Richard "Doc" Kirschner is a septuagenarian who has been an umpire in the Men's Senior Baseball League for 15 years. A Scottsdale Resident, Doc is a self-described baseball guy subscribing to the Scottsdale Patch Daily Digest. This morning he sent me a note—"Men's adult baseball world series having a game of 75 and older today @12:30 Scottsdale Stadium— makes for a good story." He added, "I am the ump turning 75 on the 12th." I met Doc on the field before the game - I thanked him for his tip - I also met some of the ballplayers.
Richard Sandate is 72 years old and still playing baseball. However, he wasn't old enough to play on Monday during the 75 and over tournament game between San Antonio Broncos and the San Redsox. Instead, he was serving as the third-base coach. Richard told me that he played ball since he was 6, through little League, Pony League, High School, and through 15 years in the Mexican League after being drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1968.
The Men's Senior Baseball League (MSBL), according to their website, "was founded in 1988, and it is the fastest-growing adult baseball organization in the country." The players I met at Scottsdale Stadium explained how the 70's teams play eight games in a tournament beginning in pools for seeding purposes and then single elimination. The Arizona 2021 World Series is being played in Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, and Scottsdale at Catus League Parks this week.
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I also met Joe Flores, shortstop for the Broncos, who said that growing up on a farm he was," either working or "playing ball." Finally, I met Richard Alvaro, outfielder and pitcher, and I met Bronoco's manager Tony Hernandez, who catches and coaches at 75. I suggested that the position of the responsibility, in combination with heat, might be tiring. He responded, "If the pitcher is throwing strikes, it's a breeze; if he's got me diving for balls, yeah, I get tired."
Bill Burgess, who wears #23 for the Red Sox Classics, is old enough to play; a 77-year-old southpaw who had the day off today but volunteered to keep the book. When asked how much longer he might play, he said, "I have been retiring for the last six years, but Spring comes around, and I get a call to go throw the ball around, and am I back to Scottsdale and then on to Ft. Meyers.
