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Spinners help leagues eliminate Yankee teams

February 8, 2006
LOWELL, Mass. -- The Lowell Spinners, Class A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, are very excited to announce they have begun the process of eliminating Yankee teams in youth baseball around New England and replacing them with Lowell Spinners teams.

Red Sox fans understand how devastating it can be for any child to be on a Yankees youth baseball team in New England. The Spinners have heard stories first-hand of children actually crying and refusing to play if they have to play for the Yankees. The Spinners believe they have found an answer to the problem.

"When you are a kid playing baseball it is pure fun and worrying about what team you are on should be the least of your concerns," said Tim Bawmann, General Manager of the Spinners. "It becomes an issue where kids are devastated when they find out they are on the Yankees. Many kids actually pray they will not be on the Yankees when the rosters and teams are announced.

"We figured the easiest and best solution was replace those Yankee teams with the Spinners, who are part of the Boston Red Sox system. We would like to make a point that this promotion is all in good fun and is merely meant to appeal to Red Sox Nation in New England."

In doing their research, the Spinners estimated about half of the youth baseball leagues in New England have Yankee teams and the other half had already eliminated them because of this issue. Once the Spinners contacted several baseball youth baseball organizations in the area that still had Yankee teams three immediately joined the process.

Chelmsford Little League, Methuen Instructional League and Tewksbury Youth Baseball all agreed to eliminate their Yankee teams and replace them with the Spinners teams.

In exchange for their cooperation the Spinners are taking on the cost of replacing the uniforms and allowing the youth Spinners team to play on the field before a game this summer. The Spinners have also agreed to work with each youth baseball organization and assist them in their fundraising initiatives.

The Spinners are hoping more leagues will help with the elimination of Yankee teams. If a league does have interest, please contact the Spinners at 978-805-5106.