Congrats, John! Very well deserved! Without you I would have given up on this game that I love many years ago! Softball is just not my thing! Thanks for all you have done, all you are doing, and all that I know you will do in the coming years! I could never say thank you enough!
A big tip of the teal cap to our fearless skipper: the Reel Deal, the Godfather of the CDMSBL, the Summertime Santa, the Feared Beard.
When controversial issues occasionally arise due to necessary changes in the league, John always had a knack for calming the waters by bringing reason, civility, fairness, consistency and time-tested experience to the table. He truly is a president who speaks softly and carries a big stick. I believe it's an RG Johnson.
John - a tremendous, well deserved honor for all you do! Proud to have played for you, and now have you as a great Pirate teammate. Your guidance in our inaugural season was very much appreciated. You definitely are the face of CD-MSBL!
Congrats John on the well deserved honor. It has been a pleasure being part of the Marlins and part of a World Series team in Arizona that you managed.
Congrats John!! I only hope players realize what John has given to this league in 30 YEARS!! I had the pleasure to serve on the Board of Directors with John for THREE long years...That was plenty for me, to do it as long as he has is unthinkable..
His administrative prowess aside, John can still, and always has, been able to swing the stick. Batting third or fourth for the Pirates attests to that, as well as a huge, pinch-hit RBI single for the Golden Marlins in their comeback victory over the Yankees a couple weeks back.
I am proud to call John a friend and teammate...well deserved young fella!!
John what an incredibly deserving honor. I dont know anyone who could have accomplished What you did with the CDMSBL, the 700 of us owe You praise, and a huge thank you.
My grass may be a little longer than my neighbors, but hot damn Im playing ball! Congrats John! mane
Whenever I've met with the tournament directors Steve Sigler or Gary D'Ambrisi in the MSBL Fall Classic Tournaments, they recognize that I am from the CDMSBL, and always have asked how John Reel is doing. And when you talk to players from other leagues in these national tournaments and learn that our CDMSBL has more organization and structure than most leagues in the country, then you realize that this is a well deserved honor for John Reel.
Congrats!
Mike Surin
Thank you John Reel for all of the good work you have done over these 30 years. Many, many men have benefited as a result. Many new friendships have been formed.
And, quite a few physicians and psychiatrists have also been enriched by your baby, CDMSBL.
Co-man of the Year? How 'bout Co-man of the decade!!!
While I admit John and I have had different visions at times and butt heads on a few issues, John is, and always has, been the backbone of this great organization. In 1999, this 49-year-old rookie got to play organized baseball again for the first time since 1978, that there was a place for old guys with old cracked leather gloves stored for decades in an attic in the heat of summer and the cold of winter.
We didn't have 4 or 5 divisions then; we certainly didn't have 700 players or 41 teams. So to see the evolution of this league under John's leadership is nothing short of miraculous, especially when you think of how small our market is compared to most, if not all, MSBL chapters in the U.S. and abroad. I have no doubt, too, that we will continue to grow.
This honor doesn't surprise me; what surprises me is how long it took to be recognized as such.
Back when this league first started as the "Over 30" league, I played on a team formed with a bunch of guys from my old neighborhood in Albany. We were the Detroit Tigers because someone got a deal on a bunch of Detroit jerseys. We won the championship in I think 1991 at the old Heritage Park. It helped that we had Rick Lombardo pitching for us, arguably the best pitcher who ever played in our league, along with quite a few other very talented players. I took a short hiatus from baseball, about 18 years, to raise my daughters. Then around 2010 I saw an ad in the Times Union for the CDMSBL looking for players and looked into it. I was amazed to find out that this was the same league, and it was thriving, now with several divisions. I signed up with a team and realized there were still quite a few guys playing from when I played way back when the league started, including John Reel. Without John's dedication and foresight, we would not have this opportunity to do what we do every summer. Thanks John!
Steve Schaefer
"Over 30" Tigers 45 Braves 55 Dodgers
PS: I found this picture of that old Tigers team, at least some of us. Kind of grainy. I'm the only guy with the beard; maybe I inspired today's MLB beard craze!
Approximately 28 years ago I approached John at Siena when his team (Greco or Colonie Block ??) was playing on their field and asked him "What team and league is this?" The gentleman that he is kindly explained to me and stated that we are looking for more players and teams. The next year me and a bunch of guys joined the league and from that moment there was no turning back. If it weren't for John's perseverance and hard work I would not be playing this great kids game in my mid 50's. I've made a lot of friendships during this time. Ditto on all the previous comments posted. Congrats a big thank you John for keeping this league going. Well deserved honor.
Well John, not much else to add other than a very heartfelt thanks. I thought it was over after our White Sox folded in 96 but I ran into you at your office (Delmar Stewarts in your classic blue Ranger) in Aug of 97 and you roped me back into playing in the labor day tourney that year and we won. The hook was set and the next 20yrs were some of the best baseball yrs I've experienced. Great teams, teammates and memories. None of which would have been possible without your leadership. Watching you hoist the national trophy in 06 at Al Lang was a great well deserved moment I won't soon forget. Congrats, Crafty
Hey John.. Want to congratulate you for an award well deserved.. Since coming to the League some 12 years ago.. you have surely done a YEOMANS JOB!!! Your passion and hard work has very much contributed to the leagues success..
Thank you all for your comments here and in person . Any personal success that is recognized by MSBL is a reflection of everyone whose participated, had a hand in running things, or rooted us on. Take pride in what we have, improve it when its needed, and nurture it. but most importantly have fun. You guys are the greatest.
John Reel
