Spring training baseball is nothing if not overly romanticized. It can even turn government proclamations into poems full of crack-of-the-bat clichés.
At the Manatee County Commission meeting Tuesday, a century of baseball in Bradenton was recognized, and officials gushed over our connection to the game and its glory as it dates back to 1923. To be fair, it's a common sentiment shared by many, or at least until the seventh inning when they stop serving beer.
From Dizzy Dean, to Roberto Clemente, to Willie Stargell, to McKechnie Field, Bradenton is indeed fortunate to have such a longstanding relationship with baseball, in particular the Pittsburgh Pirates, as it enhances the city's visibility and economy.