Riverdale Report
By Robert Press
BRONX, NEW YORK, November 8- Even the South Riverdale Little League Award & Auction night this past Saturday was affected by Hurricane Sandy. The event was to have taken place at PS 24, but because schools were designated as “Relief Shelters” all other events were canceled. This event was then moved to the College of Mount Saint Vincent in North Riverdale. Hundreds of young baseball players from South Riverdale received awards for their hard play, got to meet a real hometown New York Met player Mike Baxter, and their parents got to bid on some great sports items.
Registration for the 2013 SRLL season is underway and will continue through March of 2013. Last year there were almost 400 children (boys & girls), in different age groups up to 16 years of age in different divisions from T-ball to the senior league. The President of the South Riverdale Little League is Mr. Mike Farber who said that the league is also looking for more sponsors, as well as the many other volunteer positions that are needed. Mr. Farber can be contacted at srllmike7@gmail.com , and you can visit the South Riverdale Little League at their website at www.srll.org for more information on the league.
You may ask who is Mike Baxter, and what is his claim to fame? Mike Baxter grew up in Whitestone Queens a few miles away from the old Shea Stadium. It was his dream to play baseball, and to play for the Mets. Baxter was drafted in 2005 by the San Diego Padres, but played in their minor league system until he was called up on September 6th 2010. On July 22nd 2011 Baxter was selected off waivers by the Mets. In 2010 and 2011 Baxter played in 31 games with 49 plate appearances for the Padres & Mets, and was granted free agency by the Mets on December 12, 2011. On December 16, 2011 Mike Baxter signed as a free agent with the Mets
In 2012 Baxter played in 89 games with 211 plate appearances, hit 3 home runs, had 17 RBIs, and stole 5 bases. He played all three outfield positions making 81 put outs in 85 chances with only one error. Mike Baxter's claim to fame right now is that he made a diving catch to preserve Met pitcher Yohan Santana's no hitter June 1, 2012 (the first no hitter in Met history). In 2012 Met Pitcher Yohan Santana was paid $25 million to pitch for the Mets. Not every baseball player makes millions of dollars to play, and Mike Baxter signed for a salary of $484,000.00 to play for the Mets through at least 2017. Baxter will be able to go to salary arbitration in 2014 should he prove to become a regular player. While Baxter said he prefers center field I don't see Baxter playing center field with Andre Torres the current Met center fielder, and Angel Pagan the former Met center fielder (who the Mets traded to San Francisco) now a free agent.
You can do to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to read more, and see the many photos I took of the event including Mike Baxter signing autographs for the kids.
On Sunday November 18th from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. the Riverdale Temple located at 4545 Independence Avenue (corner West 246th Street) will be holding a “Holiday Gift & Craft Sale”. There is free parking, and for vendor information you can contact Rita: Ritajoshed@aol.com or call (718) 614-4932 or Deb: rivtemple@aol.com (718) 548-3800 ext. 0 or 1.
If you have any comments about this column or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.
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