THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 15, 1995 TAG: 9501170475
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Dare County's drive to capture the 1996 Babe Ruth Baseball World Series has gotten an unexpected boost from a couple of Hall of Fame pitchers.
Native North Carolinians Jim ``Catfish'' Hunter and Gaylord Perry have pitched their support to help bring the championship event to the Outer Banks.
Hunter, a native of Hertford, appeared at a reception Friday night at a Kill Devil Hills school gymnasium. Perry, a native of Williamston, plans to move to the Outer Banks. Perry's sister contacted an area radio station Friday and expressed the 314-game winner's support for the event.
Nearly 1,000 local residents turned out for the rally to show support for the 10-team double elimination tournament. Dare County and Concord, N.H., are the finalists for the 1996 World Series, which will feature some of the nation's best 16-to 18 year-old players.
Hunter's appearance and the size of the crowd won the praise of league officials, who appeared at a Saturday morning news conference in Manteo.
League President and CEO Ron Tellefsen said Saturday that even if Dare County is not awarded the 1996 Series, there is a chance the area will get a bid for 1997. A decision on the 1996 event will be made Feb. 1.
``We never like having one city going against another,'' Tellefsen said. ``Concord hosted the 13-year-old Series last year, but we're always looking to expand the Babe Ruth family. We've been very impressed by what we've seen so far.''
Tellefsen said that host communities are required to put up $40,000 as a commitment to the Series, but that by 1996, that figure may increase to $60,000.
Dare County officials said they are working to build a public-private partnership to raise the necessary investment. A World Series of this type is expected to bring $1.5 million into the local economy.
County Manager Terry Wheeler said the county is ready to make the commitment.
``The money is there,'' he said. ``But we're not in the tourist business. We're thinking about what it means to the kids in Dare County. They'll have a chance to be part of a World Series. That's something they'll never forget. And it will be a great economic benefit to the county.''
Wheeler added that Dare County officials will seek grants from the Dare County Tourism Board to help underwrite the cost of the investment, and to bring county playing fields up to Babe Ruth standards. Seats will be added to the Manteo High School diamond, and a tourism board grant could help defray that cost.
Dare County Public Information Officer Charles Hartig said businesses are already expressing an interest in providing support.
``What you'll see is a public/private partnership,'' Hartig said. ``We're already getting a large number of companies who are interested in providing sponsorships.''
The league delegation toured local baseball facilities, residential areas and hotel facilities, as well as local historic sites.
The 1995 series will be held in Trail, British Columbia, in 1995. Some 900,000 youths in the United States and other countries participate in Babe Ruth Baseball annually. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
THE PLAYERS
Two native North Carolinians, Gaylord Perry of Williamston and
Jim ``Catfish'' Hunter of Hertford put their big-league credentials
behind Dare County's effort to land the 1996 Babe Ruth Boys 16-18
World Series. Here is a quick look at their careers.
Jim ``Catfish'' Hunter: Member, Baseball Hall of Fame. Five
20-win seasons. Appeared in five World Series with Oakland and New
York. Winner of the American League Cy Young Award in 1974. Pitched
a perfect game in 1968 against Minnesota.
Gaylord Perry: Member, Baseball Hall of fame. Winner of American
League Cy Young Award, 1972, and National League Cy Young Award,
1977. 314 career wins, ranks him 15th.
by CNB