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Online now: 2 members: TABLE SETTER 11, cecil; 141 anonymousDiscussion: What sport consisted of your athletic career?
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| Dec. 3, 2011 stick8 1991 posts | What sport consisted of your athletic career? Since we're not in softball tournament or league mode (well, at least those of us who live in the northern states) this might be a good time to reflect back on our youth and share stories, accolades and other athletic accomplishments that we achieved back in the day. Examples: What sports did you play in high school? Were you all league, all area, all state, all american? Were you ever league, district, regional or state champs? Did you receive a college scholarship? Any NCAA or NAIA honors? Was anyone fortunate enough to delve into pro ball? Other than softball tell us about your athletic career. |
| Dec. 3, 2011 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Stick, what an interesting thread. I have played softball (as a pitcher) since I was 13 on a men's team back in the '50s, and I've played every year. Played with some great guys but we never did much as far as tournaments or post season stuff. But I never played hardball except for sand lot. In high school, I earned my letter playing tennis (great cross-training for softball). We had an excellent team, a champion team every year, because of our coach, not because of me. I picked up the sport again in my 40s and played singles until two years ago when the last of my partners wore out. My greatest triumph in sports, however, was as a bowler. I was a champion bowler, travelling statewide for tournaments and match play, and had the highest league average in the area, even matched up against three guys who eventually turned pro. Marriage and family prohibited me from even thinking seriously about the nomadic lonely life of a professional bowler, although I had guys willing to stake me. Funny how I've left the individual sports behind in favor of the team sport. Must be because I value the camaraderie of playing with my buddies and against guys that I respect and admire. |
| Dec. 4, 2011 17Black Men's 60 414 posts | Agreed, great thread idea! I hope nobody starts bashing anybody :) When I was a kid you couldn't start little league till 9 years old. I'm not sure I see the merits of 3 and 4 year olds playing T-ball now and chasing butterflies in the outfield?? So Little League Baseball till 14, same with basketball. In high school I got cut from the basketball team. We had over 800 kids in graduating class and 2350+ in three grades (10-11-12) in the school and it was the only two years my school ever made sweet 16 in the state---EVER---back in 1975-76----Basketball was my sport of choice then, and any other time in school history I "probably" would have made the team and played. Was fortunate to make the baseball team-----but I was not big in high school 5'10/135 or 140 when I graduated (which also contributed to basketball issues). Also ran cross country in high school because I could, and had the lean body to do it. Baseball was GREAT and became my sport of choice by the time I was a senior. I grew the summer after I graduated, literally to 6'2/175 in about 6 months----I had no college to go to, so went to the local junior college to FALL baseball practice (open try-outs) with 28 other guys. Coach told us "nobody" would make the team unless somebody got hurt or flunked out from the main team who were all on scholarship. Fortunately for me, (not for them) one guy blew his knee out and another flunked out, two of us got the call up in January before the season started. And I had a great JC baseball experience for two years. Transfered to a 4 year school that was D-I that I shouldn't have been at. An assistant coach saw me play in the summer, and I picked off a kid off first base "twice" that was drafted but didn't sign at the time. I struck him out his other two at bats---a few 4 year coaches talked to me but nobody was real interested----but when I got there (to the D-I school) I blew out my knee first couple days of fall practice right when school was starting and dropped out at the time. No more baseball in college anyway. Been playing softball since I was 21 after baseball ended although for two years I tried playing both at the same time in a local college summer league and in local mens softball leagues---------for me it was hard to do both and my baseball batting average was better than softball-------I thought I should be trying to kill a softball and that was the wrong approach. Played mens basketball till I was 30 or 31 in organized leagues-----really good teams. And usually played in two (2) mens leagues during the week for softball (Monday thru Thursday), sunday morning softball when not at a tournament with my MAIN softball team, but in the old days that was often 2-3 tournaments a month for 4-5 months---- Now I'm 6'3/235 and cross country was when was 40% of me wasn't there LOL ( I now HATE running for distance) Around the bases is perfect!!!!! MAN I wish I would have been this big in high school so I could have played on those good hoops teams!! Still playing softball (and golf) not a great golfer but not scared to play with anybody either, have about a 19/20 handicap. I can play and keep up with guys who shoot in the 70's and often play with guys who shoot 100-110 too--------just nice to play in a good traveling golf league with good friends and good competition Due to senior softball, "its my new passion"------If you would have told me when I was 33 that I'd still be playing at 53 I'd have told you, you were nuts----------- WHAT A GREAT GAME |
