Guys this is very hard for me to write but my wife and I have moved from the area and I am about 4 hours from Albany. My life as an active player in the senior league appears to have ended. I want to thank everyone who I have played with and against for accepting me as a player and a friend. I will never forget the great times of suiting up and looking at everyone and saying I love baseball. You all have made my past few summers a pleasure. Thanks to Jimmy K for getting me into this league again even though i PLAYED WHEN THE LEAGUE FIRST FORMED. I Thank Artie G for getting me back then. Thanks to Jim Dalton and his dedication to making the Pirates a fun gang to play with and to all the guys I have made friends with. Play well enjoy the summer win a bunch of games and if I sneak down to the area be prepared to have your balls busted but know I love you all. Thanks for the memories. Fred Pidgeon
Fred, you are Albanys Sultan of Swing and one of the leagues most beloved characters. You play the game with one of the most important assets...a big smile. You can hit it a country mile and turn a triple into a single. Hope you can make a Matinee appearance sometime this summer.
Hey Pidge I remember when I asked Mike Girard years ago, thinking that Mike was the best righty hitter in our league, who he thought was the best righty he ever played against and without hesitation he said Fred Pidgeon. So I heard of Fred Pidgeon but didnt know you yet. Years later I got the chance to play with you on our Giants team.You were still hitting seeds. I thought to myself Oh thats Fred Pidgeon. Scary even coaching third cause of the liners you hit foul. With apologies to Yogi ,you are even a better person in person.
Best wishes to you and your wife. Hope to share the field with you again.
Will miss you Fred. I didn't know you in your younger years, but damn, you're the best old hitter I know. You are still impressive to watch at the plate. I'll be looking forward to that Pigeon sighting at the Matinee.
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We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing.
Ouch! That leaves a big hole in the fun department here in the CDMSBL! Keep in touch big man! We will miss you between the lines! Ralph was right! I am pretty sure that you and Chuck Sohl are the two best rightie hitters that I have ever shared the field with. It was my distinct pleasure to share those days on the same field with you.
Da Pidg! Say it ain't so! Ain't gonna be the same w/o our daily jokes, umpiring stories and your indelible laugh! You and your wife are good people and will be missed - that is until you saunter to the "A" Diamond for a Matinee. It was great having you come back as a Giants player. Five years - five championships with you. Two grand slams in ONE game in Bethlehem with your father sitting in our dugout! WOW!
When Tom Many asked him if he'd ever seen Fred do that before, he simply shrugged and said "yup.'' No wonder why you, Fred, are in the NYS Baseball Hall of Fame.