We were saddened to learn of the passing of longtime San Diego fastpitch player, Glenn Woolery, in late November 2010, after a lengthy illness.
Glenn was a familiar face to anyone involved with fastpitch in the San Diego area, having played for a number of teams, most notably in my memory, for the El Cajon Rangers, who were the arch rival of my own Vista Bombers in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Glenn was easily spotted across the diamond, with two distinguishing features, that thick mustache, and a broad smile to go with it. He seemed to enjoy life most on the ball diamonds, whether on the field, in the dugout, or just bantering around those fields at Barona, or elsewhere in San Diego, generally alongside his brother Barry. (Readers may remember Barry as the painter/fastpitch player who painted the portrait of Greg Sepulveda the year Greg was inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame in 2006. I played against Barry and Glenn for a number of years, eventually getting a chance to call Barry a teammate on the 1989 Vista Rangers team at the ISC World Tournament, and later on my masters team, LB Deadwood).
Glenn Woolery was the younger brother of Barry, one year his junior. Glenn played for Alpine Springs, Lakeside VFW, Stanley Andrews, El Cajon Rangers, Los Angeles Eagles, Barnicle Oilers, El Cajon Scotty’s, So. Cal Eagles and many more including San Diego city league teams Ballplayers and the Gamblers in ’97 and ’98. (the uniform worn in photo above)
Glenn’s finest hour as a fastpitch player came late in his career — in his final at bat — the game winning hit for the So Cal Eagles in the the championship game of the 1998 ASA 45+ Masters national tournament. His brother Barry recalls the moment in exquisite detail:
In ’98 Keith Thornton and Ronnie Wood Sr. had asked me if I wanted to manage the Eagles because they wouldn’t be able to do it that year. I said yes. We went to Rockford and won the first three games then lost to Tulsa and Alan Colglazier 2-1. We won four games on Saturday and beat Clearwater and Tulsa to set up a have to beat Black River Wisc. twice scenario. Cary Weiler beat Bobby Moore in the first game and now it was Dennis Stilwell vs. Bull Ferry in the final. 2-2 in the fifth and Mike Nevin who had started in left got hurt and Glenn came in for him. With one out Rich Clements and Weiler singled and (ISC HOFer) Hice Stiles was coaching third and gave Glenn the bunt sign. Now I’m the manager but I was playing and I didn’t kick even though I disagreed with the sacrifice with one out. Glenn squares and bunts it foul. I am relieved until I looked over and Hice gave it again. Glenn squares again and bunts it foul. Now he is 0 and 2. Ferry was having a great tourney and was unbeaten as Black Riverhad been rolling along. He throws a nasty drop that was inches off the ground and Glenn whacks it into centerfield and Rich scored. The game still had a lot of high drama but Stumpy Stilwell held them down and Glenn’s hit ended up being the game winner and we won the 38 team 45+ title. It was Glenn’s last at bat in fastpitch. His health deteriorated and he had to retire. We repeated in 1999 in Phoenix and Dick Campbell was the MVP. We lost Dick in November of 2009.
The 1998 So Cal Eagles, ASA 45+ National Champions:
Paul Rubin says
I remember Glenn and his contribution to our team so vividly from that 1998 tournament in Rockford. It was the first national champion team that my Arizona partner Denny Stilwell , the underrated Bobby Vandenburg and I were ever on, and it was a huge uphill struggle with a fairly undermanned squad. Barry played center and I played right, and we chatted and had fun the whole way through, game after game after game. We had so many close games, including one against a team improbably dubbed the Velvet Elvis from somewhere in Texas (not Memphis). Glenn was a real character, and I do recall his big hit in a tough spot. When I look at that team photo and see such classic ballplayers (and people) as Bones (Mike Nevin), Hice Stiles (whom I inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame), the great Cary Weiler, David Chaves (me and that good-hiting SOB have been through a lot on both the same and opposing sides), Richie Clements (can’t help but respecting him as a person and as a player), Bobby Sims (wonderful teammate and sex surrogate extraordinaire!), Cliff Rack (rock-solid teamm ate), Cary’s friend Nick and, of course, my dear departed pal Dickie Campbell (we did some cool stuff in the 1-2 slot in some crunch situations)–not to even mention Barry and Glenn–I really appreciate my good fortune in being part of this game…..Note to Barry: Thanks for getting me in the lineup in 1999–I didn’t do too badly in that one, huh? On another, more serious note. I am thinking of you and your family and wish you all the best in this time of loss….Paulie Rubin, Phoenix AZ