BERKELEY – The Moorage Avenue baseball park will be named the “Leiter Baseball Park.”
Al Leiter, the major league pitcher, has long roots in Berkeley Township, and the governing body wanted to honor his family for dedication they have for the youth in town.
“The Leiter name is virtually synonymous with baseball in Berkeley Township in recognition of all of the contributions of the Leiter family to the township and Little League,” Mayor Carmen Amato said. The family has donated countless hours in addition to its financial donations.
All five Leiter sons played for the Berkeley Township Little League, from 1967 through 1982, totaling sixteen consecutive seasons a Leiter played baseball on a baseball field in Berkeley Township, according to the resolution naming the park.
It was Leiter’s $100,000 donation 20 years ago that built a Leiter Field, Amato said. That field sparked a “renaissance” for the sport in town. That gift rejuvenated the program and energized the volunteers to make the program stronger and stronger.
Now, there has been another donation that will turn it into a state-of-the-art facility. Work is underway for new dugouts, walkways, a two-story booth with equipment room, bleachers, benches and fences.
Leiter graduated from Central Regional High School in 1984. He went on to pitch for the New York Yankees and is now a commentator.
Earlier this spring, Leiter was at Veterans Park to support Strike Out Autism, which raised money for special needs classrooms. He told reporters during that event that he is in a position where he can give back of his time and his money, and feels it is necessary to do so.
