MSBL World Series Spotlight Inland Angels - Ted Poleto By Steve Lamontia
MSBL Communications Director In his own words I have been involved in MSBL since 1990, starting in Albany NY and then in California for 24 years for a total of 29 years. I became involved because of Tommy Maney, one of my best friends on earth since we were about eight years old. He is a HOF friend both on and off the field. He called and told me about the league as we were both playing in the Albany Twilight league for about 10 years or so and then we just went to MSBL and have been there ever since. I have attended the World Series every year since 1995. I have also attended the Fall Classic five times and have been going to the Desert Classic and the Vegas Tourneys consistently since 1995 as well. I have won five rings, in 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009 and in 2016. That was my first one as a manager so that one was special. Away from baseball I officiate five different sports now that I retired from the postal service as a distribution manager in both Albany and several different plants in Southern California. I am a divorced father of four fantastic kids and eight beautiful grand kids, soon to be nine. One of my favorite memories was the first championship in 1998 as I shared that ring with Tommy and it was a special moment to culminate a dream to win a championship. I have won other championships in baseball but the most special ones are the MSBL ones because they come with the RING!!! The next one was to win as a manager. That was huge to me personally because it validated that I made the right decision and ALL the work you have to put in is incredible when you manage so that was special and then in 2017 Steve and MSBL inducted me into the MSBL Hall of Fame. (continued on page 2)
MSBL WS Manager - Ted Poleto (continued from page 1) I felt very undeserving and I was totally taken by surprise. It was an incredible honor I have recently moved back home from California to Albany New York, my hometown and am active in the 55+ division of the Capital District MSBL. One of the advantages of playing ball in the league and at the World Series is the comradery that is built up each year with the building of a team and then try to manage 25+ guys to be tunneled into winning a ring. We go out to have fun and see everyone but when we leave if we don't win we feel like we lost an opportunity especially when you are my age (64). There aren't too many of those chances left!!MSBL has put an indelible mark on my life. I have met so many incredible people and have cultivated so many memories that I cant even count them all. I am truly blessed to be able to play the game I learned from my best coach ever, my dad, when I was two years old with a bat in my hand! The love of the game never fades and MSBL has kept that fire burning for the last 29 years. Thanks to Steve and all the people at MSBL for providing this for all of us!!!
-- Edited by jdalton on Tuesday 29th of October 2019 03:11:51 PM
JD much appreciated way overblown and undeserving to get this amount of ink Thanks again, and the best to all the guys going after it Both in Phoenix and Florida this month, shout out to Pete G winning the father son.
Nice Ted. In some degree we all have the same feelings. MSBL has touched and enriched our adult lives. It is so sweet you've returned to play with our league and with some of your old childhood and young adulthood friends. When we were thirty ...who knew? Yet here we are still playing. I miss my baseball friends in the winter and its like a huge reunion come spring time. once more to the diamond. remembering how we got here...Dads, youth leagues, friends. thanks for the relay of the post Jim. They do such a fine job in AZ to make the event so special.
Ted, your MSBL HOF award is well deserved, so much dedication to the game and leading teams on the field and all that work beforehand, and all that success! You're a rare bird Ted. A great teammate, father, grandfather, friend, Manager, and advocate for the game. Always the first to claim your shortcomings and last to crow about your numerous successes.
