BY Helaina N. Hovitz
The crowds that usually gather at City Hall should always be as adorable as the one that was there on Sat., April 9. Nearly 900 Little Leaguers and their families marched in full uniform from City Hall Park to the Battery Park City ball fields to kick off the season. Scooter, the mascot of the Staten Island Yankees, led the crowd that spanned five city blocks.
Soon after crossing West Street, the marchers could hear Tom Goodkind and the Tri-Battery Pops summoning them to the field, where carnival games, popcorn machines and two moonbounces awaited.
Greeted at the gate by Mr. Met, mascot of the New York Mets, the crowd filed in accompanied by politicians and other notables. Councilwoman Margaret Chin was there as were Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Battery Park City Authority President Gayle Horwitz, Downtown Alliance President Elizabeth Berger, Community Board 1 chair Julie Menin, former City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral nominee Bill Thompson, the pitcher that took the Mets to their second World Series win in 1986, Ron Darling, and actor Michael Imperioli, best known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti on “The Sopranos.”
When you’ve got over 800 kids for an audience, the formal stuff has to move quickly. Tom Goodkind led his band in the national anthem, handing the microphone off to kids who were spotty on the words but high in enthusiasm.
After less than 10 minutes of statements from Stringer, Menin, Berger and Thompson, Downtown Little League President Bill Martino ended the ceremony on a high note. He handed mini-banners to last season’s 9-10 year old District 23 Champions to commemorate their win; among them was Julian Kaufman, 11, who was the object of Berger’s cheering—and then some.
“As a mom, it’s my job to embarrass him today,” Berger laughed.
Two hours of carnival fun commenced, and off the crowd flew to various locations on the field, a dunk tank filled with colored balls (it may be baseball season, but it’s still too cold for a dip), face painting, games and prizes, snacks and a 70-foot inflatable Olympic Challenge.
Bill Thompson was visibly ecstatic, cheering and whooping as he took in the scene. “Look at the size of this crowd! Look at this turnout!” he shouted.
The highlight of all the fun—perhaps more so for the baseball dads on deck—included a meet and greet with Darling, who posed for pictures, signed caps and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself.
“This is where it’s at. Kids remember it’s just a game,” Darling said.
Darling currently works as an on-air analyst for the Mets during the regular season on the television station SNY. He has lived in Tribeca for over 25 years.
“You’ve gotta be resilient to live down here,” Darling said. “The parents down here really want the very best for their kids.”
Once a Little Leaguer herself, Chin knows the importance of being a mom in the stands. “No matter what our schedules are like, we always manage to find the time,” she said.
Michael Imperioli is also an ever-present parent. The actor has lived in Tribeca for 12 years, and coaches his nine-year-old son David’s team, The Athletes.
However, it’s not quite a case of like-father, like-son.
“I played for one year, and I did not enjoy myself,” Imperioli said as he surveyed the dunk tank. “It was my first and last. But my son loves it. He really has a good time.”
Little leaguers can look forward to even more good times ahead; next year, new ball fields will be built at Cherry and Jackson Streets on the Lower East Side, thanks to a $2 million grant from the Lower Manhattan Development Corp.
The 2011 season officially began at noon, kicking off its 19th consecutive year.
