MSBL/MABL World Series Manager Profile: Michael McDowell, Silverton Red Sox
MSBL/MABL World Series Manager Profile
Michael McDowell, Silverton Red Sox
By Steve LaMontia, Director of Communications
What is your name? Michael McDowell
What is the name of your team this year? Silverton Red Sox 40+ and 50+
What division will you be playing in? 40+ Central and 50+ Cactus. This will be my 19th straight MSBL playing in the World Series. I managed teams in 2012, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and this year.
Are you managing or playing in more than one week? yes
How long have you been involved in the MSBL? Since 2005
How did you become involved with MSBL? A guy put an ad in the paper here to try out for a baseball team, me and a couple other guys were playing softball and thought it would be great if we could play baseball again so we went and started playing again
How many years have you attended the World Series? Fall Classic? Other MSBL Regional Tournaments? This will be my 19th straight year playing in the World Series, and go to Vegas most years also for the Kickoff Classic
Have you won any events? If so, please list them and their dates. No world series ring yet, have won some local league seasons in my 25+ league and in my 40+ league
What do you do for a career? Baker
Please list any family details: Not married and no kids
What are the most significant moments for you as an adult baseball player? When I got knocked out in the 2006 MSBL WS after a collision with the catcher. I got a hit to left center and the first base coach was sending me to 2nd, where I slid in safely with a nice hook slide. Then next batter hit a ground ball between third and short and the third base coach is sending me.
I am thinking I am fast but not that fast because the left fielder probably has the ball already. But I listen to my coach and as I am sliding into home the catcher is set up and the throw is a little wide towards the third base dugout and he dives for it. His knee hit me under my chin and I am knocked out.
The first thing I remember when I came to was asking if I was safe. I was called safe but all the players were around and one of the wives was a registered nurse and was asking me questions. I got one right; what I had for breakfast! But I also had the same thing the last three mornings.
Then I was out again and woke up in the back of an ambulance on the way to the Mesa hospital. They didn’t let me play the next night and then Thursday night I played and went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and a stolen base.
The guy that ran the team said he would just hit me over the head to begin the next tournament…LOL! My getting knocked out made the highlight reel that the team put together.
Which local league do you play in at home? Eugene Men’s Senior Baseball League (EMSBL) 25+ which I was president of for 13 years and the Willamette Valley Men’s Baseball League (WVMBL) 40+
Do you have a favorite MSBL World Series moment? My most memorable was the knockout, but I always have a blast down there
How has playing in the MSBL/MABL affected your life? Just having fun
What are your future World Series team plans? Go as long as I can still play