League's 60th Season Promises Old-Fashioned Hometown Baseball

Collingswood Little League will open its 60th season Saturday, April 2, under one condition—that baseball goes back to peanuts-and-Cracker Jacks.

"We're trying to bring nostalgia back this year," said Collingswood Little League Board of Directors President Michael Reynolds. "Little League has come so far in this town. And as we celebrate our 60th year, we want to honor the teams who made Collingswood baseball the 'Collingswood baseball' it is today."

Collingswood saw its first season in 1951, and local baseball was born. And since then, Little League has been creating memories that remain today. In 2011, just thinking about that April through June stretch brings thoughts of longer days, baseball games, sunshine and community.

And since 1951, anticipations culminate each year at the Collingswood Little League season opener. 

"Opening day, it signals spring," said Reynolds. "Most of these kids are so busy all year, switching from football season to wrestling. And their parents are getting tired of all the indoor sports. You don't have to worry about shoveling out your car out of the snow to get to Little League games. Our season brings a certain feeling with it."

This year, April 2's season opener begins at 8 a.m. at The Knight Park, and won't end until around 6 p.m. And there's good reason for the long day.

"For this opener, we're doing something we've never really done before," said Reynolds. "With the exception of T-Ball, we're letting every single team in the league play on opening day. Everyone will get to play. It's going to be great." 

Traditionally, opening day holds three games at the Major field, one at the A Minor field, and one at the B Minor field. 

But this year, there will be eight games instead of five.

"We're going to have a total of eight games—with six major teams, six A Minor teams, and four B Minor teams participating," said Reynolds. 

And wanting to bring back a strong sense of good-old, hometown baseball couldn't have come at a better time than the league's 60-year anniversary.

"There are 17 members who sit on the Collingswood Little League Board of Directors. And this year, all 17 of us are on the same page. We want to see some baseball," said Reynolds.

Reynolds, currently serving his first term as board president, has been involved with the league in other capacities for the past eight years. Before he was voted into presidency this past November, Reynolds spent five years as a board member. Before that, he acted as umpire-in-chief.

"Last year, I thought about putting in my name for president. I asked league friends for feedback. We all thought it was time for a change," said Reynolds. "Unfortunately, Little League is often very agenda-driven. It's all about, 'I want my kid to get the most playing time,' or it's driven by political influence.

"My mind was made up. When I put my name in, it was because I felt it was time we had someone running Little League who didn't have an agenda."

Reynolds has no children of his own, eliminating the fatherly bias of an official whose children play in the league. Reynolds isn't even a borough resident. His wife was raised in Collingswood, but the couple live in Voorhees Township.

With such a nonexistent agenda, what drew Reynolds to Collingswood Little League in the first place?

"All the kids in this league are equal to me," said Reynolds. "I'm here because I just want to see some baseball at work."

And on April 2, Reynolds will get to see hometown baseball at its finest—for 10 hours straight.

While league members, players, coaches and fans will begin gathering in The Knight Park at 8 a.m. April 2, Reynolds said the actual Opening Day Ceremony doesn't start until 9 a.m.

Post-ceremony, the first game of the day will begin at 10 a.m., followed by another game at noon, another at 2 p.m. and so on—until every team gets to play.

"I can't wait for this season to start. This year's going to be different. Everybody's on the same page, there are no agendas on the board of directors," said Reynolds. "It's so refreshing. The whole atmosphere is going to change, we're finally going to enjoy some baseball."

And April 2 is just the beginning. Collingswood has an entire 20-game season of good, old-fashioned Little League baseball to look forward to.

"There's something about baseball that's so authentic, that sets it apart from other sports," said Reynolds. "I actually enjoy getting calls from parents who are new to Little League, not sure what gear or equipment they should purchase for their kid. I love being able to tell them, 'Go get a glove. All your kid needs is a glove.'

"You know what makes me most happy in life?" said Reynolds, pausing momentarily, as if he'd uncovered some long-lost, precious memory. "When I see a kid get his first hit in history, and the smile that spreads from ear to ear across his face. That's what makes all of this worth it."