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BY JOEY CAPORALI
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
“I need to think something lasts forever, and it might as well be that state of being that is a game; it might as well be that, in a green field, in the sun.” From A Great and Glorious Game:
Baseball Writings of A. Bartlett Giamatti Just four miles south of Cooperstown one can see such a field, or fields; 22 to be exact, nestled among the hills of Otsego County. These green fields are what make up the Cooperstown Dreams Park. Built in 1996 by the Presutti family, it has become a Mecca for youth baseball.
According to its website, the park was born from a simple yet insightful thought many years ago. While standing in the Baseball Hall of Fame with his son and grandson, Louis A. Presutti said, “Every kid in America should have the opportunityto play baseball in Cooperstown!”
That dream lived on in the grandson’s mind, as the young boy and his father set out to dedicate themselves to the cause of
youth baseball. And in its 15 years in existence, it has played host to thousands of young boys and girls who play the sport.
The first 98 of the more than 1,200 teams that will travel to the Dreams Park arrivethis week for the start of a 13-week season between now and Labor Day.
All 50 states at one time or another have been represented at the park, and they have all come to see and play on 22 enclosed, and lighted baseballstadiums, and 104 clubhouses in a baseball village on 150 acres
Every week but one is filled with teams consisting of players 12 years and under, while June 18 thru 24 is reserved for teams with players 10 years and under.
It seems like a massive undertaking, but according to the park’s website, “It is all done with the help of some 400 dedicated and hard-working employees both full and part-time.”
During the season, the village will see visitors filling the streets and sidewalks, local restaurants, museums, and shops. According to a tourism release from the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce, these visitors will spend a combined $157 million in Otsego County. And while this spending keeps local businesses operating and many citizens employed, it also provides a considerable financial impact that benefits the county and its residents.
The release goes on to say that the sales tax revenue generated in Otsego County due to tourism related income was $10.5 million in 2008.
The Chamber of Commerce also said it is critical to keep in mind that 3,200 jobs have been created as a result of guests choosing the village as a destination.
The goal of the Cooperstown Dreams Park, according to its website, “is providing a cultural and life-enriching experience for young boys and girls who love the game.”
This is done by, “visiting the village of Cooperstown and playing in the legendary home of baseball, by playing and meeting peers from around the country and the world, and by reaching within themselves to fulfill their ultimate dream.”
Some notable participants of the park include major leaguer Matt Garza, who played at the park in 1996 from Fresno, Calif. Garza was drafted as a pitcher in 2005 by the Minnesota Twins, andin 2008 was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays where he earned MVP honors for the ALCS in which he helped the Rays beat the Boston Red Sox, posting a 1.38 ERA in two starts, earning the decisive victory in game 7 of the ALCS. On July 26, 2010 against the Detroit Tigers, he threw the first no-hitter in Tampa Bay Rays team history. In 2011 he was traded to the Chicago Cubs.
And David Price, who played at the park in 1998 with the Tennessee Allstars.
In 2007, Price was selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Rays. Just weeks after his debut, In game 7 of the ALCS, Price earned himself a memorable save allowing his team to reach their first ever World Series appearance. In 2010 Price finished second in voting for the Cy Young Award.
The Dreams Park did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
