Fred Dresser
Previous articles provided you, the reader, with the history of the PebbleCreek Senior Softball Association (PCSSA), from its humble beginning in 1995 to its 30th season of play that commenced last October. You’ve also read how this league has players, volunteers, etc. from 33 states across this great country. You’re probably asking yourself, what does this have in common with the Fourth of July?
On July 4 we will celebrate our country’s 249th anniversary of being the greatest country in the world. This accomplishment did not come easily as countless men and women served, fought, spilled blood, and died to not only start this country but to keep it free as well. In addition to those men and women who served this country, we also need to pay our respects to the first responders who work tirelessly every day to keep us safe from harm.
As mentioned above, the PCSSA is now 30 years old and our country will be 249 years old on July 4. Just as the PCSSA grew from two teams to 24 teams in 2024, this country grew from one state in 1787 to 50 states in 1959.
These are the dates each of our 50 states became ratified or admitted to the United States:
1. Delaware, Dec. 7, 1787; 2. Pennsylvania, Dec. 12, 1787; 3. New Jersey, Dec. 18, 1787; 4. Georgia, Jan. 2, 1788; 5. Connecticut, Jan. 9, 1788; 6. Massachusetts, Feb.6, 1788; 7. Maryland, April 28, 1788; 8. South Carolina, May 23, 1788; 9. New Hampshire, June 21, 1788; 10. Virginia, June 25, 1788; 11. New York, July 26, 1788; 12. North Carolina, Nov. 21, 1789; 13. Rhode Island, May 29, 1790; 14. Vermont, March 4, 1791; 15. Kentucky, June 1, 1792; 16. Tennessee, June 1, 1796; 17. Ohio, March 1, 1803; 18. Louisiana, April 30, 1812; 19. Indiana, Dec. 11, 1816; 20. Mississippi, Dec. 10, 1817; 21. Illinois, Dec. 3, 1818; 22. Alabama, Dec. 14, 1819; 23. Maine, March 15, 1820; 24. Missouri, Aug. 10, 1821; 25. Arkansas, June 15, 1836; 26. Michigan, Jan. 26, 1837; 27. Florida, March 3, 1845; 28. Texas, Dec. 29, 1845; 29. Iowa, Dec. 28, 1846; 30. Wisconsin, May 29, 1848; 31. California, Sept. 9, 1850; 32. Minnesota, May 11, 1858; 33. Oregon, Feb. 14, 1859; 34. Kansas, Jan. 29, 1861; 35. West Virginia, June 20, 1863; 36. Nevada, Oct. 31, 1864; 37. Nebraska, March 1, 1867; 38. Colorado, Aug. 1, 1876; 39. North Dakota, Nov. 2, 1889; 40. South Dakota, Nov. 2, 1889; 41. Montana, Nov. 8, 1889; 42. Washington, Nov. 11, 1889; 43. Idaho, July 3, 1890; 44. Wyoming, July 10, 1890; 45. Utah, Jan. 4, 1896; 46. Oklahoma, Nov. 16, 1907; 47. New Mexico, Jan. 6, 1912; 48. Arizona, Feb. 14, 1912; 49. Alaska, Jan. 3, 1959; 50. Hawaii, Aug. 21, 1959.