To my teammates, opponents and friends in the CDMSBL,
Eleven years ago in 2002 I stumbled across the CDMSBL while I walked through Elm Avenue Park in Bethlehem with my kids and saw a group of grown men playing baseball. I met Jim Jordan that day who told me what the CDMSBL was all about. I was hooked almost instantly. Jim had a full roster on his Braves team, but he introduced me to Mike Hart who needed players for his Peppers team. Mike welcomed me aboard and thus began my decade plus in the CDMSBL as a player, manager, and Board member. Ive been a proud member of the Peppers and the new Braves in the 35 division, and the Dodgers in the 45 division.
Until I began playing in the CDMSBL, I had not played competitive baseball since 1981. It was in the fall of 1981, as a freshman walk-on player on the Division 1 baseball team at Niagara University, that I had last played. That fall, after a spring of high-school ball and a summer of American Legion, my playing days had seemingly come to an end after I had worked my way onto the pitching staff at Niagara. My pitching arm went dead, and I learned that I had torn my rotator cuff. As a walk-on player the school owed nothing to me, and I ended up waiting a few years before ultimately having surgery to repair the rotator cuff. By that time I had changed colleges and graduated, gone on to law school, and figured my baseball playing days were a thing of the past.
I have been and remain extremely grateful to the CDMSBL for the opportunity to have returned to the game that I love. To be able to swing the bat, run the bases, and even on a few occasions take the mound, has been amazing. Being able to have played baseball over the last 11 years has been a gift. Not only have I had the pleasure of playing but also my kids five of them have had a chance to watch me play.
Many of you who have played with and against me had noticed the awkward manner in which I have thrown the ball. Turns out that the rotator cuff tear and surgery years ago set in motion quite a degenerative process in my shoulder (which I certainly felt after most games). Since last fall both of my shoulders have given me great problems and I finally about two months ago went to see an orthopedic surgeon to find out why. Turns out that in addition to extensive degenerative arthritis in my right shoulder that is going to require me to have shoulder replacement surgery sooner rather than later, I also somehow have torn the rotator cuff in my left shoulder. I am having surgery on my left shoulder in a couple of weeks. As far as the right shoulder, the surgeon told me to avoid anything that will continue to injure and aggravate the shoulder, which means no baseball. While Id like to think it just means missing the 2013 season while I recover from the upcoming left shoulder surgery, I am a realist and recognize that, as was the case back in 1981, my playing days are once again over.
Many of you have seen my young son Tommy (now age 7) at our Dodgers games the past few years. Tommy loves baseball like I did when I was a kid. Its all he thinks about. He doesnt understand why Dad cant play catch. And I wont deny him that. If there are any throws left in my right arm, and it does hurt like hell sometimes to throw the ball, those throws have to be reserved for Tommy, and not for me. Its a lot more important that I be able to pick up a ball and throw it with him than it is for me to be able to throw it with a bunch of guys in their 40s, 50s and 60s.
So guys, I say thanks, and goodbye. The last decade in the CDMSBL has been a blast. Ive met a bunch of great guys and got to finish something that ended too abruptly years ago. Keep having fun playing the game that we all love.
Thank you for sharing a true baseball spirit. It is remarkable that we have all managed to extend our playing time. When you brought up your son it reminded me of the scene in " Field of Dreams" when Ray Kinsella gets to play catch with his dad. A moving scene. Good luck in retirement because you never know when you might pickup that ball & glove again and join the fellas.
Ed you will be missed on the field. It was a pleasure to have played with you on the Braves and the Dodgers. As a manager you were a very good player and a easy going guy. Your ability to play multiple positions made my job much easier. Good luck with your surgery and keep us posted on how you are doing.
Ed - you're one of the nicest guys in our league. I've played with and against you - always a pleasure to see you.
This is one of those times when you feel a bit of a detraction and loss when the season starts and that first "Hey, how you been" doesn't happen. So, I will miss that annual salutation with you, Ed.
Best of luck with your shoulder(s) - very sorry to hear you have to go that that crap! I'd give you one of my shoulder's but that would just be a mean joke : ) Heal up and enjoy many seasons playing ball with your son.
I'll reiterate what's already been said by a few. I'm glad I had the pleasure of knowing you. It's great that you and all of us found this league to relive our childhood, and in my opinion play the greatest game in the world. Best of luck.
Eddy O - You are part of the process that makes this league so great. You were welcomed to the CDMSBL by a founding member and, in turn, you made the league more enjoyable for the rest of us. I definitely enjoyed playing on the Braves team that you managed. I hope you are able to stop by New Scotland and watch us old guys give it our best effort.
I'm sure that your son will learn plenty from you about baseball. I'm even more certain that, with you as a role model, he will grow up to be a class act.
As the person who first offered me a spot on the field after a 12 year hiatus when my kids were young i owe you a special thank you for getting me back into baseball again ...
so thank you
there is a spot on our bench for you and tommy anytime .... bring him to a game or two!
gonna miss you, ed. you were always upbeat and ready to let out a great laugh on the field, a good hitter (hard to get out), and, as a manager, thoughtful, making sure everybody played.
and more than once, while acting as the peppers assistant manager (and while your son and daughter were acting as batboys for us), you'd turn to me and give me smart, timely ideas, which i know i'd never have considered on my own.
your story about your shoulders reminds me that anybody who plays sports is just one quick, hard movement away from a visit to the surgeon. in that sense, we're all playing roulette with our bodies. and the older we get, the higher the odds against us. but the pleasure from that play feeds our wills to give it one more go. and then another. until the wheel stops for each of us, as it will.
the good thing for you is that pleasure won't end, not entirely. you won't be a player of course, but you show in your note that you have rich memories you can replay, and, come to think of it, that's what we all do every winter.
and more than that, you've turned your thoughts and energies toward a new generation of ballplayers. so in the future, you'll see the game through tommy's eyes, too. so you have a lot of baseball to look forward to, years, in fact.
lots of luck with your surgery (surgeries? hope not.)
hope to see you, sirli and the kids now and then at the games. don't be a stranger. we need that laugh of yours.
Eddie, the league is losing one of the nicest people to join the league. You brought great character and class as well as ability on the field. It was a great pleasure playing for you on the Braves. I wish you and your family the best and I hope we'll keep in touch from time to time.
Ed, we'll miss you on the field. but please continue to come and sit on our benches. I want to especially thank you fro for years of service on the board. You brought a reasoned and professional voice when we needed it most. I was touched when you mentioned your son. For all of us who have had that experience it is one of the richest times of our lives. Thanks for everything Ed and hope to see you soon. Jreel
The great thing about this league is that it brings people together who may not have otherwise met. And all of us who have gotten to know you are better for it. It would be disappointing if we didn't see your face at anymore games, so please do stop by with your kids. I'd be happy to play catch with them, too, and tell them about how you have enriched the lives of so many by being a part of CDMSBL. As you can see from all the responses, you left a positove influence on so many fronts. Thanx for your contributions to the league, Ed. We'll miss you. Jim Konstantakis
That's a bummer. It's been a pleasure playing with you. You were a great team mate. It's now your time to pass your baseball experience & knowledge to Tommy. I'll miss seeing Tommy at our games. Don't be a stranger. John C #40
