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"Spotlight Award"
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Eddie Smith - 34
Birthdate: 3/23/39
Birthplace: San Diego, CA
Occupation: Retired (Salesman, Entreprenuer)
Family:
Wife: Donna Marie
Children: Joseph, Jeffrey, Joshua,
and Jessica
Grandchildren: Emma Rose,
Natalie Ruth, and Ryleigh Elizabeth
Favorite Happy Hour: On the Border
Fantasy Dinner Guest:
1.) Walter "Big Train" Johnson
2.) Nolan Ryan
3.) A.J. Foyt Jr.
4.) Dolly Parton
5.) Elvis
MSBL History:
48+ Diamondbacks, Atlanta 2000
28+ Phillies, Dallas 2001-2004
58+ North County Legends,
San Diego 2005
38+ Caribeños, 2005 - Present
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I am "Spartacus". This is my story.
There are many roads that bring us all together to play North Texas MSBL Baseball. Love of baseball as a kid, high school baseball, maybe some college ball. Then somewhere down the line the various paths that baseball takes us down somehow come together and merge back into the MSBL as we continue to pursue our passion for the game.
For me, the story started out pretty much the same, but the path that brought me to the MSBL was quite different than most. An above average small town high school ballplayer, I was off to Michigan State to purse an education and hopefully, some baseball along the way. I made the team as a walk-on freshman for the Spartans, but the dream was short lived. I failed to make the cut in the
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"Wheels"
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spring of my sophomore year (the competition was tough, as both Ron Perrinoski and Dick Radate, future major league pitchers, were in the starting rotation). My short-lived college baseball career was over.
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Feeling like my baseball world had collapsed, I never picked up another baseball. That was forty-nine years ago in the Spring of 1957. It took a life altering event to put a baseball back in my hand all these years later.
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"I am Spartacus"
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I graduated from Michigan State University in 1960, received my commission as a second lieutenant, followed by a 5 year tour in the Air Force. As an Air Force aviator, the thrill of flying, along with the pride of serving you country was certainly a highlight of my life (My flag flies proudly most every day). Life however will teach you that along with the "highlights" will come "lowlights", which will make subsequent highs all the more meaningful.
The next forty years included raising a family as well as various pursuits and interests. I have enjoyed flying, racing Corvettes, long distance running (a couple of White Rock Marathons under my belt), hiking, bodybuilding, even a few seasons as a senior soccer player (goalkeeper).
But no baseball.
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Working in Atlanta, Georgia with slightly more than a year before early retirement at 62, I received bad news. I had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The same week I lost my Dad, so this was definitely scored as a "lowlight". Facing weeks of radiation and chemotherapy, followed by several surgeries, I knew the importance of staying positive. Support from family, friends, and co-workers was abundant, but additional inspiration would come from an unexpected source.
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"Rocky Mountain High"
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Fate had somehow decided that it was time to put a baseball back in my hand. It came in the form of a friend and neighbor named Gary Gwaltney. Not knowing at the time that Gary was a coach and a player in the Atlanta MSBL, I spotted him one day in uniform and hauling an equipment bag. He informed me that he was on his way to play baseball (you know the overhand pitch kind) and invited me to come along and watch his 48+ Diamondbacks play. After watching this "seniors" play a few games, I suddenly realized that this is what I loved, and I had to get back on a baseball diamond. I had found additional inspiration to survive this disease. My long dormant passion to play baseball had been rekindle, and I couldn't wait to recover. And recover I did. In time to get myself in baseball shape, perform a successful tryout, and join Gary's Diamondbacks for the remainder of the 2000 season.
Surviving cancer, and discovering that at age 62, I was still able to play the game I had loved so long ago was a new "highlight" (remember, the low's make the high's higher, but I wasn't done with either one) Retiring at the end of 2000, I said goodbye to Gary and the Diamondbacks and thanked them for their inspiration and faith in me. I will always remember my MSBL roots in Atlanta with great pride. Time to return home to Dallas.
