Rising Baseball Stars 2021

In 1958, Lewis created the great game of tee
ball. Simpler and safer for children to play, Lewis
eliminated the position of Pitcher, and set the ball
on a batting tee instead. Lewis wrote the rules
to the game, and built the first tee ball league. It
wasn’t long before other people were asking to
share in his creation, hoping to teach other young
kids this new game. But it wasn’t just people in
Georgia, nor was it limited to the United States.
No, people from across the globe were asking
Lewis not only to share the rules with them, but
asking him to travel to places like Israel and the
Philippines to help them build leagues of their
own. By 2007, the game had spread so much that
President George Bush invited Lewis to participate
in a Tee Ball celebration on the White House lawn.
Later that same year, Lewis was inducted into the
Georgia Recreation Hall of Fame. The Warner
Robins Recreation Department was awarded as
the Outstanding Recreation Department in the
state three times in 25 years – in 1963, 1968,
and 1986.
After nearly 30 years directing the Recreation
Department in Warner Robins, Lewis retired – but
that does not mean he was done yet. No, Lewis
continued to work within the community as an
active Bailiff for the Superior Court of Houston
County, as a coach and teacher for many baseball
teams, and as a volunteer at Warner Robins High
School football games. When it came time for
Little League in Middle Georgia to grow, Lewis
got involved by helping get land donated for the
Little League Complex, and even assisted with
start-up costs.
In honor of Lewis’ many accomplishments, the tee
ball field at Flint Energies Complex was named
the Claude Lewis Field. The Recreation Center is
named for Lewis as well, and in 2013, Lewis was
inducted into the Warner Robins Hall of Fame.
Lewis acted as a Bailiff for 30 years, and as
a coach for 25. On September 26, 2016, Lewis
called court to order for his final time.
RISING BASEBALL STARS 2021
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