| Dec. 4, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | well been some sort of ball since i was 8 years old.in high school play football,basketball,and baseball.started baseball and football my junior and senior years,basketball,well lets say i was on the team.LOL.....i could jump and play defense,so got my time doing that.after hs i played baseball in what we called a tristate league that got me a look from KC,but that was it.went in the military and did my 4 years in the air force,played base team softball and 1 year with the base baseball team with the one base that had a team.after getting out of the military i played semi-pro football in california(6 years worth)also played JC ball for 2 years as a tightend.did have a coach ask me if i wanted to go to a non-scholarship school,but didn't have money to go.... as for softball been on a senior team that has won the national east/west game twice,been second for the worlds for one and than 5th for the second coming close for the triple crown. |
| Dec. 4, 2011 stick8 1991 posts | Omar you and I have similar parallels! I was a tennis player myself all thru out school. I was lucky to get a college scholarship which saved my parents a lot of tuition money!! For a few years after I graduated from college I actually became a teaching pro at an indoor club. Between tennis, playing amateur baseball in the summer and playing every winter basketball league known to man there weren't many boring days in my life. Then for some reason I got older and felt the need to get a "real" job and get into the "real" world. Such a bad decision!! lol I sure do miss those days, especially going to work in comfortable clothing!! It is interesting to reflect how you and I went from an individual sport to a team sport for similar reasons. I do agree with you that there is a heightened sense of camradery amongst players in team sports as opposed to individual sports. Couple things I'd value your opinion on: 1)Do you think the skills in hitting a tennis ball helps or makes the transition easier to hit a softball? 2)Are some of the movements and footwork similar? Thanks in advance Omar!! |
| Dec. 4, 2011 17Black Men's 60 414 posts | stick8--- reading your first post to this thread and re-reading the question about NCAA or NAIA honors and also scholarships. I was on full scholarship for baseball at the NJCAA school in junior college in the late 70's----well, full tuition scholarship, I had to pay for books and didn't need room and board, as I lived at home 10 miles from the JC. I did not know this when I was in school, but a friend of mine saw something in "print" in the Early or Mid 80's and showed me the stats and gave me a copy, that I (at the time) held a NJCAA record for picking off (4) guys in one game off base (three off first and one off second)----I was also a right handed pitcher, not a lefty. I didn't hold it myself, I was tied with another guy. When the internet came about 10-12 years later, I tried finding that stat somewhere but it was always to no avail. I don't know if that is an award, and I don't think anybody keeps stats like that in college anymore---it was 35 years ago?? And if my ex-wife hadn't thrown out my scrap book I'd still have it :) and a lot of other cool stuff. |
| Dec. 4, 2011 garyheifner 649 posts | Started playing baseball around 7 years old. Played football, wrestled and baseball all 4 years at Rich East High School in Illinois. Earned a variety of honors in all three sports. Had two major league offers out of high school, but I really didn't think I was good enough to make the majors and I wanted to be a high school football coach/teacher. Went to Illinois State on a baseball scholarship. Never played an inning. Switched the scholarship to football and started for 4 years. Wrestled for 3 years. Played on a men's 16 inch softball team while still in high school, was too young by park district rule, but nobody complained. Became a high school coach in 1966 and played 16", fast pitch and 12" slowpitch all at the same time for about 5 years. It was interesting in terms of time management. . Stayed with 16" and 12" for about 15 more years and been 12" only since then. I play in several leagues, several pick up leagues and play on the tour with (since 2001) the Chicago Classics Gray Sox 65AAA. What I call other athletic efforts/passions is skiing, snowmobiling and riding my Harley as much as possible. |
| Dec. 4, 2011 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Stick, I definitely believe tennis was an asset to my softball playing. For example, the forehand volley to the other player's backhand was a shot that I actually improved on in my late 50s and 60s. Since stopping playing, I have also seen a downgrade in being able to hit to right field. Just not the same snap and power. Also, tennis really helped me as a pitcher. My reflexes from going to the net and picking up a volley mid-air helped a lot on fielding a screamer back up the middle. And the constant footwork shifting in tennis translates nicely to fielding grounders, getting a glove on bad hops instead of one's body, and even baserunning decisions. Probably hitting a tennis ball in the center of the racket helped my softball swing as well, although I haven't noticed as much degradation there (just that from getting older :=)). I didn't choose to stop playing tennis. I played year round here in California, but of my four tennis opponents, one has serious cancer and two have died in the last year (and were ill before that). The other has no excuse—he moved 2000 miles away but doesn't he know about airplanes? I just haven't had the enthusiasm to keep playing tennis. Also, the cartilage in my knee is nearly worn out and the sports doc says it was likely accelerated by playing on hard courts in tennis. How do you think tennis translated to your softball playing? |
