A Patriot Remembers
B
Albany Twilight League Pastime
aseball is the American Pastime, sure you’ve heard this phrase. Many have experienced baseball through their early introduction to sports, through their dreams, through their memories. Your fathers and grandfathers have lived Baseball’s American Pastime and now its time to pay it forward. Founded in 1931, the Albany Twilight League is two years shy of being the oldest continuous amateur baseball league in the country. It is the Albany’s Baseball Pastime and the current time for our young high school and collegiate players. Some players move
old in June and the name of Jerry Terry will bring us back to the Twilight glory days. The Albany Twilight League is honoring its 90th season with a commemorative book. A scrap book (over one inch thick) prepared by Richard Barrett and the late Ed Delehanty covered the first 75 years through 2005. We will not match that endeavor but our efforts are to continue Albany’s community pastime so that the league is not a passed time. You may see a future MLB player or a former MLB player’s baseball card in our booklet. Advertising space in our commemorative book is $150 a full 8 x 10 inch page, $100 and
$50 for a half and quarter page. Send advertising or a story to Bill Miles, 8 Criswood Drive, Albany NY 12205 or to me at 17 Glendale Ave Delmar 12054 or fomservice@aol.com. Also for you social media types see albanytwilightleague.com and face book. Remember, “you only become 90 once.” Share the season at ball games at Bleecker Stadium, St. Rose’s Pulmeri Sports Complex or Kelts Field in Waterford. The league has expanded to eight teams and the brand of ball is exciting as I witnessed in the playoffs last August. Thank You and umpiringly yours, Frank.
was too dangerous for me to be climbing on roofs, cutting down trees, etc. Again, God took care of me. My sister-in-law was workfor several years. Little did I step down for health reasons. ing in sales for a newspaper know at the time, I would stay Howard Joyce, the chairman, that is now called, The Spot for over 30 years. I got my told me I achieved more in 518. I got a job at first deliverassociate’s degree from Empire 10 months than some of the ing monthly magazines. Then, State College, followed by my guys who had been there for because delivery people were bachelor’s in arts going to Saint 10 years. For political reasons, leaving, I now have a weekly Rose and SUNY. My wonder- my seat was vacated. I also route in Albany and two magaful wife helped me type my served six years in the National zine routes. Again, the money term papers and corrected my Guard. delivering papers helps me spelling. NO computer back After working 31 years and with family obligations. then — typewriter only — and helping a lot of young boys at At the age of 75, I’m lucky no spell check either. LaSalle School, I was forced to to be with my wonderful Throughout my life, I feel I retire by the new administrafamily. My wife keeps me have helped people in the City tion, a retirement caused by happy and enjoying life. My of Albany. I served as a board health issues. The Brothers granddaughter just graduated, member of the YMCA for 10 were down to just a few and with honors, from Ohio State years; a Democratic Comthe new people in charge were University. She is going on for mittee man for 20 years and business first with the welfare her master’s degree to become served on the Albany Zoning of the boys, second and even a registered nurse, or an RN. Board 18 years. I was also an third. My grandson is a freshman in Albany County legislator for I started a handyman busi- high school and has been on 10 months, filling in for one ness, which lasted six years. I the honor roll since elementary school. I also have another of the members who had to realized at 65 years old that it
part-time job as supervisor of the City of Albany Crossings Guards in the northern part of Albany. Life the title of this story, “Once a paper person, always a paper person.” It helped me pay bills when I was 14 and it’s still helping me now. I keep on working. No retirement from LaSalle, but I did leave with health benefits and knowing I helped a lot of boys go on to better lives. I still see some of them occasionally; a lot are now married with families of their own. When I’m out and about and they see me, they immediately walk over. Sometimes it’s hard for me to recognize them at first, as they have changed from boys to men. Once we connect, the memories come back. They always thank me and that is worth more to me than anything. “God has been good to me.”
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on to professional leagues and sometimes return to continue their youthful pastime. Let’s keep our Albany Twilight League in our hearts and minds and appreciate our youth trying. As a great coach name Vince Lombardi said “Winning is not everything. The desire to win is. It is the only thing.” This is a very noble concept to cherish so our youth will strive and compete – honestly. Recently, I was introduced to a veteran of the Albany Twilight League and a veteran of WWII through the Schenectady Ole Timers Baseball Club (exists over 25 years). The player will be 100 years
Frank DeSorbo
Once a paper person
12 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT — APRIL 2020
