{
  "id": 6641174,
  "title": "NYC stickball league keeps 9/11 hero’s legacy alive",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/nyc-stickball-league-keeps-9-11-heros-legacy-alive",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-10T20:44:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nyc-stickball-league-keeps-9-204454347.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the Bronx, the Mercado family keeps alive the legacy of Steve Mercado, a former FDNY 9/11 hero and president of the New York Emperors Stickball League. Stickball, a street variation of baseball, is deeply ingrained in their community, with children and families playing the game on Stickball Boulevard. Founded 40 years ago, the NYESL carries on the family tradition, continuing Steve's vision for the future. His oldest son, Skylar, learned of his father's sacrifice when he was just six years old. Skylar, now working to join the FDNY and carry the stickball league forward, aims to honor his father's memory. In 2024, he traveled to France to demonstrate stickball in front of Olympic officials, carrying his father's dream of the game becoming an Olympic sport. Skylar is actively growing sponsorships, expanding outreach, and increasing the game's reach. The NYESL will host a Columbus Day Tournament on October 10 and 11 on Stickball Boulevard, offering free entry for new teams.",
  "summary": "THE BRONX (PIX11) — A legacy is kept alive and carried proudly through the Mercado family. On Stickball Blvd., the game lives on, played by children and families across ages and generations. The street variation of baseball known nationwide as stickball, on this one block in the Bronx, is known to the Mercado family as […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}