SCBA
President ’ s
COLUMN
Take Me Out to the Ballgame ! by Bryan Kessler , Esq . Berg & Kessler
As an avid baseball fan , I would be remiss if I didn ’ t write about baseball in the month of March . My hometown was 15 minutes from the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown , New York , and every summer was fun-filled with baseball activities , including people traveling from all over the world to play at Cooperstown Dreams Park and the Hall of Fame every July . This turned a small town of 1,800 people into a city of 40,000 or more – the 2007 induction of Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken , Jr ., saw more than 80,000 people in attendance . While most would think I am a Yankees fan , I root for the Mets . As Casey Stengel famously said , “ The only thing worse than a Mets game is a Mets doubleheader .” It has been 38 years since the Mets last won the World Series .
Florida has a strange relationship with baseball . While the state did not see its first two major league baseball teams until the mid-1990 ’ s ( the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Florida Marlins ), it is nevertheless home to the ( alleged ) first spring training game in Jacksonville in 1888 . In 1904 , a minor league team was formed in Jacksonville . The first official game played by Jackie Robinson , who broke baseball ’ s color barrier , happened in Daytona Beach . Today , three major league baseball teams ( Pittsburgh Pirates , Baltimore Orioles , and Atlanta Braves ) host their annual spring training in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit . The Grapefruit League ( the spring
training league ) has 15 major league teams hosting their annual spring training in the Sunshine State .
Baseball is also an integral part of our local economy , with a recent article published by the Baltimore Orioles claiming that spring training generates $ 61 million in revenue and adds 1,030 jobs in Sarasota County ( this does not consider the economic impact the Atlanta Braves spring training has on Sarasota County ). And thanks to our Young Lawyers Division , the SCBA will host its 10th annual all-bar spring training baseball outing at Ed Smith Stadium on March 6 , 2025 .
The SCBA also has other great upcoming events . On March 6 , the Council for Diversity and Inclusion will host a virtual event – Women on the Bench – featuring four esteemed 12th Judicial Circuit Judges as they explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the judiciary for women . On March 13 , the Business Law Section will host an event at Michael ’ s on East – Hot Topics : What ’ s Up in Business Litigation – featuring local business litigators discussing different topics important to all business litigators . On March 27 , the ADR , Business Law , and Solo / Small Firm Sections will host a Tri-Section Mixer at CineBistro Sarasota . This will provide all members with the opportunity to mingle with members of other sections .
As always , serving as your president is an honor and privilege . If you ever have any ideas for events or wish to discuss how you believe we can improve your experience as a bar association member , please do not hesitate to reach out to me . Until then , Swing for the Fences ! �
6 | THE DOCKET - MARCH SUMMER 2025 2024