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Toms River of dreams

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Posted: Wednesday August 25, 1999 03:26 PM

Major League Baseball announced today it was awarding a franchise to Toms River, New Jersey. The entire roster of the Toms River Little League team will move in to the big leagues for the 2000 season.

"It's unprecedented, for sure, bringing a bunch of 11 and 12-year-olds straight to the majors, but we think these kids are more than ready," commissioner Bud Selig said. "Already they are playing much better baseball than at least a half-dozen of our existing teams, including my old outfit, the Milwaukee Brewers. We think Toms River not only will be a fine addition to the league, but will be instantly competitive."

Trying for a second Little League World Series championship, Toms River has proceeded with ruthless efficiency. There have been no walkouts, holdouts, no DUI arrests at four in the morning. There has been no locker-room bickering between players and management. There has been no celebration of individual accomplishment at the expense of team goals. Toms River has played fundamental, sound baseball.

Selig said that "maybe it's time we went back to the Little League to find a team that can do the little things." The Toms River team will be added to the National League East, where it is expected to be much stronger than the Florida Marlins, Montreal Expos and Philadelphia Phillies, and could, with the addition of a free agent or two, challenge the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves for the 2000 pennant.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Leigh Montville appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer.

 

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