Beginning in February, 2023, the Rogers Hornsby Chapter of SABR is partnering with AGE of Central Texas to bring baseball reminiscence programs to participants at their facilities. Our Baseball Memories program is offered at the AGE Thrive Social & Wellness Centers. AGE of Central Texas provides daytime care for older adults with physical needs or memory loss, as well as education services and resources for their care partners. SABR’s initial offerings are at AGE’s Round Rock, Texas facility, where we will be conducting an ongoing, in-person monthly program.
If you’d like more information on SABR’s Baseball Memories programs, please contact:
Monte Cely at cely@swbell.net – or –
Ira Siegel at igscpa@yahoo.com
Jerry Miller at gjmesq@sbcglobal.net
The “Baseball Guys” are also back visiting the Kerrville Veterans Administration Hospital in Kerrville, Texas. This program had been suspended for several years due to the pandemic, and it’s great to be back, in person, with the veterans. For more information, contact:
Jim Kenton at jmkentn444@gmail.com
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SABR members also continue to volunteer for other baseball-themed reminiscence programs in Central Texas. Some of the programs’ history and past activities follow:
Beginning in 2015, Alzheimer’s Texas and the Rogers Hornsby chapter of SABR teamed up to provide a baseball-themed program for Texas residents with early-stage Alzheimer’s.
This program, nicknamed BasebALZ (also referred to as “Talking Baseball“), uses baseball as a topic for reminiscence therapy. Reminiscence therapy is an approach to improve the well-being of Alzheimer’s patients by invoking and discussing their memories of the past.
The following video features some of our volunteers and participants talking about their experiences with BasebALZ:
Our efforts in Texas are based upon a highly successful baseball-themed program, the Cardinals Reminiscence League (CRL), developed by the Alzheimer’s Association in St. Louis.
For our program here in Austin, Texas, we adopted the general framework of the St. Louis CRL and modified it to fit our community, baseball history, and the interests of our early-stage Alzheimer’s participants. We developed a “season” of six bi-weekly meetings, held for 90 minutes and including lunch. The audience included Alzheimer’s participants and their care-givers. Volunteers included local SABR members and spouses, led by chapter member Jim Kenton, as well as existing Alzheimer’s volunteers with an interest in baseball. A typical agenda might include:
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- Welcome
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- Opening Lineups – discuss favorite players and teams
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- Sing the National Anthem
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- The Year in Baseball – present and discuss events on- and off-the field for a selected year (maybe a memorable World Series or other year that would invoke participants’ pleasant memories; plus topics such as current music, TV shows, key events of that era)
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- A Day at the Ballpark – present and discuss the groups’ experiences in going to a ball game; how did you get there, what did you do pre-game, during the game? Perhaps focus on local ballparks, past and present.
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- Do something with touch or feel – oil a baseball glove, pass around some memorabilia, etc.
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- Seventh-inning stretch – have lunch and sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”
- Post-game wrap-up and reminder of next meeting
In addition to a regular agenda, we have occasional guest speakers. Former Texas Longhorns and MLB pitchers Calvin Schiraldi and Burt Hooton have joined us. Stand-out Longhorns pitcher Jim Gideon and local radio personality Ed Clements have also appeared at our sessions. Round Rock Express GM Tim Jackson hosted a recent event. Retired MLB pitcher and Austin resident Ross Ohlendorf is a frequent guest.
After our “regular season”, we hold a postseason event at a ballgame.
Feedback regarding BasebALZ has been very positive. Participants and their caregivers enjoyed the sessions and the fellowship. The volunteers found the experience very rewarding. Everyone couldn’t wait for the next session!
As a result of the great response, a second BasebALZ “season” was held in Fall 2015, beginning in mid-September and lasting through November. This “season” was equally successful and enjoyable.
PROGRAM EVOLUTION
As mentioned above, our initial program goal in 2015 was to work with those dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia. We were extremely fortunate to find a sponsor, Alzheimer’s Texas, that provided training, funding, administrative support and facility space to enable us to get started. We called the program “BasebALZ” in recognition of their support.
In the summer of 2016, we were allowed to take our program to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kerrville, Texas (see picture below). Most of our participants at that facility did not suffer from dementia. However, they were isolated from their families and eager to share memories with “outsiders”. To them we were the “The Baseball Guys”. VA Hospital administrators have been extremely positive about the program and monthly sessions have been held ongoing.
