SACRAMENTO MEN'S SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
Sacramento's Premier Baseball League since 1984
Home of 72 World Series Championship Teams
Rick was a young boy In Monterey Ca. watching his two older brothers play in the local Little League. After the family relocated Rick began playing in the San Mateo LL National. Rick tried out and made a team in the majors. At 9 years old it was quite challenging facing 12 y/o pitching. But he did acclimate towards the end of the year, and that’s where he first strapped on the catchers gear in practice. He was the starting catcher for the next three years and the All Star catcher as a twelve years old. At thirteen Rick tried out for the Belmont San Mateo Babe Ruth League where he played for three years. At thirteen he first realized that the throw was a long way to second base . Again he acclimated to the larger field and became the thirteen year old All Star catcher. That was where he first caught some kid from Belmont named Ken Jungston. Rick again made the Babe Ruth All Stars. Rick played his High School Baseball at Hillsdale High in San Mateo earning his white letter H, which meant the team came in first in the Mid Peninsula League.
After High School Ricks playing days were over and he enrolled in the Machine Tool Technology Coarse at the College of San Mateo. During his second year at CSM he met a young nursing student named Vickie. They would date for five years until Vickie graduated from Nursing School. They married in 1981, meanwhile Rick and his older brother tarted Graduate Machining. Fast forward sixteen years and three kids later the shop was expanding and required an electrician to wire up more machines. That electrician was Steve Welch. Steve told Rick about the SMSBL and gave him Fred Creal’s number. Fred told Rick to come on down to Land Park on Sunday and join the Boys of Summer. Rick’s first at bat in twenty two years was with the bases loaded and his team behind by two runs. He worked the pitcher to a full count and hit a shot to right center to tie the game.That was the beginning of Ricks adult
baseball career. It was 1997 and Vickie had finally got a day position which allowed Rick to play night baseball with Fred’s Tigers in the 40+ division. After a few years playing with the Tigers some guy from Belmont joined the team, that’s right, Ken Jungston.Talk about going full circle as Rick continues to be Ken’s catcher on various teams.
What Rick love’s the most about playing adult baseball is being able to play in the Father/Son Tournaments with his two boys Ryan and Shane in Arizona and Father’s Day in Sacramento. It doesn’t get any better than being able to get behind the plate and catch your own son. When Rick turned 60 he joined the 60+ Golden Division. He was placed on Jim Tygrett-DeNuzzi’s Yankees. Jim stepped away from managing the Yankees and Rick became the manager. With Jim’s blessing the team name was changed to the Colt 45’s. At 69 (league age) Rick is still strapping on the catchers gear. When he gets behind the dish now his first thought is, damn that’s still a long way to second base. On some game days you may find Rick all over the diamond pitching, playing infield and outfield too. Rick has several league championships playing with Fred Creal’s Tigers, plus his most recent Colt 45s. He’s also got multiple MSBL tournament wins in Las Vegas and San Diego. Rick’s commitment and loyalty to the SMSBL is evident as a player, manager, teammate and contributor. A few years ago Rick donated a John Deere riding mower to the SMSBL, and still being used. Rick’s ability as a player, commitment to managing, and sense of community are SMSBL Hall of Fame qualities being recognized.
