By Steve
LaMontia, Director of Communications
Irv Scott is
a 75 year old team guy all the way. He
has been a part of the Sacramento Solons since 1992 and they have only missed
the MSBL World Series championship game in Arizona twice. The Solons aren’t just a team, they are a very good team. Irv has been a big reason why they have
excelled and so for his years of success and participation, MSBL Founder and President Steve Sigler has inducted Irv into the 2017 class of the MSBL World
Series Hall of Fame.
"I am
honored to receive this award but quite frankly if it has anything to do with
on field baseball, the award should go to all my teammates who have
participated in the success we have enjoyed in MSBL as the Sacramento Solons,”
explained Scott.
The Solons are indeed a powerhouse, having won 13 rings in the last 25 years. They also
possess two Las Vegas Kickoff
Classic rings. Irv is a pitcher and
second baseman for the 60+ Red Sox in the Sacramento league during regular season play. "This year we will be
playing in both the 65’s and 70’s as the Solons at the World Series. Val Lewis and I met when we were nine years
old and I have made at least 20 new friends this year because of baseball. Kind of amazing, don’t you think?”
Irv has been
married to Sylvia the past 52 years (My life began when we met!) and together
they have three wonderful boys, Chris (50), Brian (46) and Matt (34). "We also have two baseball loving
grandchildren, Charlie (7) and Lucas (4).”
Like many of
us, Irv was relegated to the fast pitch softball wars ‘back in the day’ until
baseball re-entered his life. "I began
playing baseball again in 1991 when Val Lewis put together a team to play in
the ‘Exhibition’ 50 and over division at the World Series,” said Irv. "We now play in the league as a means to get
ready for the World Series. That is our
focus every year.”
A baseball
resume like Irv’s must certainly come with a moment or two that stands
out. "My biggest thrill was being able
to play with all three of my sons in the Father/Son division,” Scott said. "The other highlight was when my 92 year old
father pinch hit for us in the Father/Son tournament in 2006. What was equally special is that he pinch hit
for his grandson. Three generations on
the field at the same time.”
Irv is a
retired trial lawyer who has time now to reflect on his past achievements as
well as what this induction into the MSBL World Series means to him. "Baseball is not about individual statistics,
it is about friendships, teamwork and laughter. I have been lucky to have played for a quarter century with men whom I
consider brothers. MSBL has allowed this
to continue into the fourth quarter of our lives—what an amazing tribute to Steve Sigler and MSBL.”
Irv summarized,
"Jim Bouton said that you grab on to a baseball when you are young, but when
you get older you realized that it grabbed on to you.” Irv continued, "It has never been about the baseball,
although nobody enjoys competition more than I. It has been more about the friends. That’s why I am still playing.”