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The seed was now planted. With the help of a 411 operator I contacted our commissioner Sam Kayea. He put me in touch with Tom Hogan, coach of the 28+ Phillies (the oldest age division at the time). I thought "Great! Now instead of my teammates being 14 years younger, they will be 34 years younger". Tom was very gracious and agreed to a tryout. I didn't tell him my age, only that I was "old enough" for this division. After a successful tryout a contract was signed with the Phillies. Now Tom looks at my birth dated and probably wondered what he had gotten himself into with this senior citizen. I'll always appreciate my years with Tom and the Phillies. They were great "team" players. Always came to play, even though we were usually out gunned and on the short end of the score. No fighting, no arguing, just show up and play. I'll always be thankful to Tom for giving me a chance in the NTMSBL.
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My 2003 season with the Phillies was bittersweet. That year my season was cut short with another one of those "lowlights". I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in my leg. There's that pesky cancer again! Not to worry. Kick it once, kick it twice! Surgery, recovery, and more baseball! And that's how it went, as I found myself in the fall of 2003 standing on a "field of dreams" in phoenix for my first MSBL World Series. Another "highlight" of course!
In 2004 the "highlights" came in buckets. Prior to the season I was blessed with my second granddaughter. In the fall, back in Phoenix playing for my good friend Joe Maiden and the 65+ San Diego Padres, I was winning my first MSBL World Series ring, while my daughter-in-law was giving birth to my third granddaughter. Great Year!
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"Mom can throw strikes!"
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I met Harry Arroyo shortly after I came into the league. He was coaching the 28+ Caribeņos at the time. Over the years we shared the competition as well as the post game victory celebrations (always theirs). I'm proud to count Harry among my friends. When I ran into Harry at the 2005 pre-season managers meeting, he told me he was organizing a new 38+ Caribeņos team. I told Harry that I was interested in moving to the 38+ Division so I could play with guys closer to my own age (just kidding). I asked him if he had a roster spot for me on his new team (just kidding again). Harry proceeded to make my day by replying, "Eddie, there is always a roster spot for you on the Caribeņos." That was the beginning. The entire 2005 season turned out to be a "highlight". My new teammate Dave De Paul immediately dubbed me "Spartacus" (based on some perceived resemblance to Kirk Douglas), so "Spartacus" I am. Being a Caribeņo is truly like family, a "band of brothers". We win and lose as a team.
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"Whack"
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Everybody contributes to the team effort wherever and whenever they are needed without complaint. I am proud to do my part and appreciate the acceptance I have been granted by my teammates. I am happy to take my "hacks", hold down the "hot corner," or even "toe the rubber" if I am called upon to do so. It is a credit to Harry's coaching and people skills, to be able to put together this championship team. We capped a great 2005 season with a league championship (my first), and a Texas Cup Championship. I was able to continue the tradition by winning the San Diego MSBL 58+ fall league championship. My 90 year old mother was there to throw out the first pitch. Talk about a "highlight"! Then it was on to Phoenix with the 65+ Padres for my second World Series Championship. Another great year.
Well, here we are looking forward to our 2006 38+ Caribeņos season, but wait a minute, something is missing. Don't we need another "lowlight" to make our "highlights" higher?
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Unfortunately, I was granted another one. Prior to the season I was again diagnosed with cancer. This time in the kidney, but caught early.
When I broke the news to Harry he replied, "Spartacus, go out and kick its ass again! Well, by now you know the drill. Surgery (on my 67th birthday), recovery, and then baseball! I was in the dugout on opening night, greeted with a warm welcome home from my Caribeņo "family". Three weeks later I'm on the field holding down third base when we only had nine. "Highlight"!!
The MSBL has seen me through many highs and lows and I will always be grateful to my baseball friends and teammates for their continued support. When my playing days are over and I'm "called up" for the big game in the sky, I will proudly wear Caribeņos #34, but I will take my Padres #34 with me just in case they have age divisions up there.
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