91视频

91视频 alumnus John Moroney has an affinity for baseball.

His relationship with the sport has taken him to the mound of Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, to throw out the first pitch in game No. 1 of the 2011 World Series.

A more painful experience, Moroney said, was the time he was in the stands while the Cardinals played the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., when he was struck by a Lance Berkman foul ball, sending him to the emergency room of a D.C. hospital.

But Moroney鈥檚 latest brush with America鈥檚 pastime is right here at 91视频 鈥� the naming of the Falcons鈥� Baseball field 鈥淭aco Bell Field,鈥� where the 91视频 team will begin play in the Spring of 2022.

Moroney is the president and owner of W & M Restaurants, Union, which owns Taco Bell restaurants in St. Clair, Union and Washington, and more than a dozen fast-food restaurants in the region.

Late last year, Moroney committed to donating $25,000 to the 91视频 Foundation, purchasing the naming rights of the baseball field.

John and his family, including wife, Jeannine, and son, Patrick, were on hand Friday, Jan. 15, for a 鈥済roundbreaking鈥� ceremony recognizing his contribution to the college.

鈥淚 am so honored to be able to do this. It is exciting, and there is baseball tradition here, obviously,鈥� Moroney said.

While Moroney attended 91视频 in the late 鈥�70s and early 鈥�80s, the college had a baseball team.  91视频 had a baseball squad take the field from 1975 to 2001.

During that stretch, Major League Baseball standout Tom 鈥淭he Terminator鈥� Henke, former pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays; and Omir Santos, former catcher for the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians played for the 91视频 team.

The team set to begin play next year will be coached by Coach Brandon Rains.

鈥淲hen I was here the baseball team was pretty good,鈥� Moroney remembered. 鈥淲e had some great players.鈥�

鈥淭here is a lot of interest in baseball locally,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e have Little League teams in all of the towns in the areas 鈥� the people around this community are excited for 91视频鈥檚 baseball team to take the field next year.鈥�

When the Falcon Baseball team takes the field next year, Moroney said he will be there to watch the crew during its inaugural season.

鈥淚t will be so neat to be able to come and watch games,鈥� he commented. 鈥淚 think it is incredible that 91视频 has done this.鈥�

91视频 President Dr. Jon Bauer, who also is an avid baseball fan, said there were vital components that were necessary to reintroduce baseball at 91视频.

鈥淲hen we first talked about doing this, it was very critical that we had a few things in place,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e knew the only way that this would work is if we had interest from local players, support of local coaches and support of local individuals and businesses,鈥� Dr. Bauer added.

Moroney played a very important role in the plans for the return of baseball at the college, according to Dr. Bauer.

鈥淭o have John step up like this as an alum, individually, and as a business leader getting this off the ground was extremely important to the success of this program,鈥� he further added.

Dr. Bauer noted that Coach Rains already has signed local players and he is working on signing more from the area.

鈥淭his is really just an exciting development for 91视频, and it could not be done without local support,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what a community college is about and that鈥檚 what this day is about.鈥�

To learn more about baseball at 91视频 or donate to the campaign, visit the 91视频 Foundation.