Kirkland American Little League kicked off its 2011 season as dozens of teams paraded through downtown Kirkland Saturday.
But this was not just any ordinary celebration.
This year mark’s the 60th anniversary of KALL – the oldest Little League in the state of Washington.
The event, which drew hundreds of spectators, featured an opening ceremony at the Lee Johnson Field – and a special guest. Ray McMackin, who played shortstop for the Pirates back when KALL was founded in 1951, came from Anacortes to celebrate the anniversary.
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world – I had good memories here,” McMackin, 72, told the Reporter following the event.
Initially, there were only four Major Baseball teams – the Pirates, Tigers, Dodgers and Red Sox – with 12 players each ages 10-12.
McMacken recalled what it was like to play for KALL in the beginning when he was one of the original 48 players for the teams, along with the late Lee Johnson Jr., owner of Lee Johnson Chevrolet in Kirkland.
“I can remember the faces of all those kids – 60 years ago today,” said McMackin, looking out at this year’s young teams sprawled along Lee Johnson Field.
Back then, there was no fence surrounding the old Peter Kirk field. Instead, a rope was set up 200 feet from home plate in the outfield to serve as the fence. If a player hit a home run past the rope, he got a free hot dog.
“We used to play in tennis shoes, we didn’t have cleats,” said McMackin. “In those days, if you were missing a baseball glove or bat, you’d borrow one from the other team.”
McMackin’s team made it to the state championships in Richland, Wash. He remembers the devastation when his team took second place to Walla Walla. His family still has a picture of him as a boy “crying because we didn’t make it,” he said, smiling.
KALL would go on to win the state All-Star championship in 1955.
Kirkland Little League split in 1957 into the American and National leagues. In 1982, Kirkland National Little League won the World Series Champions.
McMackin says KALL is a “wonderful” organization for youth.
“This is something I hope in 60 years they’ll remember,” he said. “It all started right here.”
More information
Kirkland American Little League features baseball and softball programs for boys and girls ages 5 to 18. For more information, visit www.kall.org. For more information about the Kirkland National Little League, visit www.kirklandnational.com/.
