HISTORY OF THE MORRIS COUNTY LEAGUE
(North
Jersey Senior Softball Conference)
It all started with an
article that I saw about Senior Softball in AARP magazine and a phone number to
call. In 1990 we started out with 16
ballplayers and we traveled around the state, playing teams from Hunterdon and
Ocean counties. We all got tired of
traveling around the state on weekends, so Rich Palmer, Al Schneider and myself
put our heads together and decided to form a league.
We received the help of the
Lincoln Park, NJ Recreation Director, Mickey Holden, who advised us he could
provide two fields with lights in the center of Lincoln Park and another unlit
field. Rich Palmer was able to secure a
field with lights in Montville, so we were on our way. In 1991, our first year, we were able to
form eight teams.
We incorporated the league
in 1991 to protect the league officers for liability purposes. In 1992, we applied for and received exempt
status under Section 501(c)(4) from the Internal Revenue Service. The corporate title of the North Jersey
Senior Softball Conference, Inc. was changed to the New Jersey Senior Softball
Association, Inc., so that all the Senior Softball leagues in the state would
come under the corporate umbrella.
After 4 or 5 years, both
Rich Palmer and Al Schneider decided to take up permanent residence in Florida
and I was left all by my lonesome self - - with a lot of help from my wonderful
wife, Janet, who does all the league schedules, standings, e-mails, etc. She also used to do all the typing for the
annual Newsletter. Janet is my right
arm and she is just as responsible as anyone for the growth of the league.
Also helping me is our
Board of Commissioners, comprised of 12 men, most of whom are team
managers. The Board makes the decisions
for the league.
The league started in 1991
with 8 teams and expanded to 12 teams in 1992, 14 in 1993, 16 in 1994, 17 in
1998, 21 in 2000, 22 in 2001, 24 in 2002, 26 in 2003, 27 in 2004, 29 in 2006
and 30 in 2007 and also for 2008. Our
big problem, as in most leagues, is getting enough fields for the 270 regular
season games, plus about 60 playoff games.
We now have 8 teams in our
60+ league and because of the lack of fields, the 60+ season doesn’t start
until school gets out, or around the third or fourth week of June. Many guys play in both the 50+ and 60+
leagues and are able to play until the end of August.
We also have a Tuesday
morning league, which currently has 7 teams and we are trying to put together
an eighth team to balance the schedule.
Doubleheaders are played, with 4 teams playing in West Orange and 4
teams in Randolph.
So there is plenty of
softball to be played, as long as the body is as able as the brain is willing.