2024 MSBL World Series Hall of Fame Inductee: Ben Cabanas, Tri-Valley (CA) MSBL
By Steve LaMontia, Director of Communications
Ben Cabanas has been a part of the MSBL landscape since 1988 when he became a member of the inaugural San Jose MSBL affiliate. He also decided to dive into the MSBL World Series competition back in 1990.
“I didn’t return to Arizona for the World Series until 2003 and have played every year since then,” said Cabanas. “My first year playing Father/Son was in 2004 on Don DeCordova’s team. After several years, the team had too many players, so I spun off my own team.
I have brought the Tri-Valley Giants Father/Son team every year since 2008 to the World Series. Also, since 2016 I have managed a Father/Son team in the Val Lewis Father/Son Father’s Day Tourney in Sacramento.”
The 74-year-old Cabanas has been emersed into the MSBL world in both league play and tournament play for nearly as long as there has been a Men’s Senior Baseball League. For Ben’s dedication and involvement all these years, MSBL Founder and President Steve Sigler has inducted Ben into the 2024 class of the MSBL World Series Hall of Fame.
“I feel very humbled to be recognized for my participation and contributions to MSBL since 1988. When I started in the league, the only age division was 30 and I didn’t expect to play much longer. As part of the baby boomer generation, we have been leading the way to the development of older age divisions. There is now an 80 division that hopefully I can hang on to play in.”
Ben remains a software engineer who resides in El Dorado Hills, California, with his wife Becky. Together, the family now consists of four kids and seven grandkids.
On the field, Ben plays everywhere except catcher.
“The past couple of seasons I have mainly played third, pitched, and roamed the outfield.”
That area of California is packed with MSBL leagues and there is a lot of crossover.
“I play in the Tri-Valley 68 division for the Expos. I also play in Sacramento in the 68 division for the Rangers and in Redwood Empire in the 65 division for the Pioneers. In the San Francisco Bay Area, there are five leagues within about a 70-mile radius so it’s not uncommon to play in multiple leagues. I know some players that play in four leagues and multiple age divisions within the league!”
Ben’s baseball path weaves through a familiar path to many of us. We’ll let Ben explain.
“I played baseball through high school and thought about playing in college, but it didn’t work out. So, I ended up playing softball for about 20 years before getting back to baseball in 1988. (San Jose MSBL)
Although I enjoyed playing softball, around the time MSBL started I was already thinking about getting back to playing baseball. A couple of years later I saw an ad in the local newspaper for a new over 30-over league forming, which turned out to be the San Jose MSBL.
I ended up playing for the Twins for about six years before moving to a competing adult league. San Jose only had a 30+ age division, which had become very competitive, and I was in my mid-40s, so I moved to the other, less competitive 30+ adult league.
I played there until around 2000 when one of my former Twin teammates told me about Tri-Valley, which had several age divisions, so I moved there and started playing in their 40-something division. Since then, I have moved up the ladder to 55, 62, 65, and 68s as the divisions were added.”
Ben’s MSBL resume isn’t without its share of championships.
“In 2014, the 65 division was formed and while playing on Hall of Famer Don DeCordova’s Giants team we won the first 65 championship. Since then, I have played the first year in Tri Valley’s 62 and 68 age divisions. Last year was the first season of the 62 and 68 divisions and playing on the Expos we won the championship in both divisions. So, I have a streak going of playing on championship teams the first year of a new age division.”
Ben’s dance card is pretty full in 2024, in chronological order:
Desert Classic – Managed the 60+ Tri-Valley Gigantes
Las Vegas Kickoff – Managed the 65+ Tri-Valley Gigantes. Won the championship for the second year in a row.
Val Lewis Father/Son Father’s Day Tourney in Sacramento – Managed Tri-Valley Giants. Lost the championship game in eleven innings.
World Series – I will manage Father/Son Tri-Valley Giants. Also, as a player only, playing on 70+ Cal Bears and 73+ Cal Vets
What is the biggest highlight of your MSBL league or tournament play?
“By far the biggest highlight has been playing Father/Son with my sons and Grandson. Playing three generations with my son Benji and grandson Kyle was the icing on the cake.
As a player, the one event that sticks out is my first year in the San Jose MSBL playing on the Twins. We were losing in the ninth inning of an elimination playoff game. We were able to tie the game and when our batter got the game-tying hit, the entire team of 30–40-year-olds spontaneously started jumping up and down like ten-year-old little leaguers that had just won the World Series! (we ended up losing the game in extra innings)”
We always make it a point to ask if there are any individuals or organizations that have been instrumental in assisting in making this award possible. Ben was nice enough to oblige.
“Steve Sigler for starting MSBL. Val Lewis for starting the Father/Son division. My wife Becky for being so supportive through the entire journey and in some cases going beyond the call of duty.
For example, last January I was managing in the Desert Classic and got the stomach flu before the first playoff game and couldn’t go, so she ended up being the equipment manager taking stuff to and from the game. I especially need to thank Hall of Fame manager Don DeCordova for providing a fun and positive environment to play in on his Tri-Valley, REBL, and tournament teams since 2003. It has been a great ride and not possible without these people.