2016 Honor Roll Inductee: Kirk Pruitt, North Texas Amateur Baseball League

By Steve LaMontia, Director of Communications

Kirk Pruitt is the 51 year old league president of the North Texas Amateur Baseball League, doing business in Dallas, Texas. He is also one of the main cogs in organizing their annual league All-Star game that benefits the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children held annually at the Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. They raised an astonishing $19,500 in 2015 and $70,000 over the last five years. “This is something we are very proud of,” exclaimed Kirk. For Kirk’s baseball passion, league leadership and his philanthropic efforts, MSBL Founder and President Steve Sigler has honored Kirk with induction in the 2016 class of the MSBL Honor Roll. We have included a little ‘give and take’ with Kirk so that you can learn a little more about this very special person. 

Biographical Information:

Your name: Kirk Pruitt

City or town of residence: Bedford, Texas

Age: 51

League name: North Texas Amateur Baseball League

Town where league is based: Dallas, Texas

Where did you grow up? North Richland Hills, Texas (Suburb of Ft. Worth)

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 there 33 years. Zims Autotechnik www.allzim.com

Family information: Married 27 years to my wife, Suzanne. Daughter, Molly, age 19. One dog, a long haired dachshund named Chloe.

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 – I got a couple of hits last weekend and made a pretty good scoop at first base. That was a good day!

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? Absolutely!

What team and age bracket? I manage a team in our 45+ Masters Division, the Hurricanes. I’ve also done a little forfeit busting in our league this year in the 18+ and the 35+. I thought I did OK.

What is the best thing about your league? Definitely the people. We’ll play close to 400 games this year and are playing six days a week right now. I have a TON of help running the league. Our VPs Bill Macey, Mark Adams, Jason Bottenfield, and Bobby Caltabiano really take a load off my shoulders. Our Director of Fields and Umpires, Sam Kayea and I talk daily about the league and our Treasurer, Gerry Mecca makes sure all the bills get paid. A few years ago we created a Social Media Coordinator position on the board and Shawn Lee has really taken off with that. Beyond those guys, I am constantly asked by league members “What can I do to help?” It’s really cool that we have so many guys who want to make the league the best it can be.

We are also VERY proud of our philanthropic efforts and community ties. We’ve raised over $70,000 for the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children over the past five years through our All Star Games at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas.
This year’s games are on July 24. Anyone who wishes to contribute may do so at:

https://community.tsrhc.org/NTABL_Donation 100% of proceeds go to the hospital and are tax deductible.

Do you participate in any MSBL national tournaments? I have not, but hope to one day.

Questions just for fun:

Who is your favorite player of all time and why? Believe it or not, I don’t have a favorite.

Are there any additional personal comments you wish to add about your playing or life thus far? Every year, before open tryouts we’ll get up in front of the prospects and give them the speech where we introduce the guys running things, what we’re going to do that day, etc. The very last thing said is always “Hey guys, you know what we get to do today? We get to play BASEBALL!” That quote is my “baseball career” in a nutshell.

Are there any comments about MSBL you wish to share? This is my fourth year as our league president. The first year I had the job I absolutely hated it. In the past three years I have learned a lot and now have found a balance where I actually enjoy it. Dallas is hosting a Labor Day tournament for the first time since I’ve been president, so that will be new.

Steve Sigler and the other folks at the National office have been instrumental to me finding that balance and giving me the confidence to keep plugging away. 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.