Post 248 was the sponsor for the American Legion Baseball Player of the year, 1981, Dave Magadan. Dave Magadan was born on Sunday, September 30, 1962, in Tampa, Florida. Magadan was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 7, 1986, with the New York Mets. He graduated Jesuit High School of Tampa and Unviersity of Alabama. Other awards: 1983 - Baseball America College Player of the Year; 1983 - Golden Spikes Award by USA Baseball. "He's (Dave Magadan) very baseball-smart. When he talks in the clubhouse, everybody stops and listens. He has a lot of respect." - Oakland Athletics Outfielder Matt Stairs in "Magadan Shows He Can Manage" (San Francisco Chronicle, March 17, 1998)