Tweet
For over 35 years since their arrival into the league the Muckdogs have been a staple of western New York baseball. They have revitalized the town of Batavia, have drawn over 100 million fans to their ballpark, and have treated the home crowd to15 playoff appearances and two Brewmaster Cup championships. In recent years though the Batavia organization has desired to be a little more "New York". After consulting with fans and historians in the area the unanimous choice was to honor New York's own Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States of America.
Teddy Roosevelt was born in New York in 1858 and died in New York in 1919. He was in the New York State Assembly, the Police Commissioner of NYC, and the 33rd Governor of New York before becoming Vice President and eventually President in 1901. He was a stout nature man who established many new national parks, forests, and monuments to preserve the natural resources of the country. He built up the United States Navy to project world power, started construction of the Panama Canal, and successfully ended the Russo-Japanese War which won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906. He's ranked by many scholars as one of the greatest Presidents in history and is one of four Presidents featured on Mt. Rushmore.
What many remember Roosevelt though for is his action in the Spanish-American War where he was one of the commanders of the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, which was nicknamed the "Rough Riders". A rag tag group of farmers, ranchers, miners, and college athletes were put under the command of Colonel Wood and Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt. After being shipped off to Cuba in 1898 they fought in the famous Battle of San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898. During this engagement Roosevelt personally led the charge on horseback, inspired his men around him, and helped take the hill from the Spanish. For his bravery and "risk of life beyond duty" he was award the nations highest award, the Medal of Honor. He is the first and only president to have won this.
With honor to President Roosevelt from this day on the team shall be known as the Batavia Rough Riders. The new uniforms will feature the familiar Batavia "B" on the hat in western font, and the jerseys will showcase a cowboy racing uphill in true Rough Rider fashion.
Comment