Committee on Urban Redevelopment, renewal and planning 10/8/2026

Okay.

How you doing, Jackie?

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to community... Committee on urban redevelopment and renewal planning. Today is Thursday, 10/08/2026. Madam clerk, please call the roll.

Chairwoman Harris? Present. Vice chair Picciardo? Present. Councilman Gonsolin?

Present. Councilwoman Graves? Present. Councilman Vargas is absent or present. When absent,

we have quorum. Thank you. Let the record show that we also have our council president present with us today. So now, please. Welcome.

And we have some great stuff on the docket today. Madam clerk, could

you please read the first item? Item number one, resolution honoring the Providence Grays' historic baseball legacy. Okay. So

we have... Why don't we read the resolution first? Why don't we do that and just all of us get the energy? How's that? Mhmm.

Whereas the Providence Grays represented the city in the National League from 1878 through 1885 playing their home games at Messer Street Grounds on Providence's West Side, And whereas the Grays won National League pennants in 1879 and 1884 and capped their 1884 season with a three game sweep of the New York Metropolitan's of the American Association on 10/25/1884 in baseball's first ever interleague postseason championship series, often referred to as the first world series. And whereas Charles Old Hoss Radbourne led the championship team winning approximately 60 regular season games and pitching all three victories in the championship series. And whereas Paul Hines played for the grays throughout their eight national league seasons and in 1878 became the first hitter to achieve baseball's triple crown by leading the league in batting average home runs and runs batted in. And whereas John Montgomery John Montgomery Ward pitched the perfect game for Providence on 06/17/1880 and later helped establish the brother... The brotherhood of professional baseball players in 1885, the first major league players union.

And whereas William Edward White played for the Grays on 06/21/1879, an appearance at the Society for American Baseball Research identifies as possibly the first by a black player in the Major League Baseball, and whereas the Major League team disbanded in 1885 while the Providence Grays minor league team formed in 1886 and again in 1899, continuing to play at the Messer Street grounds and then at Melrose Park in South Providence and Kinsley Park in the Valley neighborhood. And whereas George Herman Babe Ruth pitched for the Providence Grays in 1914, winning eight out of nine games played with the team and helping the team achieve the nineteen fourteen International League champion before debuting with the Red Sox later that year. And whereas the Providence Grays historic baseball club founded in 1998 shares and celebrates Providence's baseball history by recreating the nineteenth century game using period rules and customs. And whereas each year, Providence Youth Baseball Little League teams engage hundreds of young people with the support of dedicated parents and community leaders, engendering in young players a love for the game of baseball and an understanding of the importance of teamwork and good sportsmanship both on and off the ball field.

And whereas public commemoration of the Grays would preserve an important chapter of Providence's history, helps residents and visitors learn about the city's contributions to professional baseball and inspire young players by celebrating our place in history. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the city... That the Providence City Council honors the Providence grace and respectfully request the Department of Public Works coordinate design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance of one or more commemorative plaque at the prominent and appropriate public locations on Messer Street between Hudson And Willow Streets, recognizing the team's eighteen eighty four championship notable players and contributions to baseball history. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Department of Public Works for their consideration and implementation. Thank you.

Council president, I'm the sponsor of this. I am. Yes. Hear this. And Tell us why you brought this to us tonight.

The reason why I brought this to us tonight is sitting to my left. So many folks... I think everyone knows Jackie Yeah. Who runs Zuclo and has been a force of nature in... For good in the private direct department.

Thank you. And Jackie pointed out, this was not the first time you said this about, hey. There used to be a baseball field on your street. Did you know that?

Mhmm. Yep. But we got serious about

it this fall. And Jackie helped write this resolution, which was a good team effort. And with your permission, I'd love to Yes. Turn it over.

Do you have anything to add?

You. Thank

you. I mean, it's a piece of not only athletic history, but it's certainly a piece of Providence history where amazingly that a major league team played it literally. So I live one street over from Rachel. So it liter... They literally played in our backyard.

