After four plus years on the league executive and the last as president, I am stepping down, effective February 1, 2026. I would like to offer a few thoughts before I depart.
I first joined the 60+ SLO-pitch community as a spare during the late spring of 2017. My very first game, I learned, the hard way, a fundamental principle of our league. My first at bat, I stretched a single into a double by sliding into second base. Although I made it to the bag ahead of the throw in from the outfield, the umpire called me out. Much to my chagrin, I learned that sliding was not permitted, in order to prevent collisions between players on the bases. The lesson learned was that player safety came first in this league and trumped competitiveness.
Later that year, I was assigned to the team, KS on The Keys, which ended up finishing 2nd overall in the regular season. Ron Bellman, our team captain, was presented with the Bern White Trophy. Bern White was a co-founder of the 60+ SLO-pitch league. The trophy name taught me a second principle of our league: It valued its traditions and was built on the solid foundation established by its original players.
Incidentally, I had a family connection to Bern White. He was a lifelong close friend of my dad’s and the godfather of my younger sister. I always called him Uncle Bern.
Bern White and I at West Palm Beach, Florida for Montreal Expos spring training,
March, circa 1990
In 2019, my team, Carleton Tavern, were playoff champions despite finishing somewhere in the middle of the pack during the regular season. A third lesson was learned from that unlikely championship: Team balance, accomplished through the conscientious work of the league’s executive and captains, was a league ideal.
2019 Lorenzo Trophy Winners – Carleton Tavern
You might think that winning that championship six years ago was the hi-light of my nine-year career with our league, but you’d be wrong. My most memorable moments were meeting new players for the first time (some of whom I now number among my closest friends) and watching players accomplish feats that they once only dreamed of achieving, such as hitting their first homerun or making a spectacular catch.
I hope to continue playing in our league for many years to come and being a part of this wonderful community. However, the time is ripe for me to pass the baton of leadership to a new president, Paddy Bryden. I know that our league will be in good hands under his leadership and that of our other terrific executive members – Malcolm Bruce, Chris Fraser, Maureen Feagan, and John Parry.
I hope the well-established principles of our league continue to guide our executive in its decisions and provide direction for our captains and all players
Here’s wishing everyone good health, happiness, and years of active fun on the diamonds!