My Baseball Life

A good friend of mine has a saying about the game we love, “Life imitates Baseball!”  This rings true to me on multiple levels. The game itself, demands that we pay attention moment by moment to little things.  A lapse of attention at any moment could become the turning point in the game. The game gives you multiple chances to succeed; and if you’ve been paying attention all along, you can use what you learned a moment ago, to succeed in this moment.  There is also a great interdependence among the players on both sides of the ball. We have to communicate. And when we know each other well, we can anticipate what a teammate (or an opponent) will do in a situation and position ourselves to take advantage of that knowledge.  Haste does indeed make waste (aka errors) in this game; a lot of it shows up in the box score, and a lot of it doesn’t.

The game has also been at the forefront of change in American Society.  Jackie Robinson not only broke the color barrier in America’s Pastime, but opened a door to experience for Americans who were in the dark about the character and capacity of Black Americans.  His courage and resilience even today is a model for all Americans. In my mind, the game has brought Americans closer together and broken down many of the stereotypes that separate us. Like life, the game boils down to a few simple things to do and pay attention to in order to be successful.  And like life, there are an infinite number of little things that can pile up on you if you are not paying attention.

And, the game is HARD.  Where else can you succeed only one third of the time and be deemed to possess greatness.  Success in baseball occurs in a moment. The wing of the bat; that unmistakable sound of a ball well hit, that feels as light as a feather off the bat.  Or the catch after getting a great jump on a ball that was going to be a double in the gap. These are the moments we live for in this great game.

I continue to play precisely because it is hard.  And succeeding at something as hard as this game, makes those moments of success all the more enjoyable.  The game teaches you that it is the play that is important, not the momentary success. If you play this game only for the moments of success, you’re going to have a hard time; just the same as if you play life only for the momentary pleasures, it will be hard and stressful all the time.

I am grateful to DCMSBL for the opportunity to play for over 20 years now.  I’ve loved this game since I was 6 years old. My love for the game came from my Dad’s influence.  My Dad took me to ball games where I saw the legendary Satchel Paige in the twilight of his career pitch for the International League Miami Marlins.  He didn’t argue with me about going to school when I got sick in October of 1954 and was able to see Willie Mays catch Vic Wertz’s drive to deep center.  He didn’t argue either in October of 1955 as I was home with a cold and watching our beloved Dodgers finally beat the Yankees with Johnny Podres pitching a complete game shutout; in Yankee Stadium, no less!  Those games inspired me to play and I’m thankful to be able to continue to do so.

There are many memories of great times over the years of DCMSBL.  Great games that stick in my mind and a few championships along the way as well.  However, the greatest memories of the last 22+ years have to do with the friendships that go back throughout the period of time starting with John Small’s Yankees, and Astros, John Russell and Bob Janis’ DC Mets; and more recently with the Blue Jays.  Many of the Blue Jays started with me as teenagers; and I’ve watched them grow into men. We have won a few Championships together, but what is most gratifying, is that they have taken the lessons of the game between the lines, into their lives outside the lines. DCMSBL made this possible. Like I say, “Life imitates Baseball!”

Being raised in a military family, 4 years of Little League was played in 4 different locations from 1965-1968……..Puerto Rico, California, Florida, and Virginia.

-Falls Church Babe Ruth 1969-1971 with 13 & 15 year old State Championships
in 1969 & 1971.
-George C. Marshall H.S. in Falls Church, Va. First team All-Met 1974.
-George Mason University Varsity Baseball 1975-1978.
-NAIA College World Series 1976.
-Clark Griffith League 1975.
-Maryland Industrial League 1976 & 1977.
-1978 Signed as Free Agent in Class A Carolina League with Alexandria Dukes
(Parent team Seattle Mariners).
-Virginia Credit Union League 1979-1986 with Springfield Rifles.

DCMSBL
-Started playing in DCMSBL in 1991 & 1992 for John Zendarski of the 30+
Twins.
-1993-1997: 30+ Springfield Rifles. Fall Classic in Florida 1995 & 1996.
-2007-2018: 18+, 25+, 22+, 18+ Loudoun Rifles

Coaching Bio

-Robinson H. S. Varsity Baseball Assistant 1979 & 1980. AAA State
Championship 1980.
-Loudoun Little League 1988-1999.
-American Legion Post 34: 2000-2001.
-Park View H. S. Varsity Baseball Assistant 2003-2008.
-DCMSBL 1993-1997: 30+ Springfield Rifles & 2007-2018 Loudoun Rifles
-Stafford Little League 2018

Playing with thirteen different teams, in multiple age groups, in two Fall Classics, two World Series’, several local tournaments, and as part of four DC MSBL championship teams, Bill Kirkendale will be playing in his 25th consecutive season in 2016. And, to top it off, Bill will be joined in the league by his two sons – twenty year old Billy, playing in his third season, and eighteen year old Chris who will be playing together on the reigning champion 18+ Sharks.

Bill was wrapping up his Babe Ruth team’s practice at Four Mile Run in Arlington in the spring of ’92, when having his own kids was the last thing on his mind. Bill remembers a bunch of guys his age throwing around a hardball and then coming onto the field. “I asked about it and how I could play too.”

The late Ricky Blasquez’ Senators – perennial contenders and two time DC MSBL Champs – invited Bill to work out with them, signed him up, and he’s been playing ever since. “Ricky asked me what position I played, I said pitcher, he asked how hard I threw, I said pretty hard, he said to hang around and warm up. Later he put me on the mound against a live batter and I almost took the guy’s head off trying to show off, haha!”

