The Don’t Take My Bat Away Coalition, which has grown to over one thousand members in Pennsylvania since being established just months ago, has named former Major Leaguer Dusty Baker as its national chairman.


 

Baker, the former two-time all-star outfielder, World Series winner, three-time League champion and former manager for the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs, issued the following statement on joining the coalition: “I’ve followed the issue of metal versus wood very closely, and I know that today’s non-wood bats are just as safe as wood. I also know that non-wood bats make a positive contribution to the game, especially for the average ballplayer. They make the game more fun, allow kids to start playing at a very young age, and help improve hitting, which is why nearly every amateur uses them. These bats are safe because they are designed according to strict rules that limit the ball’s exit speed to one comparable to the best wood bats. Baseball is a significant part of my life, and I think that league officials, coaches, and players should set the rules for the game.” B

 

aker is also father to an eight-year old son, Darren, who uses an aluminum bat as a Little League player. “I wouldn’t let Darren play with aluminum if it weren’t safe,” Baker added.

 

As national chairman, Baker will be the voice of the coalition, talk to the media and serve as a spokesman. He is an unpaid volunteer.

 

As of today, the Don’t Take My Bat Away Coalition has 3,954 members in 38 states, with most membership based almost entirely in the three states considering banning metal bats. There are 1,310 members in Pennsylvania, 1,302 in New York State, and 1,093 in New Jersey. Members are mostly players, coaches, parents and school officials.

 

As the Pennsylvania House Children and Youth Committee prepares for a September 27th hearing on legislation which would ban non-wood bats in amateur baseball and softball games for players under the age of 18, the Don’t Take My Bat Away Coalition announced its state co-chairmen for Pennsylvania.

 

Abraham Key, of Washington, is the President and CEO of PONY Baseball and Softball, a position he has held since 1995. Key has also served on the USA Baseball Board of Directors for the past 12 years, and has completed terms on the American Baseball Coaches Association Executive Committee, the America Baseball Coaches Association Board of Directors, and the National Council of Youth Sports Board of Directors. Key coaches youth baseball, softball and basketball in the Washington area. 

 

Stacey Stuck, of Milton, is the Junior Olympic Commissioner for the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of PA, a position she has held for 8 years. Prior to this, she was a District Junior Olympic and Women’s commissioner for the counties of Montour, Snyder, Union, Juniata, Mifflin and Northumberland for 12 years. Stacey played varsity softball for Shikellamy HS in Sunbury, and later played in the ASA women’s fast-pitch and slow-pitch programs, winning state championships at both levels. She has also umpired for several years.

 

Joe Wendler, of Glenville, is currently the Little League District Administrator for PA District 14, and has served in that position for the past 13 years. Mr. Wendler, whose son played youth sports, has been around baseball for 20 years, having both coached and umpired at the Little League level.