Congressman Anthony Brindisi has joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to brush back Major League Baseball’s (MLB) attempts to eliminate 42 minor league baseball clubs, including the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.
“The proposal by Major League Baseball to eliminate minor league teams, like New York’s Binghamton Rumble Ponies, is a big swing and a miss,” said Brindisi. “Minor league baseball and the communities that support it are part of the fabric of America and its favorite pastime. I joined my colleagues, from both parties, to call on Major League Baseball to work with Minor League Baseball and preserve affordable, family friendly fun. As a lifelong baseball fan and New Yorker, I am not going to sit on the bench in this fight. We need to keep the Rumble Ponies in Binghamton and help save minor league baseball.”
Brindisi’s resolution expresses support for Minor League Baseball (MiLB). The resolution highlights the rich history and economic and philanthropic impact of minor league teams across the country.
Brindisi, a co-lead on the resolution, is leading the fight to protect the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Last year, Brindisi met with MLB representatives and MiLB owners, including Rumble Ponies owner John Hughes, to try and find a solution to preserve minor league baseball in Binghamton. Brindisi sent a letter to MLB Commissioner, and Upstate native, Rob Manfred, asking the Commissioner to reconsider MLB’s plan.
The resolution was supported by more than 60 lawmakers from both parties.
RESOLUTION
Supporting Minor League Baseball, and for other purposes.
Whereas 40 million plus fans have attended Minor League Baseball games each season for 15 consecutive years;
Whereas Minor League Baseball provides wholesome affordable entertainment in 160 communities throughout the country;
Whereas, in 2018, Minor League Baseball clubs donated over $45 million in cash and in-kind gifts to their local communities and completed over 15,000 volunteer hours;
Whereas the economic stimulus and development provided by Minor League Baseball clubs extends beyond the cities and towns where it is played, to wide and diverse geographic
areas comprising 80 percent of the population in the Nation;
Whereas Minor League Baseball is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion through its Copa de la Diversio´n, MiLB Pride, FIELD Program, and Women in Baseball Leadership initiatives;
Whereas Minor League Baseball is the first touchpoint of the national pastime for millions of youth and the only touchpoint for those located in communities far from Major League cities;
Whereas Congress has enacted numerous statutory exemptions and immunities to preserve and sustain a system for Minor League Baseball and its relationship with Major League Baseball;
Whereas abandonment of 42 Minor League Baseball clubs by Major League Baseball would devastate communities, bond purchasers, and other stakeholders that rely on the economic stimulus these clubs provide;
Whereas Minor League Baseball clubs enrich the lives of millions of Americans each year through special economic, social, cultural, and charitable contributions; and
Whereas preservation of Minor League Baseball in 160 communities is in the public interest, as it will continue to provide affordable, family friendly entertainment to those communities:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved,
That the House of Representatives—
(1) supports the preservation of Minor League Baseball in 160 American communities;
(2) recognizes the unique social, economic, and historic contributions that Minor League Baseball has made to American life and culture; and
(3) encourages continuation of the 117-year foundation of the Minor Leagues in 160 communities through continued affiliations with Major League Baseball.
