Remaking Muehleck

It was a long time coming. A really, really long time. But as the pallets of sod and truckloads of fresh soil showed up, it was clear… something magical was about to happen at Muehleck Field.

It started with an idea as most great achievements do. The Oradell Little League board wanted to renovate the baseball fields in our town. It was something that had been discussed for years, but didn’t become as serious as it did that cold February night in Town Hall. It was clear. This was the year of the overhaul. The fundraiser needed to happen and did, and when we got the necessary funds to renovate Muehleck field, the rest of board and volunteers sprang into action to make sure that by the fall, no matter what, this project would get done. Not just for them, but for the kids and community that surround and play on the now worn out “signature” Oradell field.

For years the bounces in the Muehleck infield were unpredictable. There were big games lost or won on a single hop. Not because of a misplay by a player. But because that infield was worn out, sloppy, bumpy and uneven.

As volunteers showed up on that crisp November morning, Cas Muehleck’s memorial plaque stood as the backdrop as if to show his support. Volunteers came from around the community. The Little League board who spearheaded the project, the coaches current and former. The grounds crew and commissioners all showed up to make this project perfect. As one volunteer said under his breath, “It’s been about 40 years since anyone even did something like this.”

It was true. The impact of this project would prove significant for years to come.

As we worked, we spoke of warm memories on that now torn up field. The championships. The big losses. The bald spots, the hilly infield and the poor drainage and flooded dugouts on those downpours of rain. We spoke about how when Muehleck was not being played on, how it became a makeshift dog run where folks would allow their pets to prance around and tear up the grass.

“That’s gotta stop,” a board member said. “We need to preserve this field. We need to preserve all the fields in town.”
Another volunteer walked up, wiping the sweat from his forehead, “Coach Muehleck used to put a fence up around the infield in the offseason. He was very meticulous about keeping the field perfect.”

Then, as we tried leveling a section of the infield, that story resonated. A metal post was discovered sticking just below the earth’s surface.

“What is that?” one of the guys asked.

Fifteen minutes later, a broken metal, three foot piece of fence was pulled from the infield earth. It was busted off years before and never removed. Cas Muehleck was here, and now a new community of baseball men were passed that symbolic torch stuck in that field. It was clear right then, we were doing something great.

As the sod was laid over the now level top-soiled infield, the vision became reality. The volunteers started to wrap it up, now dirty, now tired. We shook hands… we thanked each other and through it all, these coaches, commissioners and regular folks from around the community smiled. When we looked out at Muehleck now, it looked amazing.

When a community has a vision, that same community needs to rally to make it come true. We did. I’m proud of that. I’m proud to be the Commissioner of the American League for Oradell Little League. I’m proud to be a coach for the kids in this community. I’m proud of what Oradell Little League did in a single day in November.

I walk passed Muehleck field nearly every day. The once dusty and dirty sign has been wiped cleaned. The field is now flat, the gate now locked and on it lie a sign that reads “Please Keep off Field. Grass donated by Oradell Little League.”

On that Monday after the renovation, I crossed Oradell Ave to catch the bus to work like I usually do. As I approached the corner, I passed Cas Muehleck’s plaque. I’ve passed it many times over the past 8 years, but on that day, I could swear I saw Coach Muehleck wink. Must mean we did something good. After all, it’s about the kids.

To the Oradell Little League staff, the grounds crew and the volunteers that came out to make a dream reality… we did something big for the town of Oradell, and I’m looking forward to the next project.

Teamwork wins every time.

Photo Credit: Tony Ning Photography, Monaco Photography