Last year, Major League baseball reduced its number of affiliated minor league teams, pushing out the Staten Island Yankees. The Richmond County Bank ballpark has been a quiet place ever since.

On Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio joined owners of the a new Atlantic League Staten Island baseball team, and former Met and Yankee player Doc Gooden, to officially announce the return of baseball to the island and unveil new plans for the park.

America’s pastime is coming back to Staten Island.

“Whether we're doing movies, whether we're doing concerts, we’re going to have entertainment 365 days of the year,” said John Catsimatidis, one of the investors.

The return of baseball is an exciting moment for Staten Islander Jamel Vera. He plays baseball for St. Peter’s boys high school, and is a hopeful to play on the new team taking over the stadium.

“Baseball helped me through a lot, it really did. Anytime I'm mad, sad, I just come to the field and I start running. I have a catch with my friends, dad. So it means a lot to me,” said Vera. "I think it brings all of us back together. We haven't been seeing each other lately because of COVID, but since baseball is coming back, we got to the stadium and everything is coming back together.”

Catsimatidis said the decision will be a home run for the borough.

“I love Staten Island. I think it's one of the greatest boroughs of New York City. I love baseball. And when the Yankees called me and asked me to be a partner, I said, 'Absolutely, yes," said Catsimatidis.

As baseball lovers celebrated the news, Gooden handed out autographs to the younger players who he said this will benefit most.

“There’s so many distractions for kids, and this is a place where they can go. And baseball brings everyone together. It’s a great sport,” said Gooden.

There’s a contest going on, and the community will be picking the name for the team. The winner of that will be announced soon, and baseball is expected to start here in May 2022.