2024 MSBL World Series Hall of Fame Inductee: Tom Lange, Puget Sound Senior Baseball League
By Steve LaMontia, Director of Communications
Tom Lange is a resident of the great Northwest, plays for the Puget Sound Senior Baseball League, and lives with his beloved wife Kate on Camano Island, Washington. The 70-year-old baseball veteran has been a part of the Puget Sound league since 2011 and started making the trek to Arizona and the MSBL World Series in 2016.
“I started playing in the World Series in 2016 with the 65+ Seattle Mariners to help with pitching and catching,” explained Tom. “In 2017 I continued to play for the 65+ Seattle Mariners and also on a 60+ Donny De Cordova team along with six players from the PSSBL.”
Tom’s World Series experiences are extensive, as will be outlined shortly. Because of Tom’s vast experience in Arizona, MSBL Founder and President, Steve Sigler has recognized and informed Tom that he has been inducted into the 2024 class of the MSBL World Series Hall of Fame.
“I am gob-smacked and honored,” said the PSSBL veteran. “I could not have competed in the World Series without the field managers and invited players putting their trust in me by accepting an invitation to play on my teams from the Seattle area. All of my players have a great time, and they all return to play another year, which is a credit to Steve’s leadership and management of the World Series.”
Tom plays for the Mavericks in the 65-over Adirondack division of the Puget Sound league located in and around Seattle. He is also quite versatile, as he is a pitcher, first baseman, outfielder, and still dons the catcher’s equipment. But the big thrills come from playing alongside his son Stewart both in the league and in the World Series.
“Stewart plays in the league for the 25-over Seattle Rockies and we will be playing together in the Father/Son division of the World Series with the OC Scorpions. One of the biggest thrills of my baseball career was being the closing pitcher and getting the save while pitching to Stewart in the Father/Son in Arizona.
Since Stewart is stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, I play in the Las Vegas Kickoff Classic on a Donny De Cordova 70+ Cal Vets team. That always turns into a wonderful long weekend of family and baseball.”
Tom’s baseball years may be somewhat limited but his athletic ability ranks up there with anyone.
“The last time I played baseball, until I found the Puget Sound MSBL league, was in Little League, where I also coached. When Stewart started playing high school baseball is when I started playing in the PSSBL. My high school years were primarily spent trying to play Division 1 football, while doing track in the spring. I ended up playing football for the Air Force Academy from 1973 until 1975.”
We’re going to switch gears here a little and stray from our traditional scripting. I asked Tom about his experience and achievements at the World Series and he responded with many amazing feats and descriptions. I am now going to simply convey for you what is special to Tom, in his own words, over the next few paragraphs.
“We decided we could form our own team from the PSSBL, so Stuart Chernis, Steve Tanaka, and I formed the Desert division 60+ Seattle Rainiers for the 2018 World Series. The manager of the 65+ Seattle Mariners retired a few years ago and asked me to step into that manager position. Again, enlisting the help from Stuart and Steve, we kept the 65+ team in the Desert Division and, last year, made it into the Championship game.
As I was turning 70 in 2024, 2023 was my last year with the 60+ Seattle Rainiers. I wanted to move up to the 70+ division and play with guys my own age. Jim Fleming had been managing that team, and he too wanted to move up in age, so I decided to take on Jim’s 70+ team, renaming it the Cactus division Seattle Mariners, and asking Hal Abbott to be the field manager. So, I am excited about managing two teams in the 2024 World Series!
Now this brings me to my greatest joy, playing Father/Son. My son Stewart graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2017, when we were planning to play for Jerry and Joey Duris’s Zona division Seattle Mariners team. The Air Force had other plans for Stewart, and we began Father Son in 2018 to the present. What a joy to pitch to your son, with him catching in a stadium game!
One time, this very good son hitter came to the plate at Tempe Diablo. I elected to try and fool him, letting fly a very slow, high arcing, ‘eephus’ pitch. The batter tagged it, bouncing it off the wall, where we had a dad playing. After the hitter scored an inside the park home run, Stewart called “Time!” He came out to the mound from behind the plate and simply said, “Dad, don’t throw that pitch again.” It was sage advice.
Jerry and Joey sadly retired the Seattle Mariners Father Son team this year, but Stewart and I were able to join the OC Scorpions. We can’t wait.
The teams we bring down to the World Series are mostly made up of PSSBL Recreational division players, and we always have a lot of fun, which, by our standards, makes us successful. By mixing players from the various PSSBL teams, rounding out the rosters with Arizona players and others, it has made the season in Puget Sound much more fun.
You are playing with and against your baseball buddies. We even now have a 65+ low-key, daytime division in the PSSBL. At the World Series, it is always fun reconnecting with players from across the country who have joined your roster throughout the years. Besides, who could not like playing in the weather of Arizona and on the amazing fields that Steve schedules?!
One of my biggest highlights was tying the Aussies in pool play and having to play a 5-inning play-in game in Tempe Diablo Stadium, making the finals in the 2023 65+ Desert division. I have always enjoyed the camaraderie of the guys on the field and on the bench, and get huge satisfaction from players returning to play on the teams I manage.
Wins on the field are important, yes, but only a few teams can be champions. All teams can play for the fun of turning a double play, hitting a sac fly, getting the strikeout, or holding on to win as the home team in the top of the ninth inning. That, truly, is my biggest highlight anytime I step on the field to play baseball.”
My final question to Tom was if there were any individuals he would like to thank in helping his baseball career include induction into the MSBL World Series Hall of Fame.
There are many, and I am certain I’ll leave some out, and to those I apologize. First off, my family: wife Kate for her support, and son Stewart for not giving up helping me to develop a curve ball; brothers Roger, Joe, and Bruce for hours of catch, pickle, and pick-up baseball at the school yard.
The PSSBL Board, led by president Tom Evans Krause, for starting a 65+ daytime division this year. Bob Sorensen for drafting me to the Generals in 2011; Kevin Mayo, for handing off 65+ Seattle Mariners World Series team; Donny de Cordova inviting six of us from the PSSBL to one of his teams; Stuart Chernis, Steve Tanaka, and Hal Abbott for being field managers at the World Series.
Ben Low from the PSSBL setting up spring practices and always having a positive comment; Bob Pessemier for bringing me on the Mavericks to pitch; Steve Sigler for always answering my questions, and Steve and the MSBL team for always putting on the absolutely best tournament ever.
Lastly, I want to thank all of the players who have been on our rosters these past tournaments for saying “Yes” to the invitation, for their positive attitude, and for being the best teammates and friends ever!