They call it “Geezer Ball.”
A group of senior citizens, of various ages, shapes and talent levels, have been playing softball at 9 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday at Miami Lakes Optimist Park for almost five years.
The group includes an unusual bunch of characters including the oldest player, Angel Sosa, a Celebration Point resident who turns 82 on October 1. And there’s Mariano Fernandez who would not say a word when he started playing. Now, teammates can’t get him to shut up.
Others include Bruce Davidson, a retired ESPN photographer; Peter Fishel who still runs his own CPA firm; Bob Jones, a retired dentist from New Jersey; Fred (F Rod) Rodriguez, a Postal Service worker; Terry (TKO) Kushi, a retired administrator at Barry University; Lee Collins, a former Avionics instructor; Doug Gonzalez, owner of a hair salon; Ernie Garcia, a former top commercial artist at The Miami Herald; El London, a current administrator at Barry; George Pringle, who started the Geezer program in 2009; Alfredo (A Rod) Rodriguez; Andres Clavijo; Gilbert Alonso; Eladio Perez; Rick Garcia; Angel Hernandez; Frank Weber; Miami Lakes jeweler Gary Snow; Jose (Pepi) Caballero; and Dave Oliver, retired from The Miami Herald.