April 4, 2009

SOME HISTORY

Sacramento Men’s Senior Baseball has completed the 25 year milestone last year.  Sense many of the founders and charter members have moved on, I feel a brief history is in order so our present members are aware of how we started, where we’ve been and where we hope to be in another 25 years.

In early 1984 a small group of men met at Rameys House of Sports, then on Folsom Avenue near Watt. The idea was to form a league for an age group that had few options to play baseball but missed playing the real game. A 30 year and over concept quickly became a reality in the formation of the Sacramento Stan Musial Veterans Baseball League. The group elected officers, Val Lewis (president), Austin Ditter (Vice-President), and Greg Elmasian (Marketing & Public Relations).

Word spread quickly and by the first opening day there were four teams. To distinguish the league from other baseball/softball organizations in Sacramento, it was decided to equip the teams with major league names and authentic major league uniforms. The age was set at 35 and over except for catchers which could be as young as 25. And of course, due to the fact that all these men grew up in an era before metal bats, wood bats were the order of the day. Within a short time it became obvious that the cost of wood bats would become prohibitive, and slowly almost everyone transitioned to metal bats. All league games were played at Harry Renfree Field with the inaugural season consisting of 12 games in a double round robin format. The Phillies hold the honor of taking the first championship title in 1984 (there are still a few originals left on the 2008 Phillies team, much older, but still here!).

Monthly board meetings were held in the home of board member Bill Dishman, who always served popcorn, beer, and soda while business of the league was conducted. Rosters were generally 14 players, which we still use today. A total of 56 players participated that first year. Today we have over 700 members, a testimony to the hard work of the founders and all those that have come after.

The next year, 1985, two more teams were added and the league dropped the Stan Musial affiliation to become know as the Sacramento Veterans Baseball league. In 1986 the minimum age was lowered to 32, but the very next year it was raised back to 35 years. The newly formed Athletics won back to back championships in 1985 and 1986.

In 1988, our league joined with the national organization called Men’s Senior Baseball  League, headquartered in Long Island, NY. This organization was being formed by Steve Sigler, consisting of hundreds of leagues through the United States and several from foreign countries. Thus, in 1987, we became the Sacramento Men’s senior Baseball League (SMSBL), a charter member of MSBL. 1988 also brought about the first national World Series for amateur men’s leagues held in Phoenix Arizona. SMSBL sent a 30-and- over and a 40-and-over all star team. The 40+ squad defeated a talented Dominican Republic team captained by former major league batting champion Rico Carty and SMSBL finished second in the series.

In 1989 the league had doubled to a total of 12 teams and 170 players. The board also started two divisions, a 30+ and a 40+. One other significant event was started in 1989. It was called 50 hours of baseball, and it was a charity event, lasting slightly over two days. We played constantly for 50 hours (I usually was assigned 2-4 in the morning). The 50 hours of baseball lasted for 15 years before running out of steam.

The board was working hard and doing something right because 1990 saw an expansion to 19 teams and 270 players. Also, in 1990 saw the addition of a 25-and-over division consisting of four teams.

League President Val Lewis had taken on additional duties as Regional Director for MSBL National and after seven years at the helm, stepped down as League President. After board election in 1991, the gavel was passed to Jerry Karnow. Both Val and Jerry still play in our league, 26 years later. 1991 also saw the addition of one team bringing the league to 20 teams.

1992 saw growth to 24 teams and 335 players. 1993 was better still, 28 teams and 395 players. Other milestones of this era brought about the first 50-and-over team, the Solons, which inspired the creation of a 50+ World Series Division in Phoenix. Then the addition of a new league within a league, The MABL (Men’s Adult baseball League) for men 20-and-over was incorporated. This brought in 16 more teams for weekend only play. One of the highlights of this era was the five straight World Championship titles won in Phoenix by the SMSBL 40+ Giants.

The 1990’s were good years of growth and years of fine tuning the organization. The League used to play at over 10 different fields from Davis to Auburn and Placerville, and from Lincoln to Lodi. There was a lot of commuting involved to play baseball back then but in 1996 SMSBL joined with East Sacramento Babe Ruth to build a two field complex to become known as McAulliffe Park. This is the beautiful complex we now enjoy. Lights on both fields were added shortly later.

After 13 very successful years at the helm, Jerry Karnow stepped down as President in early 2004, turning over the presidency to George Esposito for a short time.

Lat in 2004 a new president was elected, Jim Lortz, a very successful local businessman. After 10 years of use to the complex, Jim was just what the league needed to bring the fields back to original condition, fix up the old infrastructure, retire outstanding debt, and streamline our operating procedures. Jim served four years, and along with all the presidents and board members that have served over these 26 years, we the players, owe a big debt of gratitude for all their hard work.

Our league is strong and healthy. We have a spring league of 16 teams and a summer league of 30 teams. That is 46 teams from the original four and 700+ players from the original of 56 in 1984. We offer baseball to men 18years old to some of our members in their 70’s. We have built and maintain one of the most sought after baseball parks in the greater Sacramento area. And here is a fact that not many know. Over the 21 years of the national Men’s World Series, SMSBL has sent over 100 teams and won over 40 World Championships. This achievement dwarfs any other league in the nation.

We have a lot to be proud of. We are the largest, finest, and most well run Men’s league anywhere. The participation, attitude, sportsmanship, camaraderie, and volunteerism are incredible. You the members are a credit to the league, the Sacramento area, and to the   President and Board. The leadership of this organization pledge to strive hard to maintain that which was entrusted to us. We ask each one of you to do your part to insure the continued success of SMSBL for at least the next 25 years.

Lanny Ropke

President, SMSBL