Sports
Tommy John Helps Open New City Little League Season
The legendary pitcher appeared at the league's opening day ceremony
While New City Little League started its 59th season with games a few weeks back, the league held its official Opening Day ceremony Saturday morning at Zukor Park.
The day kicked off with representatives from teams in all divisions up through the majors walking out onto the main field at Zukor holding banners with their team name and sponsor. Gifts certificates to local businesses and Rockland Boulders tickets were raffled off.
“It’s been a great season so far,” said Lon Hofstein, president of the league. “Today was a beautiful day, we got beautiful weather and gave out a lot of great prizes. It was a great day for the kids and for the parents.”
Jamie del Rosario appeared to represent last year’s New City Little League 11-12 All Star softball team, which went to the .
The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by Tommy John, who pitched in the Major Leagues for 26 years, including two stints with the Yankees.
“You guys are starting off on a journey,” he said. “My mom and dad signed me up for City Rec Baseball at Terre Haute, Indiana, when I was eight-years-old, and I never believed that I would play in baseball as long as I did.”
In his career, John won 288 games, and said that it’s possible someone standing on the field in Little League could grow up and win 289. He also praised the league for their amenities.
“I’ve been around New City a few times, and I know how much that they love children’s activities, but these fields that you play on are outstanding,” he said.
He also told the players one way to get better is to watch how the professionals play, and to try and see how they play.
“I never had a lesson growing up,” John said. “All my dad said was, ‘Watch the good pitchers on TV and try to do what they do’ and it was pretty good advice.”
Jason Strum, 12, was picked by the league to catch the ceremonial first pitch. Strum, a sixth-grader at Felix Festa Middle School, is a member of the Braves in the league’s majors division. He was excited to catch for John.
“It’ll be cool,” Strum said. “I hope he throws a curveball.”
John threw out the first pitch, along with State Sen. David Carlucci, Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, Clarkstown Town Supervisor Alex Gromack and Legislator Ed Day.
Before leaving, John left the players with one last piece of baseball advice.
“Play the game hard, play the game fair, respect the game and the game will respect you,” he said.