| Dec. 5, 2011 Capt Kirk 541 posts | Played little league baseball, played high school basketball for the Wright City Wildcats, Wright City, MO, in my Freshman yr, starting point guard, our school was so small no football team. Moved to Jackson, TN, made the football team in my junior yr, but did not play due to some personal issues. Played fastpitch softball while stationed at Karamursel Air Station in Turkey, also played flag football. Played slow pitch softball while working at Lockheed in Sunnyvale,CA, we had two (2) fields at our facility, from the early 80's to 90's lots of ball was played on those fields, we had classification, we had mens teams, coed teams, and for a while we had womens teams (I played on a mens team and I played on a coed team with my wife,& daughters). I played on a Mens Team called "The Traitors", also we played (a couple of seasons) at the Twin Creek Complex in Sunnyvale, CA. Started to play senior softball in 2007, after I retired, I am enjoying playing senior softball, thank god we can still play (okay some us can play better than others, I will put myself in the others classification). |
| Dec. 5, 2011 goforit 97 posts | This is a good thread, nice to see everyone's athletic background. I grew up in a small town, played all the sports i could in high school (baseball, basketball and football). Went to junior college and played both basketball and baseball, had to make a choice when i went on to a four year school so i picked baseball. Played two years of minor league baseball before giving it up for a real job (saw to many 35 year old guys still thinking they could get to the majors, with no other future). Started playing slow pitch in the late 70's until the late 80's (got married and wife's could not travel on the team i was with so i quit in 1988). I too started playing a lot of tennis, from 1990 right up til i started playing senior softball in 2006. It was great for the legs and the arm along with the eye hand coordination. It's really interesting that after all these years that i could find senior softball and start running into guys i played with or against 25 - 30 years ago. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (sorry i could not resist). John |
| Dec. 5, 2011 outfielder Men's 65 59 posts | I started playing little league baseball when I was 6, got the last uniform which was a size 14, but I wore it and was proud to, played little league 7 years, the cut off for age was 13 before Aug 1 and my birthday was Aug2,my last year in little league we were 20-0 and beat the all-stars lol. Played 2 yrs Pony League, got to high school and lettered 3 yrs in baseball, were the runners up (first losers) in S.C. state championships all 3 yrs, bummer, played football and my senior year won the S.C. state championship 1961, this year is our 50th reunion and we all are gonna be inducted into the North Augusta S.C. Sports Hall of Fame in Feb. Ran track 3 yrs in high school. Went to USC Aiken and played 2 yrs of baseball, got a glance from Pittsgurgh Pirates. Got into law enforcement and retired after 39 yrs. Played some church and co ed slow pitch softball, then when I turned 50 I heard about a senior softball team in Augusta, Ga. in 1994, and have played ever since, and in my playing all over the country, I have made some lasting friends that without senior softball I would have never met, some of the best friends I have and of course have been able to keep the competetive edge at the ripe old age of 67. It gives you a purpose to stay in shape so you won't embarsss yourself, lol. |
| Dec. 5, 2011 stick8 1991 posts | It definitely helped me Omar. Keeping my head down and following thru while hitting a forehand definitely made it easier for me to hit a slo pitch softball. I hadn't considered what you elluded to for quick reactions to volleys at the net helping reactions to shots up the middle as a pitcher. Very good! I must slightly dissent however. It never helped me trying to come up bad hops in the inflield. I always seem to miss those!! lol |
| Dec. 5, 2011 stick8 1991 posts | 17black that's interesting about pick off moves. You must have been pretty quick!! Besides Justin Verlander, not too many major league right handers have good pick off moves. Usually lefties are the ones you read about. I thought Andy Petitte had one of the better ones that I've seen. If you watch a lot of baseball do you think pitchers holding runners on base is a lost art? |
| Dec. 5, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | stick, that probably is a lost art, as is bunting, hit and run, base-stealing, hitting cut-offs, pitchers finishing what they begin, and if you watch Travis Hafner enough, sliding. |
| Dec. 5, 2011 stick8 1991 posts | Gary I've read that sacrifice bunting early in a game is considered bush-league by most major league teams. The article stated it's the reason you don't see it very much. Maybe I'm too old school but that seems odd to me. is this true that sacrifice bunting early in a game is bush-league? |
