Late City Councilman Ed Bailey's four sons and a grandson fired the first pitches to celebrate the new Ed Bailey Baseball League and open its season during a ceremony Tuesday night at Ridley-Helton Field.

The City of Knoxville recently named its adult baseball league for Bailey, a longtime Councilman who played 14 seasons in the major leagues. Bailey, who also worked with the late U.S. Rep. John Duncan for many years, was an outstanding catcher who was named to five National League All-Star teams during his career.

The highly-competitive league - which includes 13 teams with players ranging from college-aged to players who may be old enough to have kids in college – began play Tuesday. Mayor Daniel Brown, former Knoxville mayor and Ambassador Victor Ashe, Harlow Sumerford representing U.S. Rep. John Duncan Jr., and Councilman Joe Bailey spoke during the ceremony.

“Naming this league after him is a small gesture of our respect and gratitude for Ed Bailey,” Brown said, “but I think having a baseball league named for him is something he would have really liked.

Ed Bailey served on City Council from 1983-1995. He died in 2007.