T-Ball Garden Dedication to Honor the Birthplace of the Game of T-Ball in Albion MI Saturday

Written by John Face

June 21, 2022

Come one come all to the T-Ball Garden dedication This Saturday June 25th at 11:00 A.M., this event will dedicate the park to forever honor the birthplace of T-Ball. The garden location is across the street from the Gardner House Museum on South Superior near the Library and there will be plenty of parking on the streets available. Take a few minutes and attend this historic event. As you will see in the press release there will be a regular T-Ball game later in the day along with an old-timer’s game.

Please read the following press release from the committee:

TEE-BALL GARDEN DEDICATION TO FEATURE FORMER PLAYERS

Former members of the original tee-ball team coached by Jerry Sacharski will be featured
speakers at the June 25 dedication of the South Superior Street Tee-Ball Garden.
These former youth players will be joined by the three Sacharski sons who are returning
to Albion to celebrate the day which honors their dad.

The Tee-Ball Garden dedication will begin at 11 AM. Ceremonies to dedicate the new
tee-ball player statue and historic plaque will be held at the garden plot on the west side of South
Superior Street across the street from the Albion District Library and Gardner House Museum.
Everyone is invited to attend this community celebration. Those who played for Coach
Sacharski are especially encouraged to attend and honor the legendary coach.

Under the leadership of Janet Domingo and Linda Kolmodin, volunteer co-chairs of the
Restore Our Coke Sign: Bring Art and History Downtown campaign, this Tee-Ball Garden
represents the long history of youth sports in Albion.

To honor the late Coach Sacharski and the game’s roots, this garden is cooperative
venture with the Calhoun County Land Bank and the Albion Community Foundation. Money
was raised for these art installations and additional landscape improvements through a matching
Patronicity campaign through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Donated funds
were held by an Albion Community Foundation. Other completed projects included the iconic
Coca-Cola sign restoration and the new Malleable Mural celebrating Albion’s long foundry
history.

Following the 11 am dedication ceremony at the Tee-Ball Garden, current tee-ball team
members will play a short game in Victory Park on the ball field close to Hannah Street. The
current players are coached by Play Right Sports Academy under the leadership of President
Milton Barnes. Jim Stuart of Sterling Books and Brew is assisting in organizing this game and
the Old-Timers game that follows. Those games should start around noon.

Dennis Reid will have his hot dog truck at Victory Park for the tee-ball games. His menu
features hotdogs, chips and drinks to add to the old-fashioned ballpark fun.
John Shedd, a member of the Old-Timers emphasized that the game will only be for few
innings and the major rule is “no running.” Everyone is invited to participate in the game. Just
bring a glove and a sense of humor, Shedd said.