As we wind down the school year, amateur baseball is in full swing. High school playoffs start next week, and ESAA baseball and softball is heading into the last month of regular season play.

With that backdrop, we are honored to announce that an effort is underway to formally name the Wildwood Park Senior baseball field, "Hank Schueler Field". Through the efforts of the Henry Schueler 41 & 9 Foundation BOD and our good friend Dan Luna, and with the cooperation of the Chicago Park District and ESAA, the tenative plan is to dedicate the field at the ESAA Senior Championship game on July 11, 2009. The Senior game is usually the last game of the the ESAA Championship Picnic Day and we hope that all of the ESAA families can stick around and celebrate this great honor and rememberance for a boy whose passion in life revolved around sports and baseball in particular.

The 41 & 9 BOD has already submitted drawings to the CPD for a sign to hang on the back of the Senior Field backstop reflecting the new name of "Hank Schueler Field". In addition, the BOD is contemplating the erection of a manual scoreboard for the field at a site to be determined that may also be ready for the July 11 game. Also, the BOD with the cooperation of the Park District will oversee improvements to the field including the painting of the fences, the possible addition of a windscreen for the backstop, and additional bleacher seating for the first base line.

Tentative plans for the July 11 game include live announcing provided by Dan Luna who has been the voice of Loyola Academy baseball for the last couple of years and the sale of baseball related merchandise that will directly benefit the 41 & 9 Foundation's cancer and infection related research. The Foundation's 2008-2009 newsletter will be sent out shortly which highlights the groundbreaking initiatives being undertaken by some of the nation's leading researchers into the rare form of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) that Hank was stricken with as well as the rare fungal infection he contracted after his relapse.

Please mark this day on your calendars and come or stick around for the Senior game Field Dedication and enjoy the fellowship and fun that ESAA baseball has always provided.

Playing a Championship baseball game on a day that dedicates a baseball field in his honor would make Hank very proud. And his family too! If he can break away from his own game elsewhere that day, I am sure his Bulldog attitude towards sports and fun-loving spirit will be present with us.

If anyone would care to to volunteer or lend a hand or an idea to the field renovation project that will honor one of our own and beautify our park, please feel free to respond to this carepage update. I will forward your name or idea to our committee chairs for this event.

On behalf of the Schueler family, thank you for your constant support.