| Dec. 5, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | stick,i don't think it is a lost art,or not done in the early innings.now in the american league sac bunting is not done so much b/c of the DH,but in the national league i see it all the time from the pitchers,regardless of the inning.so many of the hitters now a days are much better than their forefathers of the game of baseball.when your number 2 batter can hit 25-30 hrs and bat over .300 why waste him sac bunting.hell lead off batters do that now.... |
| Dec. 5, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | omar i used to play racket ball all the time,and found my lateral movement was really helped b/c of it,also hand/eye coordination was helped.i guess the racket sports help all over...... |
| Dec. 5, 2011 JamesLG 420 posts | Hi Folks: My baseball started in 4th grade. I was not a very big kid but always had quick hands so hitting the ball hard (when I did hit it) was something I was good at. Played baseball through high school and did pretty well but drinking was much more important to me at that time in life. Started playing softball in 1973 and have been hooked ever since. The only year I took off was 1984, the year I quit drinking. I never did get very big (5'9", 180lbs) but always had very quick hands to generate bat and clubhead speed in golf. In 1988 I made it to the quarter finals of the national long drive championship. The highlight of that was getting to hit against a guy named Evan "Big Cat" Willaims twice that year. Even got to ride in a private plane from upstate NY to the Detriot area where he lived. I was no match for him but it was a blast. On my last ball in the quarter finals (west coast) as I bent down to tee the ball up I looked up and this little old lady was looking at me strait in the eyes and I could barely get the ball to stay on the tee because I started shaking. That was the worst ball I ever hit in competiton because I topped it and it went about 75 yards including the roll. I was rarely the longest hitting guy in a competition but I could usually get a good one in play. In many of these events the longer hitter don't even get one in bounds so they automatically miss the cut. Thanks All: James |
| Dec. 5, 2011 Q19 Men's 65 81 posts | Started my athletic career when I was 9 back in 1969 playing Little League baseball down in Chula Vista, CA. My first team was the Crewcuts (team picture on my Facebook page) in Minors and then followed my older brother Johnny (Oh My - Fresno)through the Major & Senior leagues achieving All-Star status as a 12-,14-,and 15-year old as an outfielder/pitcher. Oh yeah, my PARKVIEW Little League won the World Series in 2009. I only got as far as Sections in the Majors. Played high school baseball for 3 years (JV MVP '76) and played 3rd string defensive back for the football team in my senior year. Joined the Air Force in 1978 and retired in 1998, along the way playing slowpitch for various squadrons and base teams. Player/Coach for the Miller Lite All-Stars (AF, Navy, Marines) on Guam from 1990-92. Arrived in Sacramento in 1992 playing for the McClellan Jets until I retired in '98. Went to work for Dept. of Corrections and have been on the law enforcement circuit since '99. Dislocated my throwing shoulder back in '83 while playing flag football as the QB and Safety. Did it while pulling a flag. Suffice to say, sat out for a couple of years then came back playing as a pitcher, 2nd & 1st base. Highest level ever played was the ASA Class C Nationals in Midland, TX in '93. Played with Scott's in ASA 40+ Nationals play and have been with the East Bay Oldies since '09. |
| Dec. 5, 2011 dMON 28 posts | HS Baseball '68 and '69 HS Basketball '68 and '69 Terry Parker HS - Jacksonville, Florida College Basketball '70 College Baseball '71-'74 Trevecca Nazarene College (now university) Nashville, TN. Slow Pitch Softball ever since. |
| Dec. 6, 2011 surf88 Men's 65 1000 posts | It is interesting that we attend senior tournaments and recognize many athletes but do not know backgrounds. I was always interested in sports. Grew up in Santa Clara Valley in early years. Sterted playing Little League ball in Campbell. Our Quito Little League all stars merged with Moreland and won LL World Series beating Japan 22-0 in 61'. Played Pony League in 62'in San Jose. Lettered in 5 sports at Campbell Jr. High (cross-country,wrestling,track,baseball and football). Ran cross country for Campbell High and did well. Finished 19 in Stanford Invitational (400 runners). Craig Morton was quarterback at Campbell High. Father moved us to DeLand Fla. 3 days after president Kennedy was murdered. Was a huge change for me. DeLand did not have a baseball team or a track team. Played Babe Ruth in the Red Sox spring training park (has since been torn down). Playing ball in the south was great. Moved to Charleston in 64' where my father was born. James Island High was a huge football school. I was not big enough to play football at that school. Played baseball for JI 2 years. Again, no track, wrestling or cross country there. Gorman Thomas played ball at JI. I played A ball for the City of Charleston and there was a lot of talent there. In 66' and living on Folly Beach, I discovered surfing. Air Force and Navy guys from California stationed in Charleston had surfboards and let some of us beach rats use them. We were lifeguards and water babies so it grabbed me big time, especially when there were not other school sports to take part in. Surfing and baseball were my passions. I would surf at the Folly Pier in the morning, then change clothes and head to baseball practice. Surfing took control for years. 3rd in East Coast Championships in 74', 5th in US Surfing Championships in 74', 3rd in Gulf Coast Championships in 71'. Did the California, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Mexico trips, etc. Opened surf shops and built a fiberglass applications/repair career. In 74' I was introduced to softball in N. Myrtle Beach. Played softball since then. Started playing tournaments in So. Carolina and Georgia throughout 70's. Moved to Telluride, Colorado in 81' and am still playing softball. Started senior ball in 99'. Still have a passion and have enjoyed many experiences. I live in an amazing sports town that has many recreational options. Skiing, snowmobiling, dirt bike riding, climbing, hunting, fishing and of course softball. Have a very Merry Christmas guys. Thanks for letting me share. |
