Hudson’s fields of dreams
Local municipalities proudly open their doors to prestigious baseball tournaments
While the Major League prima donnas talk about setting an actual September strike date (and what a ludicrous thought that is), giving the national pastime a bad rap and a bad name with fans all over the world, the game of baseball is proudly being played on practically every field in Hudson County.
Who needs the spoiled rotten millionaires to pass the lazy, hazy days of summer away, when we have a whole bunch of hard working and dedicated kids who simply want to play the game the way it was intended to be played?
What ever happened to the term "for the love of the game?" It’s gone in the eyes of the greedy major leaguers, who are determined to walk away Sept. 16 – just five days after our nation grieves on the year anniversary of the greatest tragedy in history. Can you imagine the gall of these people? Have they forgotten what our nation went through a year ago? If they go on strike, then it is a direct slap in the face of the memories of the 2,800-plus souls we lost on that horrific day. National pastime? Hah!
However, the love of the game is quite evident in places like Weehawken, where the 14-year-old Babe Ruth state tournament was held over the last 10 days, playing to packed crowds, with several dedicated and dutiful souls rolling out the red carpet to welcome teams from places like Morristown and Millburn.
The love of the game is definitely recognized in Jersey City, where the state Sandy Koufax tournament has been taking place, at Cochrane Stadium, as teams from all over New Jersey convene with the hope of making it to the next level, the regional tournament, with the collective eyes set on the Sandy Koufax World Series next weekend.
The love of the game is certainly alive in Hoboken, where the Amateur American Baseball Congress has been holding the Mickey Mantle state tournament, with teams of boys 15 and 16 years old have converged on the Mile Square City to get a chance to move on to the Mickey Mantle regional tournament in Maryland next week.
The love of the game is flourishing in a baseball hotbed like West New York, which has several of its teams competing on a host of different levels and leagues throughout northern New Jersey. One needs a compass, a Rand McNally map and a 1,000-page scorebook to keep up with the many exploits of the West New York baseball wizards, who definitely earn the right to be called "Baseballtown, USA," for all of their winning ways.
The love of the game is showcased in a closely-knit community like North Bergen, which has been the host of several youth baseball and softball tournaments over the last month, too many to list and count.
And the love of the game is being proudly displayed in Secaucus, which hosted the Section 2 Little League tournament last weekend and will get ready to become the host of the international Sandy Koufax World Series next weekend at Kane Stadium, a regular United Nations smorgasbord of baseball brilliance nestled right off the Jersey Turnpike, for all to see.
All of these tournaments, all of these activities, have all taken place on Hudson County’s fields of dreams. Each and every one of these proud municipalities have dusted off their bleachers, spruced up their grass and welcomed baseball people and players from all over the state – and beyond – welcoming them all to Hudson County.
Imagine that. Hudson County is believed to be a depressed area, a downtrodden urban area that no one wants to dare to visit. Around the state, the perception of Jersey City is that it’s as bad as Newark and Camden. Hoboken is simply a Yuppie party town. Weehawken is the way to the Lincoln Tunnel and Secaucus is where the malls are.
So the rest of the state believes. As residents, we all know better. We know the amount of pride that comes with being from Hudson County.
Over the last few weeks, the area has had the golden opportunity, through the beloved game of baseball, featuring kids who truly play for the love of the game – and nothing else – to beat their collective chests just a little.
These towns have proudly proclaimed, "Welcome to Hudson County, welcome to an area that takes its baseball very serious and takes its hospitality equally as seriously."
To the baseball people of Hudson County, to each and every last one of you, stand up and take a bow. You’ve served your neighbors well. You ran first-class baseball tournaments that should make your town leaders and administrators very proud. You represented your community with the highest of dignity. You are the reason why Hudson County baseball is so well respected, not only throughout these parts of New Jersey, but throughout the nation.
Last week, I sat in Bobby Valentine’s restaurant outside of Shea Stadium, after watching the Mets play the Marlins. It was a game that featured John Valentin of Jersey City, playing for the Mets.
While sitting at Bobby V’s, there were two baseball games on the television sets – the Tigers against the Red Sox and the Expos against the Cubs. Pitching for the Red Sox was Willie Banks, a Hudson County kid. On the TV to the left, pitching for the Cubs, was Joe Borowski, a Hudson County kid.
It was wild, seeing Banks and Borowski pitching in the major leagues, simultaneously, on two televisions, one featuring a game in Chicago and the other a game in Detroit.
I happened to point it out to the two people sitting next to me, how I knew both pitchers since they were in high school (in the case of Willie, I’ve known him since he was 13).
You couldn’t believe the pride I had in saying such, that both of those kids were from Hudson County, my home. The patrons of the bar were impressed as well, not believing that two kids could come from the same area and be pitching in the major leagues at the same exact time. The odds were astronomical.
If that’s not a prime example of how important baseball is to Hudson County, then I don’t know what is.
Heck, the darn game was invented here. Just ask anyone in Hoboken, the celebrated birthplace of baseball, the Elysian Fields and such. The monument on 11th and Washington says exactly that.
Well, it will be a shame to see the professionals get washed away by a silly strike. Especially when the stars of tomorrow graced our area so well in recent weeks.