Wanted: A level playing field

   I grew up in an ethnic town where everyone had a place. On Sunday mornings they worshipped with their own kind. The Irish at St. Pat's, the Polish at St. Stanislaus, the Italians at St. Rita's. After work they huddled among their own at clubs like the Polish Falcons or Sons of Italy.
   But at one place things were different. At hometown baseball games, guys with names like Finazzo, Dusckas and Kowalski all played on the same team. And on the national scene, only in baseball did I hear names like Campanella, Mazeroski or Colavito. Baseball leveled the playing field for people of all backgrounds and brought their fans together in the stands.
   I recently related this memory to Gerald Barnes, founder of the Norcross Baseball Club. Barnes hopes to resurrect America's number one pastime in Norcross, the world's greatest baseball town. When the population of Norcross was only 1,000, they sent 18 players to the majors. And their home team, the Norcross Nuggets won repeated state championships.
   "Where did you grow up?" Barnes asked.
   "Erie, Pennsylvania," I said.
   "So did I," he said. "We were at the same ballgames."
   After the shock wore off, we laughed at ourselves for using words like awesome and neat. But his vision for Norcross baseball stems from those very memories that we both cherish from our childhood.
   With the multitude of immigrants in the Norcross area gathering in their own churches and their own ethnic hangouts, it seems a hometown baseball team would be an excellent way of building community. Also, with the lack of roots many children experience in their move to America, a hometown baseball team could provide them identity with their community along with immersion in American culture.
   Barnes already has the diversity factor in place. Guys with names like Aruam Gonzales, Bernardo Fulleda and-I love this one-Carlos McKay are batting away with guys with classic American names.
   Talent is there as well, including Ken Bonifay, who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. College players frequently call Barnes asking to be on the team.
   The only thing lacking is funds. In order for the team to play in June, they must sod Webb Field by January. The cost is $16,000.
   Unfortunately, city officials so far have expressed no interest in this opportunity to give their multicultural city a home team to root for. The Norcross business community supports the club and nearly forty businesses serve as sponsors.   Norcross Dixie Youth Baseball sees the team providing a learning experience for kids, with possible baseball clinics in the future. Volunteers are on deck to do the work. Only money is needed.
   Hopefully an individual or corporation will come up to bat. Baseball is an investment in the community. The Norcross Baseball Club has already drawn a lot of interest. And it's awesome and neat what baseball can accrue in a memory bank.

The Norcross Baseball Club: norcrossbaseball@yahoo.com 

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