ASSOCIATION OF PRO BALLPLAYERS OF AMERICA

***HISTORIC PENINSULA*** THE VIRGINIA PENINSULA IS PART OF THE HISTORIC AREA THAT STARTED AMERICA.~ JAMESTOWN IS THE FIRST PERMANENT ENGLISH SETTELMENT IN AMERICA. WILLIAMSBURG SERVED AS THE HISTORIC COLONIAL CAPITAL.~ YORKTOWN IS WHERE THE US WON INDEPENDANCE WITH THE BRITISH SURRENDER IN OCTOBER 1781.~ HAMPTON IS THE OLDEST CONTINOUS ENGLISH SPEAKING SETTLEMENT IN AMERICA ~ HAMPTON HAD THE FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL IN AMERICA ~ THE FIRST LIBRARY ~ WAS THE FIRST HEADQUARTERS OF THE ASTRONAUTS OF NASA AT LANFLEY AIR FORCE BASE ~ HAMPTON HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FROM 1610-2001 ~THE AREA HAMPTON ROADS IS THE 7 LARGEST CITIES ON THE PENINSULA AND THE NORTHSIDE. ~HOME TO THE LARGEST MILITARY POPULATION IN THE WORLD ~ THE WORLD'S LARGEST NAVAL BASE~TOTAL PENINSULA POPULATION IS 500,000 ~ HAMPTON ROADS 3 MILLION ~

***BIRTHPLACE OF BASEBALL*** The Virginia Peninsula was home to the Kecoughtan Indians when discovered. It is said that the English Settlers and the Indians played a "strange" game with wood sticks and a ball like object.Sorry Abner it could well be that BASEBALL started in Southeast Virginia. Hampton actually has a KECOUGHTAN HIGH SCHOOL in honor of the Indians ~ 1967 PENINSULA GRAY Lee Meyers was married to Hollywood star Mamie Van Doren. The Oakland A's prospect's wife was a regular Player's wife regular that season. Mamie became the leading blonde star after the death of Marilyn Monroe in the early 60's ~ Chief Bender managed the Newport News Shipbuilders in 1941 and a decade later was elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame ~Don Otten was a 1949 Newport News Dodger. At 7 foot he well may be the tallest person to ever play pro baseball ~ The Peninsula is home to THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY the 2nd oldest college in the United States. Named in honor of Kind William and Queen Mary of England ~ Williamsburg was fully restored to COLONIAL TIMES in the 50's. The British flag is flown 364 days a year. The one exception-JULY 4.The original US flag is raised ~ Newport News Shipbuilding is the only yard in the US that can build aircraft carriers, including the just built RONALD REAGAN. The USS UNITED STATES passenger liner was also built at the yard and is Virginia's largest employer ~ The First Thanksgiving was actually held on the Peninsula ~