League History
Palm Springs Senior softball club has had a total of over 1,000 members over the years. Men and women, ages 50 through 83. We are divided according to ability into two leagues called the American and National leagues. Games are played Saturdays and Sundays at Demuth Park (Fields 7 and 8) located in Palm Springs next to the Demuth Community Center, 3601 East Mesquite Avenue in Palm Springs, California. On occasion, games are played at Cerritos Field located next to the Palm Springs Stadium at East Baristo Road and South Pavilion Way. Voluntary practice may be held most Wednesdays. See game location tab for directions to fields. This is the National league website: PSSSNL.COM.
HISTORY OF PALM SPRINGS SENIOR SOFTBALL
It all started during the 1930’s by Sol Selvin as a very young man. Sol was so in love with baseball, and so good at it, that he eventually had a tryout with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Sol was not successful in securing a position with the Dodgers, but his love for the game continued to grow. When he lived in Los Angeles, he decided to set up a softball league for senior players. Sol had no idea that this idea would lead to him becoming known as The Father of Senior Softball in California. This was the first senior softball league ever in California. After great success there, he retired and moved to Cathedral City. He decided to set up another league in Palm Springs. The ultimate goal was for seniors to have fun and get some exercise while competing. Hopefully, there would be some friendships created among the players and their families. Sol also envisioned that the league would be “a not for profit association for softball players.”
Sol worked with Vicki Olteen, an employee of the Parks Department with the City of Palm Springs. They formed a plan to start the league. Neither of them had any idea how much work there would be in this venture in Palm Springs. Once the plan was completed, Sol set out to get radio announcements, newspaper articles and ads requesting anyone over 50 years old to join the new league’s tryouts. There were a large number of retired men and women in the area. A few applied, and they were immediately accepted to join the new Palm Springs Senior Softball League. Then the hard work started: getting uniforms, equipment and insurance; setting up the teams so that each one was equal; and setting a schedule to meet everyone’s desire. Then they actually started to play.
The first games were played at Palm Springs Angel Stadium. Later, the league moved to a girl’s softball field behind Palm Springs High School, and then later moved to the present home at Demuth Park.
When the league first started, Sol realized that some of the players were better than others, so he devised a rating system to rate every player on a scale of 1 to 10. The number 1 players being the more athletic players and many of the 10’s were older players, some with little or no softball experience but with a lot of desire and heart.
However, he wanted everyone to be able to play so each team must have one player within the numbered group, thereby making each team competitive. Every player must be over age 50, many over 70 years old. The average age of the players was 63 years old during the first years. Some of the first group were Merv Spivak, Herman Mack (who is still playing in 2012) and others, Jack Doran and Morris Soto.
The oldest player, to date, was Chuck Bode who played until he was 93 years old. On Chuck’s last day of playing, he pitched a double-header and won both games. The last game being a come-from-behind, one run win.
There are players from many states including Hawaii and many from Canada. Currently, players come in from Ventura, Redlands, Yucaipa, Banning, Beaumont and other cities outside the valley.
There were a number of rules implemented to speed up the games but, more importantly, to protect the players from injuries. Each team would have 10 players. If a team member was not able to attend, the team manager would pick from the sub list OR from the other team players that were on the same line as the absent player.
Apart from engaging in fun competition, an awards night was created to celebrate the end of the season and to make new friends. Many friendships have been made between players and family members and are still going strong.
In 1995, there were 5 leagues in other cities and countries that were formed using the same format and rating system that Sol created and used to operate our league.
Many younger players and more snowbirds joined the league to where we were over 140 full-time players and over 40 substitutes. After a number of years, we grew to a point where 2 divisions were needed. Many of the younger (stronger and more experienced) players were put into what was named the American League and some of the older, less experienced players were placed in the National League.
As of 2012, there have been many of our players who have played in tournaments and many who have won world championships. In one weekend during 2010, there were 5 teams from our league that won major tournaments. We have had a number of players inducted into the senior softball hall of fame. These include Don Guy, Sol Selvin and friend, Vicki Olteen.
There are now senior softball leagues in almost every city in Southern California. Many of these teams participate in the SSUSA (Senior Softball USA), which is celebrating their 35th plus year of supporting and sponsoring senior softball. They also participate in the World Championships in Las Vegas which perform under the guidance of SSUSA. In 1979, there were 12 teams competing in 1 division, 55 and older. In 1987, there were 82 teams competing in 4 classes, 50 and up; 55 and up; 60 and up; and 70 and up. During 2012, there were 446 teams in 33 divisions playing in this tournament. The divisions that are the most impressive are 2 men’s over 80 years old and 6 women’s divisions.