Ronald Reagan

“ Because amateur baseball plays such an important role in our lives, and because millions of Americans are involved in the game as players, fans, and supporters, it is fitting that we should celebrate this uniquely American activity. ”

“ Baseball has achieved its greatest popularity and highest level of perfection in the United States, but it is rapidly gaining acceptance elsewhere. In Europe, and in Japan and other Far Eastern countries, there is growing recognition of baseball's great entertainment value and its effectiveness as a means of instilling those qualities of teamwork and fair play that are essential to good citizenship. ”

“ The game of baseball originated in the United States of America approximately 150 years ago and quickly became a fixture of community life. Today baseball diamonds dot parks, playgrounds, and schoolyards across the land, and virtually every village, town, and neighborhood has its own team, or teams. ”