2021 MSBL National Hall of Fame Inductee: Joe Townsend, Puget Sound Senior Baseball League
By Steve LaMontia, Director of Communications
Joe Townsend is a 48-year-old juvenile detention officer who lives in Auburn, Washington, and also plays ball in the Puget Sound Senior Baseball League. He began his association with MSBL in Long Island back in the year 2000 and has since become an accomplished ring winner at the MSBL World Series in Arizona and has also participated in the Fall Classic and Holiday Classic in Florida, as well as the Las Vegas Kickoff Classic.
“I have been fortunate enough to have been on five different MSBL World Series championship teams with different teams and in different age divisions,” stated Joe.
Because of Joe’s accomplishments, expertise, drive, and dedication, MSBL Founder and President Steve Sigler has inducted Joe into the 2021 class of MSBL National Hall of Fame.
“The MSBL has provided me with the opportunity to continue to play the game I love and to meet friends and create memories that will last me a lifetime. Words can never say how much I appreciate this! I don’t know how to explain what this award means to me. It’s something I would have never even thought of. I will cherish this award and the memories that were created to get it!”
Joe plays for the 30-over Royals and the 40-over Naturals in the PSSBL as he man’s first base and also helps out on the mound.
“My baseball resume includes varsity baseball at South Shore High School in Brooklyn and then I went on to play at Long Island University. That set the stage for my MSBL life!”
Joe is the youngest of five siblings, including three sisters and one brother, and has one beautiful 22-year-old daughter who just graduated from the University of Washington.
Back on the field, Joe is quite a tournament competitor in our MSBL world.
“When I started playing in the World Series and Fall Classic, I was playing in the 18+ division. Then I moved on to the 25+ and have moved all the way to the 45+ currently. I have been playing with the Puget Sound Twins for the past several years of playing in Arizona.
My biggest highlight has always been winning a World Series tournament. And each time I have won it has been even more special than the last!”
Any final thoughts?
I need to thank Coach Goldman, my high school baseball coach at South Shore High School, for starting me on the right path back in Brooklyn and showing me how to play our great game. And of course, I need to thank my parents who have unfortunately passed. They were my motivation to be better every day, on and off the field!