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WHEREAS, this year marks the 70th year that the Ninth Ward Youth Association has been serving the youth of Lawrenceville. The organization was created in 1955 by John "Baldy" McGrane to engage kids and teach them about sportsmanship; and,
WHEREAS, Mickey McGrane worked with his father, John McGrane, from a young age and has taken on the role as President to continue his father's legacy after his passing in 2005; and,
WHEREAS, Mickey has dedicated 50+ years to involving young people in baseball and continues to this day; and,
WHEREAS, Mickey has become a fixture of the Ninth Ward Youth Association and has had a positive impact on thousands of children; and,
WHEREAS, following in the footsteps of his father, Mickey has coached little league for many years, using the mantra “play hard and be a good sport” in order to teach important life lessons that can be learned by playing sports; and,
WHEREAS, The Ninth Ward Youth Association sponsors baseball teams from Little League, Pony and Colt league levels as well as a Flag Football League; and,
WHEREAS, Mickey has worn many different hats within the organization, from management to coaching, to serving as the groundskeeper for the Leslie Park ballfield; and,
WHEREAS, showing his dedication to this organization, it is not uncommon to see Mickey using his own vehicle to pull a raking device across the infields to ensure proper grooming of the playing surfaces; and,
WHEREAS, recognizing his dedication to his community, in 2003 Mickey was inaugurated into the Pennsylvania American Legion Sports Hall of Fame; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize Mickey McGrane, the ultimate teammate, for his commitment and service to his community, and does hereby declare August 2, 2025 to be “Mickey McGrane Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.