2019 -- S 0884

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LC002146

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING ANDY ANDRADE, CHUCK PAIVA AND CHRIS PATSOS ON

BEING INDUCTED INTO THE GEORGE D. DONNELLY SUNSET LEAGUE CLASS OF

2018 HALL OF FAME

     

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Seveney, Coyne, Euer, and Ruggerio

     Date Introduced: May 22, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, The George D. Donnelly Sunset League was started on July 28, 1919, as the

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Sunset League by Dr. Peter Integlia of the Newport Entertainment Department. The League was

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an immediate hit with the public, averaging more than 60,000 in total attendance annually in its

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early years. The Sunset League is considered to be the oldest amateur baseball league in the

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nation and recently celebrated its 100th anniversary; and

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     WHEREAS, In 2018, Andy Andrade, Chuck Paiva and Chris Patsos were inducted into

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the George D. Donnelly Sunset League Hall of Fame. Andy Andrade was a Player-Manager for

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sixteen years with the Middletown Club. He was a consistent All-Star and a left-handed hitting

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first basemen who provided a fearsome presence in the middle of the batting order. Thanks to his

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leadership and prowess, his teams won consistently including a league championship. Later, he

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was named the Head Baseball Coach at Salve Regina University and continued his successful

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ways for the next fifteen years, winning multiple conference championships; and

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     WHEREAS, Chuck Paiva came from Eckard College in Florida to play baseball in the

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Sunset League in 1980. He stayed for twenty-one years as a player, manager, and League

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President. As a player, he was an All-Star and won the League’s Cy Young Award in 1981. He

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led his teams to numerous League Championship finals, winning the Championship in 1983,

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1995, and 1998. He also served as Andy Andrade’s pitching coach at Salve Regina University

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and together they were the co-directors of the Newport Baseball Academy for ten years; and

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     WHEREAS, Chris Patsos came to the Sunset League from Florida Southern College. He

 

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played the difficult and demanding catcher position and in his ten years with the Sunset League,

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he was named an All-Star every year. He was a respected leader on the field and in the clubhouse,

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who played superb defense and provided consistent offense. He helped lead his team to a league

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championship, played in the esteemed Cape Cod League, played in two All-Star games at Fenway

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Park against the Boston Park League, and was later inducted into the Boston Park League Hall of

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Fame. Mr. Patsos was responsible for the creation of the Challenger baseball program for

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physically and mentally challenged children on Aquidneck Island. He also served as a coach and

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board member of the Newport Babe Ruth League for twenty years; and

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     WHEREAS, Since their retirement from the Sunset League, Chuck Paiva and Chris

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Patsos were named General Manager and Assistant General Manager, respectively, of the

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Newport Gulls of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, and since 2001, the Gulls under

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their leadership have been the most successful franchise in league history; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby congratulates Andy Andrade, Chuck Paiva and Chris Patsos on being inducted into the

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George D. Donnelly Sunset League Class of 2018 Hall of Fame; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Andy Andrade, Chuck Paiva and Chris Patsos.

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LC002146

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