I joined and don't regret it...45+
I just want to put this out there. After not playing baseball since high school and a little bit of unofficial college ball, I joined a 45+ league almost 25 years later removed from hardball. I played a lot of softball in my 20 and early 30s... and stopped a year or 2 before kids about 10 years ago. A few months ago I signed up as a free agent for MSBL after my wife was tired of me saying i could still play and told me to go for it. My excuse...kids were too young and i didn't want to get hurt again (couple of shoulder surgeries)...now the kids are 6 and 8 years old. I signed up for a 45+ MSBL League. wood bat, 9 innings...baseball! I put in the notes when entering the free agent pool that i could pitch, catch and play anywhere in the field. 2 months later a manager called me and asked if i wanted to play. First thing he asked, do you want to play and I said sure. 2nd thing he asked, can you catch...sure :) ... I got on the exercise bike, lost 8 pounds and was playing 2 weeks later. It's been great, the pitching skill level is all over the place from shallow rec to former AAA players. I'm holding my own and honestly have felt a huge sense of joy and team comradery since joining. Catching all game is something I forgot I loved!
If anyone is on the fence...just go do it! You might embarrass yourself (no one cares), but you might rake and take to it way faster than you think. I convinced a few of my friends to join as well and they are all in. I got to buy myself catchers gear and all the stuff i wanted that i never had as a kid...that was fun just researching as I don't buy things for myself! Then came game day, i was excited but not nervous at all. First AB i struck out.. Seeing a good breaking ball for the first time in a long time was cool. I have been hitting seeds since. The speed is around 60-80mph for pitching. 3rd base and catching has been a ton of fun! I look forward to every Sunday!
I just wanted to share and hope that anyone that forgot about baseball and has been wanting to play, gets back in. For a bunch of old dudes, we are mostly pretty good and most never stopped playing. Watching guys in there 40s & 50s dive and slide and make some plays is great. I thought i could, but didn't know...now i know! Anyone that feels this way definitely can if you want to.