WHO CREATED

OVER 50 BASEBALL AND WHY?


My name is Howard Rollin, and I am the founder of OVER 50 BASEBALL based in Denver, Colorado. Pictured with me is my wife, Tilly, who has assisted me with baseball operations.  To my knowledge, I created what has now become the largest 48+ baseball league in the U.S. with 16 teams. With the addition of the 4 teams in the Denver Over 60 Baseball League, the total of 20 teams over the age of 48 makes Denver the capitol of "Golden-Age" baseball. If you know of or belong to another large city league for such an elderly age group, please let me know.

I have been involved in adult senior baseball for over 20 years. In 1988, the Men's Senior Baseball League (MSBL) came to Denver, and I was an original member of that year's 8-team league. I was almost 41 years old at that time playing in a 30 and over league. It was great fun, and I played enthusiastically and watched the MSBL grow quickly to 24 teams by 1991. Although the Denver MSBL was just a 30 and over league, a Denver 40 and over post-season tournament team was created to compete in the MSBL's 40 and Over World Series each fall in Phoenix, Arizona. Many players from those annual 40 and over teams would have liked to stay and play together during the regular local-league season, but a 40 and over league was denied by the Denver MSBL's board of directors, even though there were at least 120 players over the age of 40 already in the league by 1991. The Denver MSBL was convinced (at that time) that 40 and over baseball would not work.

Since I've been just an average player, I was finding it more and more difficult by the time I reached my mid-forties to compete with those young 30 and over "whippersnappers" that were coming fresh into the league each year. So instead of spending most of each game in the coaches' box and getting only "spot duty" opportunities to play, I decided to retire from baseball in the fall of 1991, or so I thought.

In early 1993, the National Adult Baseball Association (NABA) came to Denver. The NABA national director promised me that if their organization would be successful with 30 and over baseball in Denver, I would be given the opportunity to start a 40 and over league in 1994. And so I did! That league, which I created from scratch, grew quickly to 12 teams with 2 levels of play. When I started that league in 1994, I told everyone that "within 5 years, there will be a 50 and over league." That's where this unique tournament (and subsequent other new local leagues that will hopefully be established) come into the picture.

1998 was the inaugural year for the DENVER, COLORADO OVER 50 BASEBALL LEAGUE with 4 teams competing. In 1999, there was expansion to 6 teams. In 2000, the league grew to 7 teams, and in 2001, the league further expanded to 9 teams. In 2002, the Denver league consolidated to 8 teams, when the 2001 championship team dropped out and joined a younger 40 and over league. In 2003, the league greatly expanded to 12 teams and incorporated itself as COLORADO OVER 50 BASEBALL (non-profit). In the spring of 2004, I created DENVER OVER 60 BASEBALL (57+), the first and only nationally-affiliated local league for the oldest and most senior baseball player. In addition, an OVER 60 BASEBALL NATIONAL FUN TOURNAMENT was created in the fall of 2004 right alongside the OVER 50 BASEBALL NATIONAL FUN TOURNAMENT in Las Vegas and both tournaments were operated simultaneously.

At the end of any regular season and after the Colorado local league playoffs, there would be no national tournaments to attend. Although the MSBL did have a 48+ (now 45+) world series in Phoenix, most COLORADO OVER 50 BASEBALL players and teams cannot participate in it because OVER 50 BASEBALL has never been affiliated with the local Denver MSBL (a local league national tournament requirement). Also, OVER 50 BASEBALL has never been affiliated with the Roy Hobbs Baseball Association, which has a 48+ national tournament in Fort Myers, Florida. The problems with the Roy Hobbs tournament in Florida concerns expenses, especially because of the distance involved and the additional surcharge for teams that are unaffiliated with that organization. So, the National Adult Baseball Association becomes the best choice for OVER 50 BASEBALL. The NABA just held their ninth annual 48 and over National Championship Tournament in Phoenix during early October. However, their standard rules (as well as all of the other national organizations mentioned above) are normally geared to a higher level of competition (including win-at-all-costs, cut-throat attitudes) that are similar to the rules for younger age groups. In other words, even if you are over the age of 48, you are expected to play baseball at the competitive level of 28 and 38 year-olds. But the NABA now realizes the importance and need for the philosophical concept of OVER 50 BASEBALL and its unique rules. In fact, the NABA and Over 50 Baseball have merged to coordinate the expanding operation of the Over 50/60 Baseball National Fun Tournament in Las Vegas each year. In the NABA, you can have "the best of both worlds." By the way, the COLORADO OVER 50 BASEBALL organization in Denver, which has sent more teams to the OVER 50 and OVER 60 BASEBALL NATIONAL FUN TOURNAMENTS in Las Vegas since their inception, remains closely affiliated with and supported by the NABA!

So...voila! It was an easy decision for me in 1999 to create the OVER 50 BASEBALL NATIONAL FUN TOURNAMENT, an event that anyone over the age of 48 could participate in. You wouldn't have to be a "stud player," or even be a member of any national organization, or have to pay a large surcharge entry fee for non-members. And best of all, you don't have to be part of an already-established 48 and over team. You'll be drafted or carefully placed on a regional team just like most other players coming to Las Vegas, hoping to experience the fun and excitement of the "real game" that we as kids grew up with. Most importantly, you'll be guaranteed playing time, since all players are in the batting order for every game, and everyone plays defense (a minimum of approximately every other inning). No other major national baseball tournament can make that claim and guarantee!

You might be wondering, what kind of qualifications do I have to establish a tournament of such magnitude? In 1994, when I started the Denver NABA 40 and Over League, I became its commissioner. In 1995, I was promoted to Denver League President and presided over a total of 20 teams in three age divisions. I assigned commissioners to each division (18+, 30+, 40+), and started a brand new women's league (the Denver WNABA) to which I also appointed and supervised a new commissioner. During 1995, I was assigned as a Regional Administrator to the Central States Region for the NABA national office. I traveled and promoted NABA baseball to several cities, started new leagues, was responsible for liability insurance for all NABA leagues throughout the nation, and assisted with major regional and national tournament administrative details. By the start of 1997, I was responsible for the growth up to 43 teams and propelled the Denver NABA into one of the top leagues in the national organization. As a result my accomplishments over the past 15 years in conjunction with the NABA, I was inducted into their Hall of Fame on March 18, 2005. The picture on the right displays Matt Williams (retired S.F. Giants & Arizona Diamondbacks star) with me during the Hall of Fame presentation.

During the past 25 years, I have also worked in the travel industry. I've been a travel agent selling very large group travel, as well as a cruise line, airline, and tour operator's representative to all travel agencies in the state of Colorado. With that kind of experience and connections, I will be able to provide you with outstanding values for your accommodations in Las Vegas, as well as expert advice for rental cars, airline tickets, etc. The "Vegas Certified" emblem seen on the left was granted to Over 50 Baseball by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority because of the high quality of travel industry service to Las Vegas that the National Fun Tournament provides. Baseball and travel make a wonderful combination!

 

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