| Dec. 6, 2011 stick8 1991 posts | Mad Dog your right about pitchers. I should have specified non-pitchers sacrifice bunting in the early innings. Being in Detroit I don't really keep tabs on the national league a whole bunch. Are there any good hitting pitchers? |
| Dec. 6, 2011 Mario Men's 50 451 posts | I started playing in organized little leauge baseball in 1972. I was a catcher back then and made the state all-star team my first year. Living in St.Louis, Mo. ice hockey was big and started playing that as well in 1972. Played both sports all through school and into high school. My freshman year in HS I signed up to go out for the football team. That same summer I got drafted by the local Junior B hockey team. I wanted to do both hockey and HS football, but the football coach said I had to make a choice, so I choose Ice Hockey. Played HS Hockey on the varsity team as a freshman, as well as played Junior Hockey all the way through the end of High School. Also Played HS baseball, but had made the change to pitching. Our HS coach made all those who wanted to pitch, to do nothing else but pitch. I was torn because I could catch and could hit. But I made the mistake of choosing pitching. My father told me I should have kept catching , but I wanted the ball in my hand. I made all conference in Ice Hockey my sophomore-senior year and made all conference my senior year as a pitcher. I also played American Legion baseball locally and that coach would let me play another position. Made all-state in Legion ball. My senior year in HS base ball our 1st baseman got hurt and my coach let me fill in at first base. I had 19 at bats and led the team in HR's and RBI's even though I only had 19 at bats. I graduated from HS I was 6'4 1/2" and weighed on 215 lbs. Started lifting weights 2 years out of HS and started putting on some size. Started playing slow pitch softball in 1982 and weighed 225 lbs. Kept lifting and I was able to add about an average of 10 lbs a year until I weighed 260 lbs the year I started playing Major Softball in 1988. Been playing at least locally ever since. Started playing senior softball in 2010. Won 2 National Tournys just this past year. These were my first championships that I have ever won. |
| Dec. 6, 2011 Mario Men's 50 451 posts | I forgot to add that I played on the freshman tennis team as well. I was 1st singles. In HS both tennis ans baseball was in the same season so I chose baseball. I have always played pick up basketball, and I love to play racquet ball to this day. I golf, but my swing goes to pot if I play softball and golf the same season. |
| Dec. 6, 2011 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | stick, I didn't say I FIELDED bad hops, but I did keep most from hitting me by deflecting them with my glove.:=) Do you notice a commonality on this thread? Guys who are still actively playing senior softball have, for the most part, never let themselves get out of shape! They play a variety of sports, but they have kept playing, or hit the gym, and it has paid off in fitness. Still a fascinating thread. |
| Dec. 7, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2413 posts | Nice thread, very interesting. I started playing baseball in league at 7. We played every decent warm day on the sandlots in Wyandotte and Ann Arbor in the summer. I would be out there from sun up to sun down playing. Would just go from one game to another with my nailed and taped broken bat and sometimes a ball taped up with electricians tape, and my old glove. Played HS ball at Ann Arbor Pioneer and led the old 6A league in hitting. Played my first slow pitch league in 1969-no fences. Went to college in Nebraska on a baseball scholarship (pitched and played center)-small one, but we played a good schedule. Lots of town team ball and barnstorming.Played fast pitch, slow pitch and baseball-a couple times all 3 in one day. Spent some time at the KC Royals Academy in Sarasota. Went into the Marine Corps in 1972-ended up Reserve because of bad ears, so went back to college. Made 'little All-American Team' one year and hit .412 (wood bats) and receive Rawlings 'Big Stick' Award. Moved to Albuquerque in 1978 and there were so many teams and limited fields that you could only play on one team, so I chose slow pitch. Played for Albuquerque Diablos (Open) and Shallow Waterbeds/Miller Lite/Chromalloy (open) for 2 yrs.Then, without enough good players in the city to play at a higher level, played A and B until 2006 (54 yrs old) and have played with Desperados since. Also bowled professionally for 15 yrs-Regional Pro. I golf in the 90-120 range (front nine), but have an Albatross(double Eagle) as claim to fame. I bicycle to stay in shape after 4 knee operations. 50-200 miles per week in the summer. |
| Dec. 7, 2011 stick8 1991 posts | Omar you are correct. Based on the responses and what you elluded to it seems that being active is a lifestyle that many have adopted and go to great lengths to make the time for. Personally I could never sit around all off season and do nothing. If anything, I'd drive my better half nuts!! lol It also appears we have players who've had some major athletic accomplishments back in the day. |
