Friday, June 1, 2007

A League Of Their Own

For the benefit of those of you who may be new to Food For Thought, we have a standing tradition on Fridays. We look through the headlines to find some bit of wacky, amazing, or completely off-the-wall story that will help illustrate a spiritual principle.

Today's amazing story comes to us from Baldwin Harbor, New York. Here's the story as told by Carl Macgowan of NewsDay.com:


That wasn't Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens on the mound Wednesday at Baldwin Park. And the hurler wasn't trying to strike out ageless Mets infielder Julio Franco.

The Yankees and Mets veterans are mere rookies compared to Mickey Werner, 93, of Baldwin, and Paul Rotter, 86, of Woodmere, who faced one another Wednesday in a senior league softball game.


In fact, Werner is older than Clemens, 44, and Franco, 48, -- combined.

"Oldtimers game" took on new meaning when Werner's Mets took on Rotter's Dodgers. And the senior southpaws, the oldest players in the five-team Long Island Senior Softball Association, said they don't plan to retire anytime soon.

"Why should I?" Rotter said. "As long as I can play, I'll keep playing.

""Pitching is just swinging the arm and pushing the ball forward," said Werner, a retired New York City physical education teacher, who gave up one run in three innings in his club's 9-6 victory.

Rotter, a former special ed teacher, was the losing pitcher after allowing nine runs in six innings.

Werner drew a walk in his only at-bat against Rotter, and Rotter singled the only time he batted against Werner. Both were replaced on the basepaths by pinch runners.

The minimum age requirement to play in the senior softball association is 68. Innings are suspended when a team scores five times, and games last only seven innings.

League commissioner Joe Friedman, 71, of Oceanside, who plays for the Dodgers, said safety is a priority for the league. "If people don't feel physically fit, we ask them to get a doctor's note," he said.

Werner's daughter, Ellice Bekier, 59, of Valley Stream, said she only worries about her dad on hot, humid summer days. She watched Wednesday's game with evident pride.

"He's a kid at heart," she said of Werner. "How many people even have their fathers at 93?

"Werner's and Rotter's longevity amazes their teammates. Rotter pitched both ends of a doubleheader last week, said Dodgers manager Harry Schwarzkopf of Woodmere.

"He also pitches fast-pitch on Sunday," said Schwarzkopf, 76.

Dr. Craig Levitz, director of sports medicine at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, said most of his patients are seniors. With minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, older athletes can stay on the playing field longer, Levitz said.

"One reason they're living longer is they're more active," he said. "The reason they're playing at that age is that they've been playing for 20 years" or more.

The Dodgers and Mets Wednesday looked as if they could keep playing for another 20 years.

"You don't get old from playing softball," said Dodgers player Arnie Raichek, 75, of Oceanside. "You get old from not playing softball."


Whether or not you are a sports fan is immaterial when it comes to a story like this. 96-year-old Mickey and 86-year-old Paul ought to serve as reminders of the great things our more "seasoned" folks can accomplish.

Certainly, some enjoy better health in old age than others. The ravages of time will eventually wear down even the most physically fit (see Ecclesiastes 12:1-8) - even fellows such as the incomparable Jack Lalane!

Still, the multitude of important work being done in God's kingdom by our older brothers and sisters is worthy of our noticing. It is so important for Christians who are "getting up in age" to stay as involved as they are able in the work of the church. Aside from the glory brought to God in the process of their good works (see Matthew 5:16), staying involved in kingdom labor provides valuable time for younger Christians with those who have garnered wisdom through the years.

The Bible says...

"The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness."
Proverbs 16:31, NKJV

"The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair."
Proverbs 20:29, ESV

To the younger saints...be thankful and take advantage of the wisdom that can be imparted by our older brethren.

To the older saints...the kingdom of God needs your abilities, even if that entails nothing more than mentoring the younger generations within the Lord's church. The wisdom you have collected through a life of righteousness is a splendor - yea, a crown of glory to be admired!
R2