In her will, Marion O’Connor gifted more than $195,000 to NYSEG Stadium, the home of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Class AA; Eastern League).
O’Connor, passed away at the age of 72 in December 2016, was a long-time fan of Binghamton’s Minor League Baseball franchise, which known as the Mets until changing its name prior to the 2017 season. She and her brother William O’Connor frequently attended games together, and the donation to the ballpark was made in his honor.
On Wednesday, the office of Binghamton mayor Rich David announced that the city had received a donation of $195,159 from O’Connor’s estate. The funds are to be used for the upkeep of NYSEG Stadium, and plans are already in place to upgrade the ballpark’s concessions and complete other projects. More from WBNG.com:
The mayor’s office said the concession stands have not been renovated since the stadium opened in 1992. He explained how the donation will help strengthen the community’s ties to baseball.
“It really is an indication of how much joy the Binghamton Mets and Rumble Ponies have provided to her and her brother and she wanted to do something to make sure that similar families in the Southern Tier could experience that type of joy for generations to come,” said David.
Officials said also included will be the installation of new safety netting along the first and third base lines.
“Ms. O’Connor’s gift speaks volumes about our fan base and the Binghamton community,” Binghamton Rumble Ponies owner John Hughes said in a statement. “The memories made at the ballpark last a lifetime and we’re thrilled to continue Ms. O’Connor’s legacy with investments that every fan who enters NYSEG Stadium can enjoy.”
The Rumble Ponies have also announced that they will honor O’Connor with a promotion next season. The promotion, Big Brother/Big Sister Day, will allow the winner of an online contest to receive two complimentary VIP tickets and throw out the ceremonial first pitch.