WHEREAS, Lee Landers, a passionate ambassador for Minor League Baseball throughout the Commonwealth and the United States, will retire as president of the Appalachian League of Professional Baseball in 2018; and

WHEREAS, Lee Landers began his baseball career in California in 1959 and continued in Idaho, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Illinois, where he became general manager of the Springfield Cardinals in 1981; and

WHEREAS, during his 12-year tenure with the Springfield Cardinals, Lee Landers received the Executive of the Year award and the Promotional Award of Excellence and was a nine-time winner of the Midwest League's Gold Award for excellence in operations; he was also named vice president of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1986; and

WHEREAS, in 1996, Lee Landers became president of the Appalachian League of Professional Baseball, which serves teams in North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia, including the Bluefield Blue Jays, Danville Braves, Pulaski Yankees, and Bristol Pirates; and

WHEREAS, Lee Landers received the Warren Giles Award for outstanding service as a minor league president in 2001 and the inaugural Bowie Kuhn Award from Baseball Chapel in 2008; under his exceptional leadership, four Appalachian League teams earned the coveted Bob Freitas Award; and

WHEREAS, Lee Landers was also named the 2017 King of Baseball by Minor League Baseball, a prestigious honor that recognizes veteran members of the organization for their long-standing dedication and service; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Lee Landers hereby be commended on the occasion of his retirement as president of the Appalachian League of Professional Baseball; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Lee Landers as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for his legacy of contributions to the Commonwealth and America's pastime.