| Dec. 7, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | omar,don't you have the belly glove most of us have,for the bad hops....LOL....... stick there are a couple of good hitting pitchers in the national league ,just can't remember who they are right now. |
| Dec. 7, 2011 stick8 1991 posts | Mario it sounds like you were quite the multi-sport athlete back in the day. I must say you have such an effortless, smooth & easy swing that I could never see it going to pot. How have you been? |
| Dec. 7, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | stick could you imagine looking across the net and seeing the hulkster looking back at you...LOL.....yes mario does have a sweet swing..... |
| Dec. 7, 2011 Pricer Men's 50 621 posts | Congrats Mario on your championships this past season. Winning those never get old. My family and I played in an sports organization built for families. The Mic Mac Athletic Club in the western part of Detroit. Families played a flat fee and regardless of how many kids in the family participating. We played baseball, football, basketball and hockey for Mic Mac for the 10-13 years. Hockey was the sport that grab my interest. Playing thru youth thru juniors and even made a couple bucks in a minor pro startup league when I was 30. Still play in a competitive lge today, just against my fellow 50 year friends. Softball in the summer after high school & hockey in the winter. Been doing this for the past 35 years. I coached hocket from the youth level (4-15 year old) high school, juniors and some ACHA college.(Davenport University* 5 time national champs) I had to get that in there. I love both softball and hockey, but never enjoyed the softball part like I have the last few years I have played. Mario, did you play for the Afton Blues back then? I've played a couple years in a row down in your neck of the woods back then. Merry Christmas to you all. |
| Dec. 7, 2011 Mario Men's 50 451 posts | Stick, started doing P90X again 3 weeks ago to hlep me get ready for next year. Its going real good at the moment. I feel like I'm 40 again.....lol. After the 90 days of this, I will go back to my strength routine that I did last January- April. We started hitting on Fridays at a indoor soccer facility. So right now I'm excited about next year already!!!!!! Pricer, I played on the Junior Comets and the Junior Blazers back then. Never played on the Junior Blues always played against them. |
| Dec. 7, 2011 stick8 1991 posts | Mario I've heard quite a few people claim P90X is by far the best training regimen they've ever done. It's also pretty tough from what they say. But if one is serious about training and getting in top shape is there really any easy way around that? None that I know of. Even though we came up short in Phoenix you pegged it correctly when you pointed out we have great camradry and how we have a special group of guys. I think that in itself is worth 5 extra runs a game. Last season was a lot of fun, especially getting a front row seat or being on base watching the tape measure shots that you, Carl, Ott, Vern, Roeder, Big Arm and Vain Man hit. I am anxiously looking forward to next year!! Like you, I'm working out at the local gym 4-5 days a week, officiating high school & college basketball and since my doctor told me I need to eat a healthier diet I'm going to try and eat more sensibly. Merry Christmas to you and yours! |
| Dec. 7, 2011 stick8 1991 posts | Mad Dog, funny you should mention the Hulkster because I went to high school with Kevin Nash. Whether it was WCW, WWF and now WWE he gives me tickets to the shows when they come into town. I've met most all of the "wrestlers" including Hulk Hogan. Their all good guys. I wouldn't recommend getting them angry however. (g) |
| Dec. 8, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2413 posts | I wondered what P90X was-looks pretty tough. I am unable to do any real lifting with my left arm because of major shoulder surgery about 5 years ago, and any overall lifting because of my back from a car wreck from behind, so maybe could do the nutrition and lower body stuff. Thanks for the tip. Merry Christmas! |
| Dec. 8, 2011 Mario Men's 50 451 posts | Merry Christmas to all!!!! May we all remember what Christmas really is!!!! |
| Dec. 9, 2011 Ceres 73 posts | Freshman year of High School I played Freshman Football and Basketball. Soph, Jr and Sr years, I ran varsity Cross Country and played varsity Basketball, and Baseball. During the Summers I played Baseball and swam in competition.In College I played Baseball. When I started work I played in various basketball and softball leagues. For a while I competed in various running races and triathelons. In 1999 I found Senior Softball and happiness. |
