2013 MSBL Honor Roll Inductee: Kirk Pruitt, North Texas Amateur Baseball League
By Steve LaMontia, MSBL Executive Regional Director
Kirk Pruitt is the newly elected president of the 24-team North Texas Amateur Baseball League located in Dallas, Texas. Hovering in the mid-40’s, Kirk has been playing with and managing MSBL teams since 2001 when he got hooked on the organization. MSBL president and founder Steve Sigler wishes to recognize Kirk for his hard work and dedication in heading up one of the premier MSBL leagues in the country and has selected Kirk as one of the newest members of the MSBL Honor Roll. Kirk has agreed to share his story with us.
Biographical Information:
Your name:
Kirk Pruitt
City or town of residence:
Bedford, Texas
League name:
North Texas Amateur Baseball League (Dallas MSBL)
Town where league is based:
Dallas, Texas
Where did you grow up:
North Richland Hills, Texas (Suburb of Ft. Worth)
High school and college, if applicable:
Richland High School graduate, 1983
(Some night school at Tarrant County College, but not worth mentioning.)
What do you do for a living:
Porsche parts sales. Vintage models from the 1950’s to current model year. I’ve worked for the same place since high school (with a small detour along the way). I’ve been here 30 years.
Zims Autotechnik www.allzim.com
Family information:
Married 24 years to my wife, Suzanne. 1 daughter, Molly, age 17.
General Questions:
Describe your baseball resume:
Played up through Pony league and quit playing because I wanted a car and working did not leave time for baseball. One of my few regrets, but I think I enjoy baseball more as an adult than I would had I never stopped playing. I played amateur soccer competitively until I was 30 when injuries forced me out. I played softball for a bit and found out about adult baseball from a newspaper article.Went to a tryout for a local league and was placed on a team of “leftovers”. We lost every game but I was hooked! That was in 1998 and I’ve played pretty much non-stop since then.
What is your greatest baseball moment, either watching or playing:
Watching – I’m a lifetime Texas Rangers fan and after 40 years of misery, they finally made it to the World Series. When they beat the Yankees in the 2010 ALCS to advance to the World Series.
Playing – Whatever my most recent good play or hit was.
When did you start playing for MSBL and how did you hear about it:
I was playing in “another league” and heard about MSBL in 2000 from some of the other players on my fall team. I switched over for the 2001 season.
Do you still play:
Yes!
What team and age bracket:
I manage a 35+ team in the NTABL, the Hurricanes.
I primarily play first base, but fill in at catcher sometimes.
What is the best thing about your league:
Our members. Without them, we don’t have a league. Our fund raiser last year is a great example. We were hoping to raise $5,000. Our members raised a little over $12,000 for the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Those guys are “clutch”. They choose NTABL baseball over some very stiff competition locally, which can be very humbling sometimes.
Questions just for fun:
Who is your favorite player of all time and why:
Pudge Rodriguez – he was a great player and had fun doing it. I still remember him catching a foul ball near the rail, then leaning over and stealing a nacho from a fan.
Who is the best player in the majors right now:
Offensively, Miguel Cabrera. That guy is having a career year.
Who is the greatest pitcher of all time and why:
I have no idea.
Are there any additional personal comments you wish to add about your playing or life thus far:I’m one of those guy who feels like – every time I step on the field – I am the luckiest guy on the face of the earth. I love the game, the camaraderie and plan to play until they have to hide my glove from me.
Are there any comments about MSBL you wish to share:
This is my first year as our league president.Steve Sigler and the other folks at the National office have been very helpful to me personally. I also feel that their past years of hard work have made the MSBL brand the gold standard for adult baseball. This helps immensely when I approach a new facility, or have a potential recruit inquire about the league, they do not have to look very far or long to verify they are dealing with the best organization in the country.