God and baseball
-
- July
- 7
I was at a Little League baseball game last night, a tournament game between teams from different communities.
The players were introduced and stood on the first- and third-base lines for the National Anthem.
They they recited the Little League Pledge, which I don’t think I ever heard before.
I took note because the opening line was: “I trust in God.”
According to the LL website, the pledge was written in 1954 by a late president of LL Baseball.
In 1955, President Eisenhower wrote to LL about the pledge: “Thank you for…sending me the inspiring and fine pledge that, I understand, will now be repeated at the start of the Little League Baseball games.”
The LL website notes: “Whether to recite the Little League Pledge, play or sing the National Anthem, or say a prayer, is entirely up to the local league’s board of directors. While many local leagues and districts include a recitation of the Little League Pledge in ceremonies, it is not, and has never been, required to be recited by any person involved with Little League Baseball or Softball.”
Here is the whole pledge:
*****
I trust in God
I love my country
And will respect its laws
I will play fair
And strive to win
But win or lose
I will always do my best
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, July 7th, 2009 at 12:48 pm by Gary Stern.
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The world of religion, we don't have to tell you, is vast. The purpose of this blog is for Stern to note, flag and comment on some of the more interesting religious developments on the scene – weighty and quirky, somber and laughable, far away and just down the road. He won't interpret Scripture, take sides in conflicts or judge anyone. But he will take advantage of the journalist's license to observe.
Nanuet Little League has the pledge on its website under “About NLL”