| Dec. 11, 2011 17Black Men's 60 414 posts | stick8, responding to your question from 12/5----not sure if holding runners is a lost art----at least not at the major league level, but there are certainly some guys making an awful lot of $$$$$ that aren't very good at it either. I don't think I was that quick, I was more unique as I never had proper training. I never pitched during high school or before. I did start pitching when I graduated and was playing Legion Ball in the summer after I graduated----------so I was kind of winging it, and was un-conventional with my pick-off moves. As a right hander, I will admit I often watched the 3rd base coach and often stole their signs, and would catch guys leaning when they had a green light. The game I picked off (4) guys, I might have gotten a 5th but the 3rd base coach finally figured out I knew the sign (saw me looking at him out of the corner of my eye when I was getting a sign from the catcher), and he wound up yelling at a guy not to go when I was in my stretch. I guess I am more embarassed that all those guys got on base that I had to pick them off. I don't remember the score of the game ( it was in the neighborhood of a softball score like 16-14 or something, and we won) but we had sore arms and no bullpen that day and I had to go the whole way-----which also wasn't good for my ERA/LOL |
| Dec. 12, 2011 stick8 1991 posts | 17black it's interesting about signs. What's rarely mentioned in discussions about baseball are signs, indicators, etc that teams use. That is one whole other game within the game itself! I've read there are major league coaches and other players in the dugouts that are specifically assigned to look for and identify signs other team uses. At that level it's anything to get the edge. Have you ever heard of or witnessed anyone using signs in slo-pitch? I certainly haven't |
| Dec. 12, 2011 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | Stick, our catcher will give us signs on where he thinks we should play certain hitters. We usually move for him then move back just before the pitch is thrown. =) |
| Dec. 12, 2011 $Bill Men's 65 12 posts | Started playing stick-ball and stoop-ball in the streets of the Bronx every day morning till dark. Got into organized Baseball in LL when I was 8 (they thought I was my older brother) then HS I was the SS on team that won NYC HS Baseball championship 2 years. Went on to 4 yr baseball scholarship at St Johns but girls and "the good life" ended my baseball "professional" career. But Never stopped playing the game 40 years later still play on 3 -5 softball teams. ( thank goodness for an understanding wife). stay in shape in off season all these years playing Basketball. Thank goodness I keep finding smaller and smaller courts to play on ( now down to grammar school gym). while my knee is slowing me down, I have never lost my passion for the game. nothing like the feeling of; - throwing someone out from deep in the whole, - turning 2, - making a quick swipe tag to tag out a runner. - getting a key hit with 2 out. - throwing someone out trying to take the extra base. - Hitting a HR. - and many, many others. A great game, met many nice people of all ages. Always looking for a game and or a team to play with. Looking forward to next year. Best to all! $Bill |
| Dec. 13, 2011 doker Men's 60 185 posts | PLEASE DON'T GET MAD AT MY SHOUTING...JUST NOT A GOOD TYPER!!!! I WAS AN AIRFORCE BRAT...SPENT 4 YEARS IN SPAIN AS AKID AND OUR LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM WON ALL SPAIN MY LAST YEAR AND WE WENT TO WIESBADEN FOR THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS(WINNER GOES TO WILLIAMSPORT)1959...WE LOST OUT EARLY!!!MOVED TO OMAHA AND I PITCHED FOR BISHOP RYAN HS...MY ONE DISTINCTION THERE WAS THAT I PICHED OFF THE MOUND AT ROSENBLATT AS A SOPHMORE FOR THE VARSITY IT WAS OUR HOME FIELD!!! PLAYED FOOTBALL,BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL AT SOUTH DADE HS IN MIAMI...AVE 18.5 AS A SENIOR IN BASKETBALL AND WAS SECOND TEAM ALLCITY IN BASEBALL..2ND MAINLY BECAUSE KURT BEVACQUA WAS THE 1ST TEAM SECOND BASEMAN....PITCHED AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN COLLEGE AS A FRESHMAN.....WAS AN ASA UMPIRE FOR 25 YEARS...THE LAST THREE AS UMPIRE AND CHIEF OF SOUTH FLORIDA...BEEN TO 5 NATLS AS AN UMPIRE....STARTED PLAYING AGAIN WHEN I TURNED 50 IN THE FLA HALFCENTURY WITH RED STORM OUT OF WEST PALM BEACH(SOME OF YOU MIGHT KNOW THE COACH...RED DOG..JIM HENDRICK) GOT TO PLAY WITH THEM AGAIN THIS YEAR AT THE HUNTSMAN GAMES... IT WAS AWEWSOME!!!HAVE WON SEVERAL WORLD TOURNEYS OVER THE YEARS..THE LATEST BEING THE 65AA IN VEGAS(HILL CONTRACTING)....MY LIFE IS GREAT AND SENIOR SOFTBALL IS A VERY LARGE REASON WHY!!!!!!!!!!!DOKER |
| Dec. 13, 2011 stick8 1991 posts | $Bill I've definitely heard of stickball,I invented it--lol. But I've never heard of stoopball. Can you describe what that game is? |
| Dec. 13, 2011 $Bill Men's 65 12 posts | Stick8, stoop ball is a city game played with at least 2 players, a rubber ball and your front stoop (steps leading to a house)you throw the ball off the stoop (trying to hit it off the point of one of the steps for strongest shot)and depending on it's distance it is considered a 1b, 2b, 3b or HR. if the fielder (defense) catches the ball on fly or on the ground before a predetermined line (close to the stoop) it is considered an out. Foul lines and # of outs per 1/2 inning are predetermined by players. It is an ideal game when you do not have a bat or can not leave the sidewalk or have no place to play but have a stoop or even a street curve ( the step down to the street). Life was simple but great! |
| Dec. 13, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2413 posts | My gosh, $Bill we played that for hours when I was growing up. I never heard it called that. We had another game for 2. We would set up with a long stretch of straight fence in front of us-maybe 100-200 feet away depending on age and strength and set limits left and right--foul lines. We would throw the ball up and hit it and the defender would try to keep it from getting to the fence. If he caught a fly or a grounder is was an out. If it hit the fence rolling it was a single, on one hop was a double, on the fly was a triple and over was a home run. We played that for hours, too when there was only two of us. |
