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Good Or Days

Photos by Brett Mounta in

Oak Park "old timers" gather for summer softball reunion.

Sheldon Rosenberg and Joel Noble with the championship trophy

Team Rosenberg

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played in a round-robin format inning by inning. Some hadn't seen each other in 40 years.
"Picture something you just loved to do every day as a kid with all of your best friends
and you couldn't get enough of it',' Rosenberg said."It became a part of your life. But as
the years went on and people's lives changed, we all lost touch. Then for one day, it all
came back. I was playing leftfield throwing the ball back in to my old friend from 30
years ago. It was truly surreal."
The event was already a dream come true; but in the end, Rosenberg's team even
took home the first Oak Park Old Timers softball championship trophy. He says it's now
proudly displayed in his office at Robert W. Baird & Co. in West Bloomfield. The group is
planning a second annual old timers softball event for next year.
"By the way, considering our ages we only had five injuries:' Rosenberg added. "They
were: a torn Achilles tendon, a broken arm, a twisted knee, a strained calf muscle and a
bruised arm. Was it worth it? Absolutely!"
Spotted on the ball field were: Leon Weiss and Alan Klein, both of Farmington
Hills; Jack Kahrnoff and Denny Boren, both of West Bloomfield; David Wiener of
Oak Park; Neil Weiner of Birmingham; Ronnie Ekelman of Pontiac; Arnie Gilbert,
Palm Desert, California; Larry Sherman of Bloomfield Hills and Danny Cohen of
Newark, Delaware. [1]

n the late 1960s and 1970s, summer softball games in Oak Park were the happening
place to be every Friday and Sunday night. Jewish sports enthusiasts would gather
along with people just looking to let loose and have some fun.
Sheldon Rosenberg, now 59, of West Bloomfield remembers
those good old days fondly.
"Oak Park became the mecca for softball for the entire state
Rosenberg recalls. "Professional teams would come to compete
there. The leagues were top notch:'
While reminiscing several months ago with his longtime friend
Joel Noble of Farmington Hills, the two decided to organize a
softball reunion of sorts for Oak Park "old timers:' They thought
they'd get a small group together for a game. But once word got out
on Facebook, via e-mail and over the phone, 42 men ages 53-64
signed up and were ready to play. There was even a waiting list.
"Our plan spurred so much enthusiasm, it brought back all the
memories with hopes of rekindling old friendships:' Rosenberg said.
The players took the field Aug. 8 at Drake Sports Park in West
Bloomfield with about 200 spectators cheering them on. They broke up into three teams and

Sheldon Rosenberg of West Bloomfield

Taylor, Michael and Morgan Wayne of

West Bloomfield

Ken Bertin of West Bloomfield

Danny Rosenberg of Ann Arbor and

Debbie and Ryan Rosenberg of West

Bloomfield

August 26 • 2010

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