From Fred Hanker’s Long Beach Black Sox Men’s Fastpitch Softball Facebook page:
I have decided to not have The Long Beach Black Sox next year. I have run this team for 6 years and I need a much deserved break. I will be playing with other teams in 2011. Thanks to all our fans for your support. I will continue to maintain the site and make posts so stay tuned. I may at some point next year reunite the team. Thanks for all your kind words
Editor’s note:
A well deserved break for Fred. He’s been the driving force for the team — and for much of fastpitch in So Cal for the past six years, both on the field and behind the scenes, somehow finding a way to manage and run the team, and yet still focus and be among the top hitters in So Cal, seemingly every single weekend. The list of players wearing the Black Sox uniform for those six year is long and distinguished. Thanks Fred to giving so many players a place to play, and learn the game — both young players and old. Like the Pittsburgh Pirates of old, it was always fun to see which uniform the team would don on a given day (just how many different version were there?) The Black Sox blended friendship and talent, with more tournament victories than one can count, a testament to Fred’s leadership. Fred’s website, his facebook page and the hundreds of photos and stories posted kept us up on fastpitch in So Cal. We’ll miss seeing the Sox in 2011 Fred, but it is a well deserved break indeed.