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The Pioneer

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San Leandro Oldtimers Takes the Field for Their 71st Season

The San Leandro Oldtimers, an affiliate of the Roy Hobbs Baseball league, revives the passion of baseball in middle-age men and senior citizens.

“Baseball is a game you play as a kid, so if you can play it at my age, then you will, because it’s a lot of fun,” said Kelvin Joiner, a third-year player in the league who will be turning 50 in June. “As long as I can make it out there to the field, I’m going to play.”

Unlike other baseball leagues, a player is only considered eligible once they have reached the age of 35. However, the age limit for participation is 71.

The NorCal Oldtimers Baseball Association, which is a founder of the San Leandro Oldtimers and many other adult teams, was formed in San Francisco in 1941.

Initially, the association started off with pickup games played between former major, minor and semi-pro league baseball players, according to the NorCal Oldtimers website. Yet, as games became more competitive amongst the teams, the association formulated an organized league for teams to face off in a more professional environment.

“This league is pretty neat because everybody here can play. There are a lot of players with collegiate experience and even some who are ex-professionals of [Major League Baseball],” said 2011 NorCal Oldtimers Hall of Fame Inductee, Al Brown.

Regionally, the league is well represented, spanning from areas such as Lodi on the northeast to Watsonville on the southwest.

Games are played mostly on Sunday mornings at reputable ballparks like the San Leandro Ballpark, Alan Witt Park and Fitzgerald Park.

Although teams have the ability to make their own schedule, usually ranging from 15 to 40 games, some players understand their limitations on the playing field.

“I don’t play as much in games now because I have two fake knees. I usually play an inning once in a while, take a swing once in a while, or throw batting practice,” said Frank Mullany, a 23-year veteran of the team as well as the oldest player on the Oldtimers at age 80. “I don’t try to keep up with these 50-year-old kids.”

Mullany is an exception to the league’s age requirement rule, because of his tenured status.

As a courtesy to their older group of players, the league has enforced some specialized rules to ensure fairness and safety during the course of a game.

First, fake bunting and swing-aways are not allowed. Second, under age players may not pitch or catch. No more than two underage players on any roster at one time. Lastly, for close plays at home plate, all runners must slide, peel out to the right of the baseline or allow a tag-out.

In addition to local league play, the San Leandro Oldtimers and other divisional teams have received recognition on a national-scale, advancing to the Roy Hobbs’ World Series in Fort Myers, Florida.

“You get guys that have played before, so they know how to really play the game of baseball, which is the [main] criteria for this league,” said Bob Scott, a recent inductee of both the Chabot College Hall of Fame and Oldtimers Hall of Fame.

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San Leandro Oldtimers Takes the Field for Their 71st Season