UPDATE 6/29/24: I am playing this year with the Emmaus Dodgers in a senior men’s baseball league, ages 60 and up. I met with the manager and the team today and I made the team!
I’m playing baseball next year. So, this summer, 2024, I plan to get in shape, then try out for the local team next year. I will be 71 next summer when I will be trying to make the team. Baseball, not softball. Fast pitch, not slo-pitch. Big leagues (local), just not the pros. Yep, I’m nuts.
Nuts? I haven’t played baseball since 1970 or so. My arm sucks. My bat speed is no speed. I need to limber up and start running wind sprints. Wait, what? Wind sprints? Yeah, I’ve got to get ready to run fast in bursts, when the baseball is hit. Oh yeah, did I mention my reflexes aren’t what they used to be either?
I’ve been throwing a baseball lately, going for strengthening my arm back to its glory days when I played in Babe Ruth league, then later, Senior Babe Ruth league. That was 54 years ago. This is normal, right? Nope, I just miss playing the game. Why the hell did I not miss it in the past 54 years?
Lately, I’ve been going to a lot of local baseball games and I guess I got the bug. We saw our Allentown AAA minor league team play on June 9 against the Buffalo Bisons. We also recently saw the Limeport Dodgers which plays in Limeport Stadium right next to Coopersburg where we live. I have previously written about the DeSales University Bulldogs baseball team which is only a few miles from here. The more I watch live, the more intrigued I become (why not me?)
And so my year of training and getting back in shape begins. I’ll be visiting the batting cages to begin hitting fastballs again. See how bad my reaction time is and build it back up, one pitch at a time. I’ll get used to a 60 MPH fastball, work up to a faster speed, see how far I get.
I’ll continue to throw and soon, I’ll need to begin throwing from the outfield. Gotta build up my arm strength so I can throw out the bastard who tries to score from 2nd base on a single. Not on my watch.
I recently was in the outfield by myself and looking at home plate from center field. I used to easily make that throw from outfield to home when I was a teen-ager. Now it looks like trying to throw from Texas to California.
I do not know how to “improve” my reflexes. I can remember how in my mid-30s I was playing tennis and my opponent hit a rocket to my right side on a return shot. It took me what seemed like a full second to even begin to lunge for the shot but by that point, the tennis ball had passed by me. And that was 40 years ago (in reaction time years). Maybe I’ll try speed-reading. That will quicken my reflexes, right?
I have been going to Planet Fitness, the gym, for two and a half years now. So I am definitely in pretty good shape. I’m lifting for an hour, then doing aerobic machines (treadmill, biking, climbing, etc.) for another hour. Three times a week, that’s six hours per week. Plus, I still bike a lot and my wife and I go on a three mile walk a few times per week. So I’ve got that sewn up.
The question I have asked myself is what position should I play? As I mentioned, I expect to be in the outfield. I did pitch and did well back in the day but I don’t expect to be blowing away 30 year-old hitters with my 71 year-old fastball anymore. (I can be a little bit realistic, you know). And I loved being a catcher when I played as a teen-ager. But now? With these knees? With these reflexes? Not a chance. It’s a position for younger players. And I was never a good infielder – so I guess, it’s left or right field.
I am very fortunate to have the body and mind I have at this age. I feel great, am in better shape than I probably was in my 40s because of the gym workouts. I do know that I could pull my hamstring or some other (all?) muscles. I’ve had an operation on each knee, but they are in great shape now.
So what could go wrong? Everything, obviously. But I’ll take it one step at a time. The batting cages await me, they will probably mock me even as I am getting out of my car. I am convinced the batting machine will throw its first pitch at my head, just to rattle me, send a message. Then we’ll see how quick those damn reflexes really are. But I’ll hang in there, take a few swings, chip away at it, get used to the speed, start hitting cleanly, then call for a faster speed. Or else, bail and run back to my car as fast as I can. Without pulling my hamstring or twisting my knee.
I can do this. Father Time is marching on but I will not allow this intrusion to stop me. Sure, I will adjust, see what I can do. But.
I realize many will point out to me that I am trying to prove something. Of course I am! I’m not trying to prove that I am not aging or that I am still like a teenager. I’m not a teenager. I do want to see if I can still play the game I once loved and have ignored for 54 years. Watching a baseball game is great but playing out there in the field? Having a baseball blazing toward you and you’re trying to make contact to bring in a run? Priceless. Reading a really good book can be priceless as well. I just want to do both. I spent too much time on career and family and now it is time for me to see if I still can muster up some kind of competitive heat. Hit the damn ball, make a great play in the outfield. And best of all, to be congratulated by my teammates after a victory.
I have great friends, a great, loving family and am happily retired. So, I am doing this for me, for my heart and soul. Not out to prove a thing to anyone. Just want to play ball.
Anyone know where the scouts are for the NY Yankees?
Chris Ebel
6/11/24
Photo credit: @m_magpies