TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Suzanne Fisher, Director - Parks & Recreation
THROUGH: Donald B. Cooper, City Manager
DATE: July 5, 2016
Title
RECOGNITION OF DELRAY AMERICAN LITTLE LEAGUE FOR 45 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETIC SERVICE TO THE YOUTH OF DELRAY BEACH
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Motion to recognize the Delray Beach American Little League for forty-five (45) years of continuous supreme excellence in athletic service to the youth of Delray Beach.
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Background:
The Delray Beach American League was organized by Eddie Odom, Jr. In 1971 and granted a charter by Little League Baseball, Inc. on May 12, 1971. The league organized into four major league teams ages (9-12) and expanded to charter Senior League (ages 13-15) and Tee-Ball (ages 6-8) in 1973. In 1976 expanded and organized Big League Baseball serving youngsters ages 16-18. In 1992, Delray American Little League expanded to charter girls softball ages 9-15.
The Delray Beach American League won Senior League District 7 Championships in 1975, l976, 1977; won the State of Florida Senior League championship in l976 and participated in the Southern Regional Championships in Tampa, Florida, in the same year, finishing 3rd in the entire Southern Region of the United States. In l978, Delray American League won the first ever 13 year-old District 7 Championships later becoming the Junior League; and won District 7 Big League Championships in 1979, 1981, l982.
The Delray Beach American League has hosted the District and Regional championships, as well as many Invitational tournaments for over the years.
The Delray Beach American League has fostered the college careers of former players who played baseball on their college teams such as Jasper Brown, Gus Burgess, Jerome Burgess, Joseph Chaney, Michael Collins, Jody Flint, Terry Gammage, Rico Jackson, Roy Jackson, Artis Johnson, The late Murvile King, Jr., Steve King, Vic Mitchell, Vincent Mitchell, Eddie Odom,III, Anthony Potts, and Tamar Williams; and
The Delray Beach American League has had players drafted and/or played professional baseball in the minor league programs such as Artis Johnson, Eddie Odom,III, Gus Burgess, Jerome Burgess, Terry Gammage, Willie Wilkins, with Gus Burgess making it to the official forty-man roster of the Boston Red Sox.
The Delray Beach American League has served over ten thousand youngsters through the unyielding support and dedication of over two thousand adult volunteers including parents, managers, coaches, sponsors, and other supporters of Delray Beach for forty-five (45) years as an organized chartered Little League program. Mr. Eddie Odom and Mrs. Yvonne Odom continue to serve the Delray Beach American League on a daily basis. Their dedication to the league and the youth of Delray Beach has been unwavered for forty-five (45) years. Through their dedication, and the dedication of so many volunteers the Delray Beach American League continues to grow and thrive, while continuing to support and encourage the athletic talents of Delray youth.
Timing of Request:
Parks & Recreation would like to honor the Delray Beach American League for their forty-five (45) years of continuous service to the youth of Delray during July is Parks & Recreation Month.