The 18th Annual Frankie Bailey Tournament Was Be held APRIL  22 - 26, 2008. $4500 Raised for St. Jude!.

WINNERS POSTED Below

The Frankie Bailey Story and Tournament History

Frankie Bailey was the daughter of John and Linda Bailey of Grenada, Mississippi. Frankie was a very energetic, dedicated and loving child. She excelled in sports, music, writing poetry and education. Very few people ever knew how sick Frankie really was. That was her wish, she didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for her or treating her any different than anyone else. Her last year to play softball was in the summer of 1989. No one knew she was dying of cancer.

Frankie became involved in sports, especially softball, when she was only four years old. Her dad was one of the first coaches of the Ponytails, and of course where dad went, Frankie went. She was the Ponytail’s first batgirl. That was the beginning of a life long adventure in the Grenada Youth League (GYL). She not only played on the fields, but her dad took her to the fields every morning around five thirty where she picked up trash (for nothing). She also helped out by raking the fields, working in the concession stand, running errands, or whatever needed to be done. Frankie was always available. She did this for twelve years and loved every minute of it. In the summer of 1989, Frankie and a very close friend, Bert Bell, received $50 a month for the upkeep of the GYL fields. Frankie was still on the field for every game, she ran her laps at every practice, and was up at five thirty to clean the fields.

When the 1989 season was over, she agreed to go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. She had an angurian sarcoma located in her right hip that was connected to her spine. The doctors told the family that there was no cure and no hope for her life. She was in great pain that summer, but never gave up. St. Jude was wonderful to her. They gave her quality of life even though they could not give her quantity of life. The word “money” was never mentioned. St. Jude could not do enough for Frankie and her family as they were all treated extremely well.

Frankie died January 1, 1990. She said she didn’t want to upset anyone during the holidays. The GYL Board approached Frankie’s parents before the season began in 1990, asking for permission to host a softball tournament in Frankie’s name. After much consideration and prayer, the family agreed.

The first GYL Frankie Bailey tournament was held in the spring of 1990. The tournament started as a girl’s softball tournament with proceeds benefiting St. Jude. Local teams and teams in surrounding areas participated. For several years the GYL had also hosted a pre-season boy’s tournament with proceeds benefiting the GYL. Several years back, the tournaments were combined, including all leagues (except T-Ball) in the GYL with the proceeds helping the children at St. Jude and the GYL. T-Ball was added to the tournament in 2004.

Since the first tournament that took place in 1990, donations in excess of $100,000 have been sent to St. Jude in memory of the Frankie Bailey Tournament. Money is not only sent in directly from the tournament, but numerous other outside contributions have also been made in the same memory.

Frankie was very blessed to have had such wonderful friends who are still willing to work so hard each year for “her kids”. She always told her mom than God gave her to her for a special reason. Her life was dedicated to doing for others and she lives on through St. Jude and the blessing that Danny Thomas placed upon her.

2008 GYL FRANKIE BAILEY TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Schedules

T_Ball 

7-8 Girls                                    7-8 Boys

9-10 Girls                                  9-10 Boys

11-12 Girls                                11-12 Boys

13-16 Girls                                13-15 Boys