Bill currently plays for the 25+ NOVA Yankees and the 45+ Angels. “It’s such an amazing honor to be recognized as a part of this standout league’s history! I’m overwhelmingly grateful for the DC MSBL and the big part it has played in my life. To keep playing real baseball every spring and summer as I did when I was a kid, and still now at 56, and with my boys in the league! How awesome is that!”

Patrick Conley joined the DC MABL in 1998 as a player for the 18+ Silver Spring Dodgers, who were managed by Carl Sandford at the time.  CJ Ford, who was a high school friend and teammate, introduced Patrick to the team.  Patrick played for Carl for five seasons through 2002. Following the 2002 season, Carl decided to resign as manager.  Several of the players were not ready to “hang up the spikes” including Patrick, so he decided to keep the team going and took over as manager & player beginning the 2003 season.  The Dodgers won their first league championship in 2005.  They continued to win the league championship again in 2006 & 2007. In 2008, the Dodgers lost in the semi-finals. In August of 2009, the Dodgers returned to the championship and won their 4th in the past five seasons.  

Since 2003, the Dodgers have won the league championship 4 times out of the past 7 seasons, and have an overall record of 113 wins, 34 losses, and 2 ties.  Patrick played baseball at Prince George’s Community College in the late 1990’s, and later transferred to play ball at Shenandoah University. 

2010 will be his 13th season as a member of the DC MABL.  He also currently plays for the Linthicum Expos in the Chesapeake MSBL.  In 2004, Patrick was a player & co-manager of the MABL World Series Runner-up Fairfax Yankees in the 18+ federal division.  In December of 2009, the Silver Spring Dodgers were selected by the Washington DC Home Plate Club, as the top adult baseball team in the Washington DC Metro region in 2009.  The Dodgers received the Del Norwood adult team of the year award Sunday, January 31st 2010 at the 53rd annual Home Plate Club banquet.  The 2010 season will be Patrick’s 8th season as manager and his 13th season as a player for the 18+ Silver Spring Dodgers.

Jim Beck Bio

The late, great Jim Beck passed away just on Jan. 12, ’08. For many of us, there still is not a day when we don’t think about quacking rabbits, Norwegian goggles, or some unique experience we had with him.  Indeed, Jim touched the lives of countless people throughout the area, from Little League teams to men’s leagues, from players and coaches, to the many charitable organizations he supported over the years.

Jim Beck was a longtime baseball patron, coach and player in the Northern Virginia area.  He coached at every level of amateur baseball, from Little League and Babe Ruth, to high school and adult teams.  For the last several years, Jim coached baseball at Falls Church High School, and was the co-founder and President of the Fairfax Nationals, a summer college team in the Clark Griffith Collegiate Baseball League.  He also served as the team’s bench coach and team motivator.

Jim was also on the roster of several adult league teams throughout the area and regularly played upwards of 100 games per year, often traveling to Arizona and Florida to play and coach in tournaments.  As a charter member of the DC Men’s Senior Baseball League, Jim’s energy and passions were instrumental in making it one of the nation’s largest adult leagues. Jim was also a long time member of the Home Plate Club and was previously honored for his contributions to local baseball. Jim was a member of both the DCMSBL Hall of Fame and the Home Plate Club Hall of Fame.

Jim also left his mark in the community as a tireless contributor to youth clubs and other groups supporting community events and activities, which included the Rotary Club and the Fairfax County Baseball Council.  As the owner of A.J.’s Sport Shop in Vienna, Jim was a long time friend of many Northern Virginia sports memorabilia buffs.

Jim was the father of Karen, Kristen, James, Ted, Monica and Walter Beck. Jim lived in Fairfax, along with his wife Lynda, and their children Walter and Monica.

Jim Beck-isms

“Don’t worry about the mule, just load the wagon!”

“Don’t throw him anything straight.  And don’t throw him anything crooked.”

“How do you throw a ball that moves so slow and still moves forward?”

“What should I do next time, Jimmy, roll it to him?”

(Jim asking a coach how to pitch to a guy who had just blasted two consecutive homers off of him)

“Waaaaaaaaaaaallllltteeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrr!”

“Rat-a-TAT, TAT!”

“…Queens rook to Kings bishop four… Just like we practiced.”

“Walter, son, you’ve GOT to get your body behind that ball. The pain you might feel for a minute if the ball hits you is NOTHING compared to the lifetime of humiliation you’ll feel if you miss it.”

“SOMEBODY’s got to turn them LIGHTS on before SOMEBODY gets HURT!”

“Norwegian goggles”

“Ya can’t fight a war if you’re playing in a baseball game.”

“I throw just as hard as a major league baseball player, it just takes my ball a little longer to get there.”

“Think of a cow… a big ol’ Guernsey cow!”

“Let’s do like we talked about in Cleveland.”

“I KNOW you can do it, I’ve SEEN you do it.”

“I hear those ducks a-quacking!”

“You know, baseball players are smarter than football players.  When was the last time a baseball team was penalized for having too many players on the field?”

“…it doesn’t matter what sign you give me, they’ll all come in the same……” (Jim talking about how he throws 9 different pitches but they all look the same)

“As Ol’ Diz used to say, ‘He took a ripple’” (after a batter took a big swing)

“Ultimate power resides in the hands of those who know how to use it.”