It may sound cliche, but it’s true that ‘one person can make a difference,? whether it’s in the great big world or a small town named Oxford.
Fifty years ago one person, Chuck Curtis, made a difference in the lives of thousands of youths, both then and now, when he founded the ‘Oxford Midget League,? which today is known as the Oxford Recreational Baseball Association (ORBA).
For his hard work, devotion to kids and vision for the future, the 81-year-old Oxford resident was honored Saturday by ORBA in a special Opening Day ceremony at the Scripter Park baseball fields, commemorating Curtis? founding of the league in 1953.
‘Fifty years ago there was no (organized youth) baseball here in Oxford,? said Claude (JR) Lafnear, president of ORBA. ‘One gentleman decided that there should be some baseball played here in the Village of Oxford. That gentleman is here with us today. And we would like to take this opportunity to thank him for the work, the forethought and the love of baseball he had to get it started.?
‘It always takes somebody to get the ball rolling,? Lafnear told the crowd. ‘When you have somebody that gets the ball rolling and it turns into something like this, it’s a very special thing.?
Lafnear said a ‘staggering number? of kids have played baseball in ORBA over the league’s 50-year history and Curtis has ‘touched each and every one of their lives and for that we are ever grateful.?
To help honor Curtis, 11 of the original 20 members of the 1953 Oxford Midget League were on hand for the festivities, some of them with their grandkids who now play in ORBA.
The ?53-ers present were Bill Curtis, Ed and Richard McGraw, Bill Sommerville, Dan Tibbets, Val Sausser, Robert Hauxwell, Sonny Groves, John Kamm, Michael Dodge and Fred Collier.
‘We are just honored to no end to have these players here today, as they are honored to come and share this with Mr. Curtis,? Lafnear told the crowd. ‘It’s been nearly 40 years since these guys were all together.?
Each original team member received a special plaque featuring a photo of the 1953 team that appeared in the Oxford Leader.
To further honor Curtis, his name was engraved on a large ‘Recreational Baseball Rock of Fame? placed near the field, bearing the inscription:
‘In honor of the men and women who volunteer their time and talent for the betterment of baseball and our community. Their generosity and commitment enable our youth to achieve dreams, create memories, and build everlasting friendships.
Charles Curtis
League Founder
1953?
‘Every year we are going to enshrine somebody who’s put their heart and soul into our league, much like (Curtis) did to get it started,? Lafnear said.
Lafnear said each season a brick paver bearing the name of a past or present ORBA volunteer will be added in front of the ‘Rock of Fame.?
Tears filled Curtis? eyes as he read the monument’s words, shortly after its unveiling.
‘I want to thank you for this privilege,? the soft-spoken and gracious gentleman told the crowd. ‘I want to thank everyone involved in this.?
Curtis also thanked his beautiful wife of 60 years, Marma, who ‘kept dinners warm? for after the games.
To open ORBA’s 2003 season, Curtis was given the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch using the same baseball originally used in the Midget League’s very first game against those ‘tough farmer boys? from Dryden in 1953.
During the pitch, Curtis wore his son’s old baseball mitt from when he played first base in the Midget League.
It was Curtis? son, Bill, who now lives in Florida, but was in Oxford Saturday for the ceremony, who originally convinced his father to start a baseball league.
Bill ‘was pestering me to start a baseball team, so I finally gave in,? Curtis told the crowd.
It’s a good thing Bill pushed his dad because from those original 19 players sprang the ORBA league of today, which currently boasts 540 players age 5 through 14, divided on 43 teams.
And the rest, as they say, is history. . .