2024 MSBL/MABL National Hall of Fame Inductee: Philip Ellis, Southern Senior Baseball League, Huntsville, Alabama
By Steve LaMontia, Director of Communications
Philip Ellis (left) is the 60-year-old League President of the Southern Senior Baseball League located in and around Huntsville, Alabama. The league sports a total of 15 teams in 25+ and 40+ divisions.
“I play for and manage the Rocket City Mudcats, a team in our league’s 40+ Division,” said Phil. “I am a pitcher, a third baseman, a shortstop, and once in a while, you’ll find me at second base.”
Phil is a long-time MSBL player, president, and promoter, as well as possessing an extensive MSBL tournament resume. Because of his leadership and participation track record, MSBL Founder and President Steve Sigler has inserted Phil into the 2024 class of the MSBL National Hall of Fame.
“This is, frankly, a very humbling and embarrassing award to receive,” explained Phil. “The success of our league and my own continued play was initiated by multiple players, some of whom are now playing in extra innings on a higher, Heavenly field. While I may be the POC for our league, it takes a village.
Support and advice from our senior members, mature leadership from our managers, outstanding partnerships with some of the local High Schools and field coordinators, and superb support from our MSBL organization all contribute to our league continuing to flourish.
While I may be the recipient of the award, it is really a testament to all those who chartered the league, those who shepherded it through tough times, and those who continue to contribute to its success.”
Phil began playing in Huntsville at the youthful age of 38. When he isn’t playing ball or supervising the league, he is the Southwest Division Chief for the Missile Defense Agency. He and Stephanie have been married for 36 years and have two children, Jessica (30) and Cody (28).
“Jessica is a school teacher in Nashville and Cody is an Installation and Trouble Shooting Matter Expert for ADT covering the Pensacola/Ft. Walton region. We are very proud of them both.”
Phil’s early baseball days weren’t your typical high school, or college, scenario.
“I last played as a kid on my freshman high school team in Georgia, playing third base and catching. As a military brat with a military father, I was “encouraged” to stop “wasting my time” with baseball and focus on my school work. 
At the ripe age of 38, after playing on various softball teams for years, my buddy, Jim Crum, invited me to come practice with an adult baseball league in Huntsville. In my first at-bat, I was struck out on three pitches by Bennie Woodall, a 57-year-old guy who was 19 years my senior. Instead of ending my adult baseball career as soon as it started, facing fastball pitching again just stoked my adrenaline levels and hooked me into the league.
I was a 38-year-old in a 40+ league. I was called “rookie” and “kid.” I couldn’t pitch (due to my age), but they wore me out as a catcher since I was the “young guy” with good knees.
I eventually started my own team, the Madison Stars, which transitioned into the Huntsville Hooters (sponsored by Hooters!) which transitioned into the Rocket City Twins which still stands today as a team in our league’s 25+ division. In 2007, I became one of the initial members of the newly formed Board for our league. I was elected back onto the Board again in 2011 and 2012, taking over as President of the League in 2012 and serving in the same role through today.”
As impressive as Phil’s league involvement is, his tournament resume is equally impressive.
“I have experienced several MSBL tournaments including multiple tourneys over Memorial Day in Atlanta, multiple years in the Las Vegas Kick-Off Classic, multiple years in the Panama City Sunshine Classic, a trip to the Fall Classic in Jupiter, and a couple of trips to the MSBL World Series in Phoenix, including winning the 55+ Championship with the North Chicago Cubs in 2019.
I have also been the Director of the Rocket City Classic MSBL Regional Labor Day Tournament in Huntsville since 2004. I currently play with various teams in the 45+, 55+, and 60+ age divisions. Most of my teams are based in Huntsville and play under the Huntsville Havoc or the Alabama Bandits. I’ve also played with the North Chicago Cubs and teams out of Nashville, Birmingham, and Memphis in various tournaments.”
Does one particular highlight shine brighter than the others?
“My biggest highlight was winning the 55+ Division of the MSBL World Series in 2019 and playing in Tempe Diablo Stadium, getting caught up in the fanfare of a game announcer, and seeing MSBL media interviews. It was a pretty cool thing for an old man, rekindling those feelings of what it must be like to play professionally. A man can dream, right?”
We asked Phil if there were any individuals who boosted his playing career throughout the years.
“I wouldn’t even be playing if it wasn’t for Jim Crum introducing me to the local league. Bennie Woodall was the League President at the time. He was a mentor to me in terms of what the league was (and wasn’t) about. He encouraged me to help run the league and infuse some “young blood” ideas into the organization.
John White was the consummate administrator. He ran the umpires and took care of the majority of the logistics for the league. He helped me to understand there was a LOT that went on in the background for the league to facilitate everyone else just showing up and playing.
Norberto Soto-Fuentes moved into the area in 2010 and injected a passion and joy into the league and into me that has kept me going to this very day. Jim and Norberto are now two of my closest friends and we talk adult baseball ALL the time!
Final thoughts?
“It is an absolute JOY to be able to play a kid’s game and be competitive. There are SO many who don’t have a chance to experience playing again after high school or college. They create families and/or become slaves to their jobs. Having the time, budget, and physical well-being to participate in adult baseball is a blessing. I have met SO many great friends in the baseball community.
The baseball attitude and support that our league gets from the MSBL leadership is phenomenal. I’ve never met Steve Sigler, but he will still personally text or email me to check on the league and find out if there is anything he can do to help support or grow the league. He genuinely seems to care about the players and wants baseball to thrive across the country. It is a very structured but laid-back organization that is easy to promote and “sell” to potential players.”