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Every Thursday morning, Dick St. Denny heads down to Redwood City from his home in San Francisco to play ball with the Redwood City Señors, a softball league for players over 50. But last Thursday's practice was unlike most— St. Denny was met with a 99th birthday celebration planned by at least sixty of his teammates.
"The party was tremendous, just tremendous," said St. Denny, who has played with the team for about 20 years. "Redwood City is a nice place to play, and the folks I play with are great. They treat me so well."
Every year the Redwood City Señors throw a birthday party for the oldest active player. And Dick has been that person for several years, said league member Pat Michael. In fact, you'll hardly ever see the 99-year-old sitting on the sidelines.
"Dick is sharp and I find him to be an amazing player even though he's limited by what he can do for his age," said Michael. "You'll never see him walking around, he's always running back and forth across the field."
St. Denny is originally from Syracuse, New York, but he's lived in San Francisco since the 1980s. St. Denny took up an interest in baseball while serving in World War II, even winning a tournament held among servicemen in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. These days, Dick is often out and about bowling or playing golf. But despite his busy schedule, he always makes the time to play and socialize with the Redwood City Señors. According to Michael, the social aspect of the team is particularly appealing to St. Denny and many of the other players. The Senors frequently host barbecues, parties and other outings for players to stay connected.
"There's so many social benefits you get out of interacting with the other folks and being able to accomplish something something together. It's a good feeling for all of us, especially for a 99-year-old who has to know his days are limited," said Michael. "It makes all of us feel good to be able to provide a platform where we can keep playing and enjoy each others company."
The Señors have a rich history. The group formed in the 1970s after a few older men found it difficult to keep up with younger players in local recreation leagues. Senior softball was not a new idea nationally, but it was new in Northern California. The league flourished, and players even went on to win a national championship in 1989. Women were welcomed to join the club soon after, in the 1990s.
Today, the Redwood City Señors league is open to any player over 50 who understands the basic rules of softball and can safely play the game. The club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Red Morton Park in Redwood City. The team's current membership is about 275. Anyone who is interested in joining the league should email rwcseniorsoftball@gmail.com.
