Foreword to Shaping Heroes
by William E. HaaseIn 1925 two great American institutions, Mount Rushmore National Memorial
and the American Legion Baseball program, were conceived in South Dakota.
The significant role that each would play in the history of our country and
their effects on the people of our land were unknown at the time.
Mt. Rushmore and its place in history have been chronicled gratuitously and
recognition of this great American icon is instantaneous. The American
Legion Baseball program also enjoys a celebrated history, a wide following,
and national popularity. The underlying foundations of the American Legion
Baseball program and its benefits to the youth who play the game reach
immeasurably into the future. We, as a people, ultimately benefit from and
share the values instilled by the program: honesty, integrity, courage,
trust, a sense of fair play and a passion for the game of baseball. These
shared values have shaped our culture decade after decade.
“In this city on July 17, 1925, by action of the South Dakota Department of
The American Legion, the nationwide organization of Legion Junior Baseball
was first proposed as a program of service to the youth of America.” Those
words are inscribed on a marble monument in the community of Milbank, South
Dakota, as a reminder of the beginning of this fine Americanism program.
American Legion Baseball became a national program by convention action in
1925 with the first national tournament being held in 1926. Sixteen states
were represented in this first year of operation, and by 1929, every state
entered teams into competition.
The years 1940 and 1941 marked the establishment of American Legion Baseball
as an institution for American youth. It still enjoys the distinction of
being the oldest and largest, nationwide, teenage baseball program in
America.
During World War II, the program was restricted but continued its service to
our nation’s youngsters. The post-war years saw the continued growth of the
program and the nation’s realization of the importance of this kind of
activity for youth of all age groups.
In 1949, the selection of an American Legion Player of the Year began
through cooperative effort with Mr. Robert Quinn, Director of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The sixties saw significant
growth under the leadership of George W. Rulon, Program Coordinator for
American Legion Baseball, who held that post from 1961 until his retirement
in 1987. James R. Quinlan succeeded Mr. Rulon as Program Coordinator,
continuing to uphold past traditions and continued growth of the program.
In 1982, with approval of and guidance from the National Americanism
Commission, a new annual regional tournament format was adopted. Sixty-four
of the best teams in the country began a national competition at select
regional sites. In 1998, The American Legion established a national baseball
scholarship program with scholarships being awarded annually based on
leadership, character, academics, and financial need.
Currently there are over 100,000 players ages 15-19 on 5,400 teams in all 50
states and Puerto Rico. Since its inception in 1925, over 10 million players
have participated in the American Legion Baseball program. Nearly 75 percent
of all college players and, on average, 55 percent of Major League players
have played American Legion Baseball. The program has spawned 49 Major
League players who have reached the pinnacle of the game by being recognized
for their accomplishments with enshrinement into the National Baseball Hall
of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
Today the American Legion Baseball program’s purpose continues to be the
same as it was in 1925: “An investment in America’s Youth.” The history of
American Legion Baseball has proven that America’s youth receives a thorough
understanding of the true value of sportsmanship, leadership, and individual
character building.
One of the most important aspects of any American Legion Baseball pre-game
ritual is the reciting of the “Code of Sportsmanship.”
AMERICAN LEGION CODE OF SPORTSMANSHIP
I Will:
- Keep the rules
- Keep faith with my teammates
- Keep my temper
- Keep myself fit
- Keep a stout heart in defeat
- Keep my pride under in victory
- Keep a sound soul, a clean mind, and a healthy body.
It is a sacred and time-honored code that each player is bound by and
promises to practice both on the field and in life.
I believe that those great American heroes who grace the face of Mount
Rushmore National Memorial could easily have been the architects of this
code. It is a solid foundation for building the youth of today into our
heroes of the future.
* * * *
For the past seven years William E. Hasse has served with the American
Legion Baseball program at the national level. He is a Marine, a Vietnam
Veteran and a member of The American Legion. His years in professional
baseball include 18 years as an executive with the Detroit Tigers and over
four years as an executive with the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Today he
continues to enjoy his association with The American Legion, the National
Baseball Hall of Fame, and the American Legion Baseball program.
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New Book To Be
Released January 2012
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Young Adult Novel
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NOTE:
All royalties from
Shaping Heroes benefit
American Legion
Baseball.
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“Dream Season will wow your soul.” —Mark Victor Hanson, co-author Chicken Soup for the Soul series
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