Return to Home Page
The 500 Club is named, quite simply, for the sizable room in the Michaelian Office Building in which most of our team members make their living. It is also a respectful reference to the elite club of home run hitters in the highest echelon of major league baseball. Nonetheless, we don't pretend to emulate or perform like any one of them. The team is composed primarily (but not solely) of engineers from the Department of Public Works. These underachieving rebels decided to crack the network of established teams in the respected County softball league and form their own organization. Sponsorless, capless, and shirtless until the Wednesday before the registration deadline, founder Vince Pastore decided to take the incentive and seek out a sponsor who would at least cover some of the cost. By Friday, the team had found at least its cap-guy, Tom, the curator of the Laredo Bar and Grill. And, alas, we obtained shirts thanks to Commissioner Landi. Scraping up the rest of the dough, a roster was put together.
The games went by quickly, as did the opposing team's runs. But the first omen of despair was manifested in the sudden going-under of our sponsor. As quickly as the team had learned to enjoy Laredo's economical beer specials and tasty spinach salads, the oh-so-close-to-the-park mainstay was fatefully and financially departed. Where to get our caps in the future, we wondered?? Sure, we had "cheated" a bit and been frequenting the Ardsley Ale House after games, particularly for that kickin' Wednesday barbeque. But could they be a future sponsor?? Nay... For as friendly and accomodating as the Ale House may be, they've got their hands full with more teams than they can handle.
As of today, we've got ringers, we've got
softball veterans, we've got rookies, and first-timers and new
learners, but in any case we intend to actively enjoy ourselves
in our junior year. God knows the first two years were damn
tough. And yes, we intend to support our new sponsor, Trotters'
Tavern - it's very
easy, you just go right across Main Street and drink lots of
beer!! (Disclaimer: Don't drive afterwards, idiot!!) They have a few
decent looking waitresses too - that's for a future page. So
don't go having any tantrums at OUR games. You'll only go
crazy. Maybe one
of you can even bring a rake to fix up the softball field, what
the heck...
Anthony J. Ventarola