I want to share with the rest of the 45+ division what I have already shared with my Cubbie teammates, and a few close friends: This playoff season will represent my last participation in the 45+ division. I will be retiring from the 45's upon the completion of this current season and moving on full time to the 55+ division only. It has been a great run for the past 10 years, as I have played with and against some very special players and people. While not playing with some of my younger Cubbie teammates for a few years, and not wearing the Cubs' colors, will be the hardest for me to get past; the intense competition, especially at the top of this division will also be missed greatly. The games where you have to play your absolute best to eke out a win have always been the most fun for me.
I am not retiring from baseball completely, but I have made the decision that my lovely wife of 30 years, has put up with enough of planning all of our good weather weekends around my baseball games. We have recently purchased a second home up on Schroon Lake and really love spending weekends there. It is time to spend all of my weekends with the woman who has stood by me through thick and thin over the past 30+ years, and stop being selfish. I will satisfy my baseball urges in 2017 and beyond on Monday - Friday. That is the least I can do for the love of my life!
To all of you that I have competed against in this division I say, I look forward to the days when you will join me in the ever strengthening 55+ division, and thanks for the memories. To my Cubbie teammates, my friends, my brothers, I promise you the absolute very best baseball that this aging body has to offer you for the next 3 weekends, as we all try to take home the title one more time! One more time into the fray my friends!
Mad Respect for all that you have brought to this league. There are a dozen or so players in the 45+ division that are elite. You are one of those. I admire your skills and competitiveness. You will be missed.
Couldn't you have just bought her a dozen roses and let her go on a shopping spree with your CC like the rest of us do?? The 45's division just became less competitive while the 55's gained a legend. Good luck Mike Girard!!
Certainly, the Cubbies won't be the same without you, Mike. But then again, neither will the 45 Division. You are what makes this division competitive and fun. Seeing the way you prepare and approach games and the way you, John Reel and Jim McQuade have built great teams for many years has been my inspiration and I can only hope what the Giants have accomplished mirrors in some small way your long-time successes. While winning is always fun, it's more about the competition and comaraderie that we try to emulate in your Marlins and Cubs teams.
When I see guys like you, Randy and Tom Maney leave the 45s, it leaves a sense of melancholy and the realization that this time in all of our lives, too, shall pass. In realizing time comes for all of us, it's going to be a time of sadness and celebration when my days on the 45 Giants come to an end.
Last Thursday after our workout at Watervliet High School, several of us went to a local tavern. I have never been around guys this excited about playing together in a tournament. The week of Oct. 21-28 in Arizona is sure to be a celebration of a lifetime: Tom Maney's induction into the National HOF.
It will also be a week of celebrating you, Randy and Tom's careers as teammates in CDMSBL and the years of everlasting memories you guys have created among yourselves. I am privileged and thankful to be a part of that.
For now, I guess there could be more 45 memories left to create in our highly contested rivalry as the 45 playoffs approach. If we both are fortunate enough to make it to that point in the playoffs, it's sure to be a whole lot of fun.
On a personal level, Mike, what I will always remember and appreciate, is that your cooler was always available after games - even to your staunchest opponents!
Here's to Arizona and your contributions and successes in the 45 Division!
JimK
-- Edited by sfgiants on Monday 19th of September 2016 03:48:11 PM
-- Edited by sfgiants on Monday 19th of September 2016 03:50:11 PM
Mike, I must say It will not be the same without you. Your one of the few guys that I look forward to playing against each year because each year we face you the game is so much more intense and thrilling. Over the years I have always tried to get under your skin just a little to get the edge but you always seem to shake it off and make everyone around you play better. Looking forward for our teams to play again at the end of the year again, when the stakes are high and please take it easy on us if this is really your last year in the 45's.
Firstly, I find it very apropos to say as much here since this is after all where our "love affair" first began if memory serves...
Richie is right and I think I speak for all Bomber/Yankees in that we ALL respect your presence on the baseball field. Elite??? Hell man, you are not only amongst the top dozen or so in the league, but you were always THE best hitter in the league, and perhaps THE top pick if there were ever a draft... I may go with Stevie Lou because he's cuter than you and has a better be-hind area, but dangit man, you were always right there in the convo for anyone with any baseball acumen and knowledge of our league...
The 45's are most def a changing landscape as we all age, but your moving on signals an abrupt transformation that will be interesting to see...
Despite our differences at times (like almost always! ), your competitive presence was a big part of what made me enjoy the league and this division as I do. Not sure there is a tougher competitor in any division and yep, believe it or not, I am seriously gonna miss seeing your fire, drive, and even that porn-stache smile over on the other side of the diamond.
That doesn't even mention the obvious of the game situations as no greater satisfaction has come for me than when you hit me nice hard double play grounders instead of gappers or opposite field smokers as you are prone to do as well ~ for again, you are even still at the ripe young age of 55 still the very best talent our league has to offer and I admire you are leaving on your own terms... And with your beloved bride...
I hope you know that I genuinely appreciated all the banter that has accompanied our competition through the years and wish you nothing but peace, joy, and happiness as you go out in style...
