2022 70+ Central

Chicago North TSP Fire 9, Colorado Cardinals 2

‘Karas Leads the Way on the Bump and at the Plate’

Submitted by Dan Gooris, Fire Manager

At this year’s MSBL World Series, our Fire team honored our fellow teammate, friend, mentor, MSBL Hall of Fame member, and leader Bart Zeller with a Z29 patch on our uniform sleeves.  We also took time to remember the daughter of Joel Polakoff with the initials JBL on our Fire baseball hates.  Jamie passed away this summer after a nine-year battle with cancer.

As a veteran team, we all appreciate the chance to play a kid’s game again and to be with our baseball brothers for one week each year.  There are always non-baseball events that teams have to cope with during the week, such as players with family issues, players returning from serious surgeries, and even one player hospitalized early in the week.  Despite all these challenges, we were able to win the games that counted, including the championship game.

Our 2022 team MVP was George Karas.  George won the two games he pitched and carried us on his back in the championship game on the mound and with his bat.

Thanks to the MSBL for 35 years of letting us be kids again!