Once I learned there was no age limit on participation, I began bugging my dad to find me a spot on an area baseball roster in the spring of 1966.

Heck, Dave Criscione was already playing for his brother Pete Criscione’s Dunkirk-Fredonia Rookies and hitting home runs out of Jamestown College Stadium. And he was a whole year younger than me!

The GBL was part of the larger Grape Belt-County League.

The GBL encompassed northern Chautauqua County town teams — Dunkirk-Fredonia Rookies, Silver Creek Horseshoes, Cherry Creek, Cassadaga Bombers, Forestville Merchants and others over the years.

Pat Parisi

The County League had teams like Frewsburg, Jamestown, Ellington, Warren and Lakewood.

My dad called an old coaching friend, Bob Butcher, who managed the Sheridan Pablos. Bob said he could use a young player, one willing to learn while riding the bench.

I was 15 in 1966 and had just finished my sophomore season at Cardinal Mindszenty and was aching to play more, learn from my elders and get better.

So I showed up in Sheridan one Saturday afternoon in June after the Monarchs ended their Smith League season.

The Pablos had started their campaign in May, so their starting lineup was all set.

Bill Hammond

There were a handful of Fredonia State alumni on their roster, some current Blue Devils and some former Silver Creek, Forestville and Fredonia High players.

And now there was me, a would-be pitcher but far better first baseman.

The fact my dad was a Major League Baseball scout made player introductions easy.

So I found a spot on the bench and settled in for a different kind of ballgame.

We mounted a threat in the opening inning. It was then I first saw a straight steal of home.

Our runner on third timed it perfectly. The only question was whether he would cross the plate before the pitch.

He did.

And he did it standing, loudly and pleadingly screaming at the batter, “DON’T SWING!”

He didn’t.

But the batter took immediate exception to the play.

“You didn’t trust me to get you home from third with less than two outs? That’s an insult,” the batter bristled.

The two would spend much of the next few innings debating the play endlessly. No clear winner emerged and teammates judicially declined to take a side.

It would turn out they were brothers.

Another key play happened mid-game when the visitors tried to score a runner from second base on a hit to center field.

Mindszenty and Fredonia State outfielder Pat Parisi threw home to catcher Ed Ransford, my Mindszenty teammate, and there was a terrible collision.

When the dust settled, future Boston College linebacker Ransford had recorded the out.

The runner? He was “out” too. He had to be carried to the bench.

Couple innings later, history repeated itself and the Parisi-Ransford connection saved another run. The runner injured his leg on the play and was unable to continue.

And finally, our pitcher, John Christopher. He was a tall, thin right hander who relied mainly on a lively and purposely wild, fastball.

He played in a totally black uniform, even on the hottest afternoons. He wore a black motorcycle jacket with dark sunglasses because he traveled by motorcycle. He smoked between innings.

Some called him “The Count.” I was never brave enough to ask him why and this was years before “Sesame Street.” Let’s just say he was intimidating and I was impressed.

We won the game. Although I didn’t get to play, I was totally on board. This was a different brand of baseball, nine glorious innings, and I wanted to be part of it.

I did so for the next 15 years, slowly graduating to starter, then coach, manager, all-star, GBL president, umpire, umpire assignor and schedule maker.

Along the way, I played for four different teams and retired after the First Ward Falcons claimed their lone title. I was 30, married with two kids, and ready to take a step away from baseball and concentrate on softball.

It was all quite a remarkable experience I would never trade for anything.

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DO YOU have a favorite, funny, weird, best or worst memory of the Grape Belt League, amateur sports refereeing, playing or spectating? Drop me a line at mandpp@hotmail.com and let’s reminisce.

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Bill Hammond is a former EVENING OBSERVER sports editor.