|
September
1st, 2005 marks James Henry O'Rourke's 155th birthday.
The public is invited to join The First Hit
Inc. and the James Henry O'Rourke SABR chapter in celebrating the birthday
of Bridgeport's only National Baseball Hall of Fame member.
Beginning at noon a GBTA trolley will transport
individuals from downtown locations to the O'Rourke home at 274 Pembroke
Street. Events at the house will include a variety of entertainment, hot
dogs available from Sugar Plumb caterers and birthday cake.
Paul Timpanelli, President of BRBC, was excited
about the birthday celebration, and the historic significance of the day.
Mr. Timpanelli, a baseball fan, believes, "that baseball has been
a very important part of Bridgeport's past and the game should remain
a part of it's future."
Immediately following the events at Pembroke
Street a brief graveside ceremony led by Father Larry Carroll will take
place at the O'Rourke family plot at Saint Michaels cemetery.
The day's events will culminate with the
James Henry O'Rourke night at the Ball Park at Harbor Yard when the Bridgeport
Bluefish take on the Lancaster Barnstormers. Tickets for the game are
available by calling 345-4800 ext 150. For more info call Michael Bielawa
at 576-7413 or Bernie Crowley at 579-8855.
---
A Personal note
from James Henry O'Rourke's Great, Great Grandson, Paul Conan:
Our
group, The First Hit, Inc., hopes you will join the Society of American
Baseball Research (SABR) and us on September 1st to commemorate James
O'Rourke's 155th birthday.
We will gather beginning around 12 noon at
the O'Rourke house, and we offer an open invitation to anyone interested
in attending. The Bluefish mascot will be at the house as part of the
birthday celebration, along with bagpipes and of course a birthday cake!
Later
in the afternoon we invite you to attend the ceremony at St. Michael's
Cemetery where he is buried.
That
evening at the Bluefish baseball game, they have given me the honor of
throwing out the first pitch, as part of James Henry O'Rourke Day. We
hope to see you there!
|