| Dec. 14, 2011 $Bill Men's 65 12 posts | Webbie25, glad to hear you enjoyed similar games. How about Fly's are up? We played stick ball and baseball versions. Stick ball version was must popular (did not have many dirt fields in the Bronx) we played in the street with a stick ball bat (could be a sawed off broom stick)and a rubber ball. the batter would continue to hit one of his self tossed balls until he was replaced by a fielder who either ; 1.) caught one of his shots on a fly or, 2.) if the batter hit a shot that was not caught on a fly the batter would lay his stick ball bat on the ground (in the street in front of whatever was home plate, typically a sewer cover) and stand behind it. The fielder of the ball from the spot he caught it would roll the ball in an attempt to hit the bat. If the ball hit the bat, the batter would have to catch it in the air (after it hit the bat)or the fielder would now get to be the batter. If it missed the bat the batter would continue to hit. Ah! another great game with terrific memories. |
| Dec. 15, 2011 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | I played football until the 9th grade but played baseball from the time that I was 9 throught high school on the vasity team, also playing on the hs golf team my jr and sr years. In baseball I was never a power hitter, just base hits. This changed after three years of softball when I started hitting with power. Growing up in Columbus, Mississippi we had never heard of stick ball or stoop ball. We played whiffle ball in the street, usually among 3 or 4 of us. Hits were ground balls by the pitcher, doubles had to hit between drawn lines in the street, triples beyond that and hr even further. We play with the solid plastic ball, not the ones with holes. Some of the knuckle ball were just scary! We also played 500. The batter would throw up and hit the ball, fielders would get points, 25 for grounders, 50 for one hopers and 100 for flies. First one to 500 would bat. I've played golf since I was 12 and played often until 3 or 4 years ago. It's hard to keep sharp at golf and at the same time softball. |
| Dec. 15, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2413 posts | Great-Bruce-we also played both wiffle ball and 500-and we played 'killer'500 where you jumped all over each other to make a play. What great memories. |
| Dec. 15, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | $bill,webbie,didn't use a stoop or curb,but did use a wall,and would throw a tennis ball at the wall from about 15' and would try to field it cleanly.mostly a game done by myself.i think it helped me with my fielding,also would drive the parents crazy sometimes...LOL..... we also played wiffle ball,we actually mowed a field near the house to make a wiffle ball field,we had 2-4 man teams. one kid actually had an old little league his house was built on,it had the backstop and you could still see the inf on it.the house was a little close in center so we had to close off center(out if ya hit the house). webbie killer 500 could be ugly,we also use to do that in bp when i was in my 20-30's...... i also use to throw up rocks and hit them with a snow fence slat,would play red sox against the yankees,red sox always won .....lol...i would hit from both sides as i had a 4 player teams of each,would hit into the river,anything over the river was a hr. hey notice our disparaging character has nothing on this thread..LOL.... |
| Dec. 15, 2011 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | Started playing baseball at 8, played till I was 12 and rheumatic fever sidelined me for a year. I didnt play again until my senior year in HS, made the varsity team and threw our schools first no hitter in spring non league play (7 innings). In VN we used an M16 as our bat and anything rolled up that we could hit. Played a bit in the Army at Fort Carson, Co after coming back from VN in 69. Had a look from the Cubs, but was more interested in drinking and women then playing ball. Started playing Slo Pitch in 71 and havent slowed down (much) since. (Except for a glitch this past year.) As kids we also played over the line and 3 flies up, anything as long as there was a ball, some fashion of bat, and dirt or grass involved. Bob, I too used a tennis ball against a wall, then got bored and started using a golf ball on a concrete wall, talk about getting back to you fast. =) |
| Dec. 15, 2011 stick8 1991 posts | $Bill we played a variation of that game which we called curb baseball or curb ball. Don't see much of that around where I live anymore. Is stickball or stoopball still a popular game in New York? |
| Dec. 15, 2011 4Four4 Men's 60 87 posts | Stick/$Bill - our home field was 19th St. btwn 7th & 8th Aves. The two-o precinct would block off the street so we could play teams from other neighbs on weekend mornings. We pitched a one-hop pinky and used 4footers with tape. Cars were in play. Balls that didn't come back down (roofs/balconies/etc.) were outs. A proud McManus Mutt! #4 - DH AO/Bathtub Billy's |
| Dec. 15, 2011 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | E4/E6, I have a couple of friends that stationed at Ft Carson about that time, Jack Duke (MP) and Jody Blalock (radio man in a trailer somewhere there). Neither played ball I believe. |
| Dec. 15, 2011 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | Bruce, Blalock sounds familar, if you see him or know where he is ask him what unit he was with. I was with HQ 5th Mech from Oct 69 until late May 70. |
