, The route to the championship included victories against
the Little Falls Mets by half a game in a tight Eastern Division race
and then a strong win against the Newark Orioles, two games to one in
the best-of-three championship series; and

WHEREAS, Writing about the experience of his year as owner of the
Class A, minor league Utica Blue Sox, Roger Kahn authored Good Enough to
Dream, the story of the team with a dream; and

WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride
and accomplishment, and Player Coach Barry Moss and Pitching Coach Bob
Veale and their outstanding athletes clearly contributed to the spirit
of excellence which is a tradition of their sport; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the members of the 1983 Utica Blue Sox: Shawn Barton, Rocky
Coyle, Robin Dreizler, William Finnegan, Jim Gattis, Jeff Gyarmati, Bob

Hendershot, Scott Hurst, Don Jacoby, Mark Krynitsky, Larry Lee, Andy
Mehalko, Bon Merenda, Jerry Moore, Roy Moretti, Barry Moss, Bryan
Oatman, Dominic Perrino, Willie "Joe" Picchioni, Daryl Pitts, Brian
Robinson, Daniel Roma, John Seitz, Ralph Sheffield, Steve Sproesser,
Jimmy Tompkins, Roy "Ed" Wolfe, James Wright, Mike Zamba; Player Coach
Barry Moss and Pitching Coach Bob Veale; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the members of the 1983 Utica Blue Sox, Player Coach
Barry Moss and Pitching Coach Bob Veale.