Joe Black Field Dedication

Several residents asked that I post the words I shared at the Joe Black Field Dedication, a wonderful event that really unified the City:

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Good morning,

On behalf of the Plainfield City Council, I welcome you to the dedication of the Joe Black Baseball Field.

To the friends, family and supporters of Joe Black, thank you for being here.

Today is a great day for the City of Plainfield. Today we honor one man – a baseball legend and an inspiration. Although Joe Black was before my time and I never had the opportunity to meet him, I feel as though I know him from the stories that have been shared about him. That is the sign of a great man – he touched so many lives that everywhere you go you gain understanding about who he was.

Joe Black is truly an example of what success looks like. During a much darker period in American history, when African-Americans heard “no” and “you can’t” or “not allowed” much more often than “yes” or “we believe in you”, Joe Black proved that hard work, dedication and raw talent can’t be stopped, even when facing what seem to be insurmountable odds. It is so fitting that this field – the very place where Joe Black the young player with potential was told he could never play in the Major Leagues– is now being dedicated to Joe Black the World Series Champion.

So, when our young people step on this field let them not only play the game as Joe Black would have, but let them remember what this day and this dedication is really about. Let this field represent the ability to break barriers and defy the odds. Let this field remind us of the power of focus, passion and drive. Let this field be symbolize greatness that has already come from Plainfield and greatness that is yet to come.

Thank you.

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