SMSBL Hall of Fame

Dave started his baseball experience in South Sacramento in a Sandlot setting, where neighborhood kids took a vacant lot and created a baseball field. There was not true left or right field. So 4 on 3 baseball was played and everyone learned to hit to left center, right center or straight up the middle.

Dave’s entry into organized baseball was in Willow Rancho Little League, as well in Little League in Clear Lake and later Senior League in Carmichael.

Sports in High School included Wrestling and Track and Field.

An enterprising Air Force recruiter told Dave he would wrestle for the Air Force for the price of a signature. Four years of service for Uncle Sam included one year in a war zone and several temporary duty assignments in Okinawa in support of activities in Southeast Asia. Dave’s service time also allowed him to get started on a College education earning his AA degree at Yuba College in 1974 while serving at Beale AFB for 2 1/2 years after service in Vietnam. He later earned a BA degree at CSUS.

Dave’s introduction to Men’s Senior League Baseball in the early 90’s was through fellow Little League coach and friend and current Rockies teammate Chris Ford, joining the Mets for several years.

In October 2000 a stroke and subsequent loss of approximately half his field of vision curtailed a third trip to the Fall Classic in Florida with the California Gold and their Championship run, but was honored to be part of their awards ceremony.

With encouragement and support from league elders, such as Jerry Karnow, Fritz Reynolds and Greg Elmasian and others, Dave has continued to play ball after a break of a few months and has done his best to play MSBL ball in league and tournament play.

He continues to play World Series, regional and local tournaments on an annual basis and has been a member of many championship teams over the years.