We later became aware of several clinical studies that indicated that social isolation for seniors often led to the onset of dementia and other medical problems. Therefore, in an effort to become more inclusive, we changed our program name to “Talking Baseball”.
“BasebALZ”, “The Baseball Guys”, “Talking Baseball”, or “Baseball Memories” are all similar programs led by volunteers that like to share their love of baseball and other topics with seniors. Regardless of the audience, we hope that they have as much fun as we do!
In 2019 we began a program in Georgetown Texas, again sponsored by Alzheimer’s Texas. A large group of volunteers were recruited from nearby Sun City Texas and sessions were held bi-weekly at The Wesleyan at Estrella Assisted Living center.
A joint event of the Georgetown and Austin groups was held at Dell Diamond, in Round Rock, Texas, in February 2020. Our local AAA ballclub, the Round Rock Express, hosted the event. Over fifty participants and volunteers were in attendance. A great video of this event (6 min) can be viewed here.
TESTIMONIALS:
Here are a few “thank you” notes we’ve received from participants and administrators:
“We would like to express our gratitude to you for taking time to volunteer at the Alzheimer’s Association. We really enjoyed the “Baseball Memory” class. I especially enjoyed the camaraderie and recalling childhood memories. The feeling of support, fun and laughter was something we looked forward to each week. Thanks also to your sweet wives who came and helped. We are looking forward to the Express Game tonight and appreciate this opportunity.
Thanks again for your friendship and support. Psalms 13:5-6. “
B.P. and R. P. – participant and caregiver.
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“A big special thank-you for your efforts in presenting the excellent reminiscence presentations in our baseball meetings. Your work brought many memories of past baseball experiences. This thank-you also goes to the wives for their additions to your presentations.
We loved the discussions of the historical facts related to baseball. We appreciate all of your work in making this available to the Alzheimer’s group.
Sincerely, F.L. and M.L. ” – participant and caregiver
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“First off, let me say how awesome it is that your group does what it does. I myself am not the biggest baseball fan or fanatic and I find myself on the edge of my seat when y’all come and give presentations to our veterans.
Since y’all have been coming to the VA here in Kerrville we have noticed a few things about our regular participants in the program. Some of our veterans that are not the most social or big conversation starters seem to open up during the group sessions. They can recall past games they have been to and other memories from their youth. It is amazing to see how far back some of our residents can remember the events of their days. The details that they express in the groups sometimes paint a picture so clear you can almost see it as if you are there yourself. You guys do all this through baseball knowledge and facts. It is simply amazing. One of our veterans (you know who) was able to recall an entire game and day from his youth based off of one fact from that game about a pitcher throwing the ball out of the stadium. I think that alone says something about what you guys do… It is amazing to see some of our closed-off veterans initiate conversations and even socialize in group settings who normally do not… It gives our residents a comfortable way to ease into conversation allowing opportunities to socialize and reminisce. It creates opportunities to share experiences and even have an occasional laugh… Our veterans have many stories to share and your groups allow opportunities for that. Some of our veterans do not have the best memory anymore, due to age and other various diagnoses. These sessions present opportunities to trigger memories they may have forgotten over time. In my opinion it is a wonderful program and service that y’all provide. I know our residents and even our staff marvel at the benefits from the program.
We thank you here at Kerrville VA for bringing your services to us and look forward to continue to work with you.”
From a staff member at the Kerrville, Texas Veterans Administration
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“ … You are really on to something. My husband has had Alzheimer’s for 11 years that we know of, he and I have been part of a variety of programs to respond to the challenges of dementia. The Baseball Memories group that you guys have created is at the top of the list. You really have a gift for bridging the divide that can result from this disease. It is a joy to see him in his element and light up, and I have learned a bit about baseball and enjoyed it all.
“ PS – today as we walked out to the car, he was singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ at the top of his voice .”
L.V. – caregiver
NATIONAL EXPANSION:
We have worked with groups across the country to promote baseball reminiscence programs. SABR members and friends in Los Angeles, New York, Cleveland, Las Vegas, San Diego, and Phoenix are now offering similar programs. Several other cities are currently working to field programs.
For more information on SABR’s nation-wide efforts, visit the Baseball Memories web site at: http://www.sabrbaseballmemories.org
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