And although, unfortunately, we didn't get to witness this in 1884, it's an amazing history. And the fact that Babe Ruth played for the franchise afterwards. And, you know, surprisingly and happily, they recognized the first African American ball player played for the Providence Rays. And, you know, Jackie Robinson is recognized as that Major League Baseball, but this is a piece of a history that I think should really take off, and and more people should know about this. Also, the fact that, you know, obviously, Babe Ruth's one of the greatest players of all time, played for the played for the franchise.

The building, if you see a photo of the, Messer Street grounds, a building to... In in in the background is still standing. You know, it's a former Willow Street school out of the building's housing now. So it's, to me, just to sum it up, it's really cool stuff that I think... And being a self made historian for private stuff, I love athletics.

And, you know, if you ever come by the Zoukerlo Center, and if you haven't, please do. A friend of mine, one of the alumni that came by, and he said, in order to get where you're going, never forget where you came from. Mhmm. That resonated with me, a gentleman named Gene Wills, and he was a wonderful gentleman. And we had an alumni day, and he said that.

And I'm like, this is what it's all about, you know, and just to capture that moment, and to honor, you know, the forefathers. And it was also considered the first World Series. Now if you're watching the playoffs now, I'm a little disappointed because the Yankees got beat by I mean, I don't even watch anymore. But the first World Series game won by team from Providence that beat the... A New York team, New York Metropolitan.

I mean, I think it's just amazing that this has finally come to fruition after over a hundred some odd years. That's that's my humble opinion. And Rachel, you know, said this is absolutely amazing, and let's get this done. You know? You know what?

Like, I love the history of Davey Loeb's, and and I've Mhmm. I've coached against Johnny Brito. Mhmm.

And... But these are these are some these

are some iconic people. Mhmm. One is councilman, you know, that that built the city, especially in athletics, but they were good people as well. They shaped, the lives of many through athletics and education. So I'm a big proponent of honoring, you know, the past to teach the children going forward right now that these names are not just being thrown around.

There's a reason why there's names on these buildings because, you know, they were our forefathers that created the path, you know, for the... For even this generation right now, hundred years later. You know? So that's just I do.

Do. History is very important. I think, just serving here on the Earth Committee, I've learned a lot about Providence and the beautiful history. I had no idea about this particular in in eighteen hundred something. Right?

Yeah. 1800 for first black person. That's something to be honored and feel good about and be able to tell other folks about the history I learned tonight. So it's been wonderful. It's never too late to learn.

Yeah. I mean Good to have

them. All of us, I think, we're looking

at this. I think he's gonna sleep right after you stop. Exactly.

And Providence has other history not to... You know, Providence Steamroller, NFL champions. I know there's a there's a plaque at the Amica Mhmm. Pavilion honoring them. NFL champions.

That's amazing. Against the bears, against the packers. We're talking big names here. You even know, though they had the front, there was also a basketball team called the Providence Steamrollers with an s. They weren't too good.

They only lasted two years. And there was a professional soccer team called the Providence Goldbugs and another minor league baseball team called the Providence Clam Diggers. Wow. So these are, like... You can tell by the names.

They're a little bit historic and... You know? But I just think it's pretty cool that we've had all of this in the city that we all represent, and I've been in the city for for my whole life and basically on the same street my whole life. So I think it's just... We should be so proud.

We're a little city, a little state, but we have some... We're rich in history.

I I don't I love that. I love it. Yeah. Yeah. I love it.

Thank you. You're welcome. And council president, are you a Yankee fan now? Yeah.. I'm

on the Providence. Greatest Providence. Well, I

grew up in New York. So Yeah.. That's kid. Growing up. But I also am wondering if you would entertain a tiny amendment as clerk Julian was reading it.

I was like, oh, how did I miss this part? Okay. In the very first sentence, it says... And it's totally geographically correct. On Providence's West Side, I'm wondering if we could just make either, you know, in Providence's West End.

It would

be lovely. What is that? From side to Yep. First paragraph. First.

In. In. It's From on to in, and side to end.

In Providence's West End.

I just missed that in the writing of it. Yep. E. Providence West is what?

Side. No term. North Side. So I'm talking about West End. Mhmm.