What's a Teener?
Reading the Rapid City Journal online this morning (I'm originally from the Black Hills), I noticed a story about the Belle Fourche American Legion baseball team had voted to quit Legion for the year and play in Teener ball because all but one of their players were 16 years old and under.
That sparked an interest because I go back to my playing days (before aluminum bats) when I played Teener ball. For those who aren't aware of Teener baseball, it was (and I guess still is in some parts) a league similar to Junior Babe Ruth. Teener baseball is sponsored by the VFW and is for kids 13 to 16 years old, while Legion baseball has an age range of 15 to 19.
That's what we played in the Black Hills at the time. I had no idea the league was still around. Evidently, it is but barely. Belle Fourche would be the only West River team (that's South Dakota jargon -- the state is divided by the Missouri River, hence, West River-East River).
My curiosity got the best of me, so I Googled Teener baseball league. Unfortunately in the process, what also popped up on the Internet was a naughty site that I can't show here. I have no idea how that happened, but of course, I quickly closed the page. I certainly don't remember Teener baseball that way.
Playing youth baseball in a small town, we didn't have actual Little league. It was more or less just organized baseball (one team) that played other small towns. Our uniform consisted of a white T-shirt, blue jeans, tennis shoes and a baseball cap. And we rode to practice and games on our bikes (with our mitt dangling from the handle bar). It wasn't until Teener baseball when we got uniforms (old, itching wool uniforms that you would work up a sweat in a matter of seconds after putting them on).
That was baseball back then.
So, there you have a drive down Rich's memory lane. In case you're wondering, I was a so-so hitter with no power (6-2, 150 pounds), but a good glove at shortstop. You should have seen the range on that kid. Now, my range is turn to the left and turn to the right (no actual movement).
That sparked an interest because I go back to my playing days (before aluminum bats) when I played Teener ball. For those who aren't aware of Teener baseball, it was (and I guess still is in some parts) a league similar to Junior Babe Ruth. Teener baseball is sponsored by the VFW and is for kids 13 to 16 years old, while Legion baseball has an age range of 15 to 19.
That's what we played in the Black Hills at the time. I had no idea the league was still around. Evidently, it is but barely. Belle Fourche would be the only West River team (that's South Dakota jargon -- the state is divided by the Missouri River, hence, West River-East River).
My curiosity got the best of me, so I Googled Teener baseball league. Unfortunately in the process, what also popped up on the Internet was a naughty site that I can't show here. I have no idea how that happened, but of course, I quickly closed the page. I certainly don't remember Teener baseball that way.
Playing youth baseball in a small town, we didn't have actual Little league. It was more or less just organized baseball (one team) that played other small towns. Our uniform consisted of a white T-shirt, blue jeans, tennis shoes and a baseball cap. And we rode to practice and games on our bikes (with our mitt dangling from the handle bar). It wasn't until Teener baseball when we got uniforms (old, itching wool uniforms that you would work up a sweat in a matter of seconds after putting them on).
That was baseball back then.
So, there you have a drive down Rich's memory lane. In case you're wondering, I was a so-so hitter with no power (6-2, 150 pounds), but a good glove at shortstop. You should have seen the range on that kid. Now, my range is turn to the left and turn to the right (no actual movement).
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