The first pitch in this year's season, the 39th, was tossed about noon in a rookie game at Greenman Field behind Havenscourt Middle School.

That first game followed a parade of teams -- all in uniforms -- and coaches from Concordia Field nearly a mile along Havenscourt Boulevard to Greenman.

As the procession of teams entered Greenman, Cal Ripken Greater Oakland Babe Ruth League President Herman Scott watched with hope. "This year there are about 40 teams -- 15 kids to a team. That's well over 500 kids. It's down from last year, but we're hopeful."

For the players, there indeed is hope. The Oakland Babe Ruth League has a history of creating Major League players.

Former Oakland A's star pitcher Dave Stewart got his start in the Oakland league. So did Rickey Henderson, along with Steve Brye, who played eight seasons with the Minnesota Twins in the 1970s.

Add Lloyd Moseby, who played 12 seasons from 1980 to1991 with Toronto and Detroit. Add Brian Johnson, who played eight seasons with the Padres, Giants, Royals and Dodgers before retiring in 2001.

Also, basketball great Jason Kidd played Babe Ruth baseball in the 1980s, Scott said.

Kids, ages 5-19, play in a series of leagues. Five-year-olds play T-ball, a scaled down version of the game designed for beginners. They wear T-shirts. But players in older leagues, from rookies ages 6-7 on up to ages 16-19, wear full uniforms, purchased by local sponsors.

As the teams lined up at Greenman Field in front of proud parents and relatives, no one was happier than John Williams. That's "Coach John Williams," these days.

Williams, 23, a Babe Ruth veteran, who played college ball, is in his first year as a coach. His team is the Everett & Jones #2. They're in the minors league, ages 10-12.

"I love the sport of baseball," Williams said. "We've been practicing for a month."

First-time T-ball coach Sean Baines agreed. His Rockies played their first game Saturday at 5 p.m. Before the game, Baines said his kids were more excited than he was -- and he was pretty excited.

"We play by time," he said. "An hour and 15 minutes ends the game. We change sides after the ninth batter or 30 strikes are thrown, whichever is first."

Baines said he took on the coaching job because he played as a teenager and wanted his son, age 5, who is on the team, to see him in a different role. "I treat him just like anybody else," he said. "The other parents are watching," he said.

Reflecting on the evolution of kids and baseball, League President Scott said he thinks kids are different than they were 17 years ago when he first signed on as a coach.

"Kids don't work as hard today," he said. "Their attention span is less and some kids' parents just sign them up as an extra-curricular activity."

"But a lot of kids still love baseball," he said with a smile.

Out on the freshly chalked field, the hundreds of smiling faces showed he's right.

Playing Babe Ruth League Baseball requires a $75 fee, but half-price scholarships are available as are hardship scholarships. The league also welcomes new sponsors. There is a softball league for girls. For information, call the league office at (510) 639-7792.

Contact William Brand at bbrand@angnewspapers.com.

The Oakland Tribune: Cityside
Leanne McLaughlin, Managing Editor
(510) 208-6447
(510) 208-6477 Fax
lmclaughlin@angnewspapers.com Email