Congressman Jack Convenes Hearing on the Economic Impact of Minor League Baseball, Features the Columbus Clingstones

Today, Congressman Brian Jack, who serves as the Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development, convened a hearing titled "Beyond the Ballpark: The Role of Minor League Baseball in Economic Growth".

"I am honored to convene today's bipartisan hearing and highlight the positive impact of Minor League Baseball on the communities we call home,"said Congressman Jack.

"I am especially proud to feature the Columbus Clingstones, the Atlanta Braves' newest minor league affiliate, who are an enormous source of pride across the southern part of my district."

The witnesses for this hearing included Pat Battle, the executive chairman of Diamond Baseball Holdings, which owns the Columbus Clingstones; Reid Ryan, the son of Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan and the owner of two minor league baseball teams; and Lou Ciampi, Jr., a small business owner from Northeastern Pennsylvania who works with his local minor league club.

Also in attendance were former Major League Baseball players Jim Sundberg and Larry Harvey, as well as Fuzzy, Buddy Bat, and Gus - the beloved mascots of the Columbus Clingstones, Louisville Bats, and Fredericksburg Nationals.

Tomorrow, Republican and Democrat Members of Congress will play the annual Congressional Baseball Game, a tradition dating to 1909.

The Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development is a subcommittee of the Small Business Committee on which Congressman Jack serves.

Congressman Jack is one of only five freshmen U.S. Representatives to chair a subcommittee in the 119th Congress.