Err well, I hope to participate in making that exit a little less glorious as it seems we might have one more major showdown and well, on any given Sunday, right???
Maybe you have one more in ya?
Or maybe we continue to send you there with the quickness and bittersweet pain we all eventually experience in life???
Either way, before you and Martina go up at Schroon Lake, time to get it on one more last time...
And I shall relish and appreciate that just as much as as I have always have when seeing you...
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing what you have to the league as again and as my long time teammates Richie Rich and Mikey Big Dog said, we all have mad respect for you ~~~ but especially me Mike...
Peace and Blessings on your journey, wherever it may take you...
Mark Marshall
-- Edited by Marcus Aurelius on Tuesday 20th of September 2016 02:43:52 PM
Cmoooooon Maaaaaaan! Maney broke my heart when I read he was leaving Whoville! So, this is double whammy!
Boy, the time sure does go by fast. Just a few years ago, we were all playing in the 33 w/6 Waivers Division Championship Series. Tick Tock, Tick Tock!
As an opposing player for many more years than as a teammate, the collective thought process of our team in a tight game against the Marlins/Cubs, with men on base and Mike Girard coming up ."&%$^)(*&!!
Or.on Pitching Strategy: Lets see, we can pitch around Girard cause Mitchell, Hoyle, Lochner, Cutler, Craft, Maney, Mays, Mantle and Aaron are hurt..!
AND for many years, the most prevalent thinking throughout the league. DAMMIT, If that guy would just stop playing baseball in our division.
Well, its not always good to get what we think we want!
I know I speak for my Giants teammates and Ill take the liberty of saying the entire 45 w/0 Waivers Division as well: The competition level took a big hit with your commencement to the 55s!
Mark Marshall hit the nail on the head (hey, he finally squared one up) your departure signals a change in the landscape of the 45 w/0 Waivers Division and we certainly have to acknowledge our own baseball mortality with your news.
Ill miss the friendly rivalry, the competition, the history behind every Cubs/Giants game, the ribbing and jokes on the field. And really, Ill miss the big target to go after every year Mike Girard and the Cubbies!
I find that in life, theres comfort in CONSTANTS and one of the constants that has been the CDMSBL since I got here in 2002 Mike Girard!
You really will be missed, Mike!
Oh, I thought Id give you a heads-up for next year!
FROM THE SCROON LAKE WEBSITE: Scroon Lake embraces summer with fishing, baseball, hiking, baseball, cultural and community events, baseball, and more, baseball
There are regular open mic nights, baseball, live entertainment, baseball, and some cool events around the region through the season.like baseball.
Check the event schedule regularly for newly added events like baseball and make plans to visit and enjoy the summer the way it was meant to be enjoyed - outdoors baseball baseball baseball!
: )
SL
-- Edited by slounello on Tuesday 20th of September 2016 09:39:15 AM
let's not be too sad, boys. mike gets the company of his lovely wife, the lake and baseball. he hit the trifecta and he knows it.
sooner than you might imagine, you moonfaced worriers in the 45s will enter the 55s and square off against mike again.
and mike's right. the competition's good in the 55s, about a half-step down from the 45s. here, small ball isn't small at all, but a democratic way to pass the tension down to each man in the order. those of you who've perfected hitting ichiro-like singles should love it.
mike joins an age-group with a built-in paradox: as guys age and keep playing in the 55s, they somehow get younger.
go figure.
so a full-throated welcome to the geezer division, mike, and to the rest of you when you get here.
Mike, Ain't so much leaving the 45's that weighs here but the exit from the Cubs. and that goes back , way back to when you joined after the 30+ Braves folded mid 90's. A long and glorious Cubs career unfolded . 30+ to 38+ to 45+.
I've played against, and with Mike. He makes teams better just by being on the roster , just pulling up in the lot. Teammates and rivals know what i mean. Forget the glove, the bat, and the leadership where he earned that respect.
He along with so few we encounter inspire us to play harder, even better than we knew capable . But also as many have said here he also brings the fun out; the positive always burbling even in the bleakest times. He makes the tensest moments light without losing focus.
You've also been there for your teammates and your opponents in hard times off the field too. You're a man of the league and HOF'er for all that.
You said at your induction "I can't wait to be playing in the new 55 division". Day's here, welcome. Teal or Cubby Blue, you bring the same qualities to all teammates and opponents. we are all better for it. Tip of the cap to the Cubs #11 .
Thanks gentlemen for all of the kind words! My time in this division is now done (sad ending), but I really look forward to the challenge of helping my new Marlins teammates un-seat the Giants at the top of the 55 Division. First, we prepare to take on 2 teams from Southern California, 2 teams from Arizona, 1 team from Texas, and 1 from Ontario, Canada at the World Series. We have 3 more weeks to prepare. Time to get to work!
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Wednesday 28th of September 2016 11:15:46 AM
), your competitive presence was a big part of what made me enjoy the league and this division as I do. Not sure there is a tougher competitor in any division and yep, believe it or not, I am seriously gonna miss seeing your fire, drive, and even that porn-stache smile over on the other side of the diamond.
up at Schroon Lake, time to get it on one more last time...
