‘Oldtimers’ find youth, love of game as part of Hamilton baseball organization

A Hamilton baseball league geared specifically for older generations is steadily growing in size, with some players in their 80s making big plays.

The oldest player in the Hamilton Oldtimers Baseball Organization is Clyde Goldsmith.

He is 83-years-old, and will be 84 in December, but that doesn’t stop him.

“As long as I can throw the ball, I’ll throw it,” said Goldsmith.

Goldsmith is one of 64 players in the “55 and up league,” a group of guys that believe that age is just a number.

“They love the game too, like I do,” said Goldsmith. “They’re gonna keep going and going, they’ll play it until they drop I guess — that’s what we’ll do, maybe I’ll drop on the mound, who knows.”

The league was started back in 2014 where it started small, but soon it began growing.

“We started with two teams — struggled for the first couple of years, then we evolved into three and then four teams,” said Al Purins, a cofounder of the league.

“As long as you have a love for the game, you’re gonna have a willingness to come out and play, and enjoy it,” said Brian Salvatore, a player in the organization.

Tom Manuel, 82, joined the league because out on the baseball diamond, his age doesn’t matter.

“I think it kind of makes you feel like a 10-year-old again,” said Manuel.

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Manuel has been playing baseball for many, many years, but even now he’s still learning.

“You know when you stop learning, that’s when they start nailing the lid shut,” said Manuel. “I stand up at the plate like that and say, ‘oh damn, I didn’t load’ and there’s all those things you’re correcting yourself — you’re critiquing yourself.”

They also mentioned other motivations to keep on going.

“A fella I play hockey with, his grandson is going through cancer and he’s a fighter,” said Manuel. “He’s fighting a battle, and this is to show him ‘Bull, we’re supporting ya’.”

It’s those connections with others that the guys love most.

“If you wanna keep moving, you gotta keep moving,” said Wayne Powell, a 79-year-old player in the organization,” gotta have fun — and it is fun, it’s lots of fun — and the guys are great.”

Some of the players revealed their secrets to staying active in their 80s.

“Go to the gym,” said Powell.

“I don’t smoke or drink,” said Goldsmith. “I like coke, and I like hamburgers, and I like bacon and eggs, I just live a normal life.”

“You quit when you get old?,” said Manuel. “You don’t. You get old when you quit.”

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