2026 MSBL Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Charles McCroskey, Central Ohio MABL
By Steve LaMontia-Carlentini, MSBL Director of Communications
55-year-old Charles McCroskey is a Marine who is also a high school coach, manages a summer collegiate team, schedules the umpires for the Central Ohio MABL/Columbus MSBL, and, when he gets a free minute, serves as the League President of the Central Ohio MABL and oversees its operation.
You won’t find Charles napping at 4:00 pm on the couch as Wheel of Fortune blares out on the TV. Charles is a baseball exemplification of what it takes to live a life between the white lines.
Charles definitely walks the walk.
“The Central Ohio MABL not only provides a vehicle to play baseball, but it provides players the ability to meet new people. The friendships/relationships created while participating in the Central Ohio MABL are just as important as the game itself.
Without the Central Ohio MABL, I would have never met the people I have over the last 30 years nor formed the friendships that I have, and it is likely this is the case with teams and their players.”
Because of Charles’ passion and dedication to the Central Ohio MABL successes over the past three decades, MSBL Founder and President Steve Sigler has added the Lifetime Achievement Award to Charles’ previous MSBL Hall of Fame and Honor Roll accolades.
“I am truly humbled to be selected for the MSBL National Lifetime Achievement Award for 2026,” said Charles. “To be recognized among such an elite group of individuals who have dedicated decades to advancing adult baseball through the MSBL/MABL Brand across the Country is an honor I deeply appreciate.
What I’ve valued most over the years are the relationships, the camaraderie, and the shared experiences that come from being part of adult baseball in the Central Ohio area. I’m grateful that those efforts have been recognized.”
Charles’ adult baseball career began in 1992 as a member of the continually successful North County MSBL in San Diego, then under the guidance of MSBL legends Dan Piro and Doug Johnson. Then Charles moved, and he was forced to make an adjustment.
“After my discharge from the USMC, I moved back to Columbus, Ohio in August of 1995. As a certified umpire in California, I initially wanted to umpire in the Columbus MSBL (30+) until I was ‘old’ enough to play.
The Umpire-In-Chief at the time said I was not certified in Ohio, so he could not use me as an umpire. Since the Columbus MSBL was 30+ and did not have an 18+ division, I decided to start the Central Ohio Men’s Adult Baseball League (18+) in order to play!”
Well, there’s your lesson for the day. If you don’t like the way things are being run, or you need to create something to suit your needs, quit whining, call Steve Sigler, and start your own league!
Charles gives up a few years on the field, but is the player/manager of the Ohio Bison in the 18+ division. He also plans on playing in the MSBL World Series this year for the 40+ Columbus Redbirds.
“In the league, I primarily manage but make an occasional plate appearance or take the mound.
Nationally, I attended the Fall Classic in 1996 and 1997 in the 18+ division, and have played in several regional tournaments in Columbus, Baltimore, Richmond, and Indianapolis.
I returned to the Fall Classic in 2007 and played until 2019. I then attended the MSBL World Series in 2021.”
Off the field, Charles also boasts a large family of supporters of his passion.
“I have been married for 35 years to my biggest supporter, Paula, and we have four children, Caitlyn, Colton, Chandler, and Carson. They have also added four grandchildren to the family, Caiden, Kinsley, Caison, and Cameron.”
Are there any individuals you would like to thank for helping your baseball career and getting you to this Hall of Fame moment?
“Dan Steiner, the former Central Ohio MABL Umpire in Chief, who told me in 1995 that I was not ‘certified’ in Ohio to umpire games in the Columbus MSBL, and Jim Durham, former Columbus MSBL President, who in 1996 only had the 30+ league and also told me I was not yet “old” enough to join. These two gentlemen were the reason the Central Ohio MABL (18+) was born.
I also think it would be appropriate to thank each of the roughly 2500 players who have played in a Central Ohio MABL game since the first game of the league in 1996. Without players and the teams, there is no Central Ohio MABL.
Also, my continued thanks to Steve Sigler and MSBL National for having this idea and the continued commitment to adult baseball year after year.”
We closed by asking Charles if there was a specific highlight from his extensive league and tournament resume. The answer came quickly and without hesitation.
“That’s easy. Sharing the field with my two oldest sons. It’s a memory we will forever cherish.”
