Bill Clinton: “Good morning. I want to talk to you today about American renewal. Not economic renewal, though our economy is certainly…”

“Good morning. I want to talk to you today about American renewal. Not economic renewal, though our economy is certainly on the move. Not the renewal of peace, though the United States is leading hopeful efforts toward peace from the Middle East to Northern Ireland to Bosnia. Not even the renewal of the American spirit, though there is a tide of optimism rising over our country as we harness technology and other changes to increase opportunities for all our people and strengthen our families and communities. No, the American renewal I want to talk to you about today is the renewal of our national pastime, the renewal of baseball. A year ago, for the first time in 90 years, we found ourselves without a World Series, and boy, did we miss it. We missed those nail- biting extra-inning nights. We missed a game that for so many of us is so much more than a game. Well, tonight, with the start of the World Series, baseball is back. And we couldn't be happier. Baseball is a part of our common heritage. Its simple virtues-- teamwork, playing by the rules, dedication, and optimism--demonstrate basic American values. We can look out at the green grass of the outfield or feel the worn leather of an old glove or watch a Latino shortstop scoop the ball to a black second baseman, who then throws it to a white first baseman in a perfect double play, and say, yes, this sure is America. This is who we are. At its best, baseball is more than just a field of dreams.…”