Dale Hall, 1946-2012
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Dale Hall, of the Sacramento Giants, was a well loved, well-respected man. He died May 3 of cancer. |
By Jeff McGaw, Editor, MSBL On-Line
Once upon a time at an MSBL tournament Sacramento Giants' skipper Javier Campos asked Dale Hall to pitch the semifinal game – but Hall really wanted the ball for the big game.
Hall's response is now part of Sacramento MSBL lore. "Why," he asked Campos, "would you use your silver bullet to kill a mangy dog when you're going to need it later to kill a wolf?”
"I laughed for days,” Campos said, adding that Hall got the nod for the finals that year.
Hall had a way with words, but he also had a way with people, and that is why he is forever etched into the hearts and memories of friends and teammates.
Hall, 66, died May 3, after a one-year battle with glioblastoma -- an aggressive form of brain cancer. A memorial service and celebration of Hall's life will be held June 2 at the private home of a friend, Phil Gelhaus, in Eldorado Hills.
(For related story click here)
Hall was born April 21, 1946 in Cheboygan, Mich. He is survived by wife Jeannie, with whom he spent the past 18 years, his children Ryan, Ian, Zack, Ashley and Justin, and three grandchildren – Taylor, Samantha and Easton. Hall was four years into his retirement as a book keeper with the University of California at Davis at the time of his death.
Hall was in his late 30's when he started playing amateur baseball, but friends said he was a natural. He spent 16 years as a Sacramento Giant, and played for several years before that in a league in Woodland, Ca. He was inducted into the Sacramento MSBL Hall of Fame in 2007 and referred to as "the man with the golden arm” at the induction ceremony.
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At last count Hall had 16 championship rings. "There may be a couple of others still rolling around in his bag,” Campos added. He could pitch and hit with anyone. "Our teammates called him a freak because of his talent and what he could do at his age,” Campos said. "It was only two years ago in a game, at age 64, he hit a bomb over the left center field fence 340-feet away with a wooden bat. He was amazing.”
Hall brought a rare blend of talent and positive energy to every game. People used words like "philosophical,” and terms like "glass half full,” "upbeat,” and "hilarious,” to describe him. "He was a winner both on and off the field and was respected as well as any man ever has been in our Sacramento League and nationally,” said Sacramento MSBL President Jim Tygrett. "He would tell me I was a tough out, but in 16-plus years I can only remember getting two hits off of him.”
"He was an outstanding pitcher and hitter,” said |
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| Val Lewis, Sacramento MSBL founder and |
Dale Hall pitching for the Sacramento Giants |
MSBL Hall of Famer. "He was an excellent teammate.” Hall was thoughtful too. He once presented Campos, his manager for 14 years, with an Willie McCovey-autographed baseball as a thank you for having him on the team. "He told me there was a surprise for me at the Willie McCovey monument at the SF Giants AT&T Park," Campos recalled. "The surprise was a monument tile inscribed with these words: "
Javier Campos…all men are created equal but some are Giants.”
Hall had many highlights, but none more captured his essence – his competitiveness, optimism, irreverence and humor – better than the one that unfolded in the 50 Wood Bat National semifinals at the 2010 MSBL World Series.
The Giants were clinging to a 4-2 lead over St. Louis in the top of the ninth with one out and one St. Louis runner on first. With the Giants' starting pitcher visibly tiring, Campos sent his presumptive championship game starter, Gary Stonebrook, to warm up. Hall, on his own, decided to warm up as well even though he wasn't asked. Two walks later the bases were loaded, but Stonebrook just wasn't loose. Campos looked at Hall, and Hall looked back, smiled, and said ""I'm ready. Let's do this.'”
After a handful of warm-up pitches that Campos said were nowhere near the strike zone, Hall turned to his manager and said confidently, "Get out of here. I've got this.”
On Hall's second pitch the batter hit a line drive to the shortstop who caught the ball and then stepped on second base to double-up the runner. Game over.
"I remember that smile on Dale's face, looking right at me when he walked off that mound. He was my roommate and I had to listen to how he strategically and precisely located those two pitches to end that game. I had to listen to that story for a long time.”
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Early in April, 2011 a slightly symptomatic Hall went to the doctor for some tests. A week later, he got the grim news – cancer. Hall was admitted to the hospital and biopsy surgery was slated for a few days later on Tuesday, April 19. It was serious, but Campos and friends knew exactly what to do.
On Sunday, April 17, two days before Hall was to undergo biopsy surgery, they conspired with a nurse on the inside to more or less sneak Hall out of the hospital for a few hours. They told doctors that he was taking a long walk. What they didn't tell doctors was that Hall would take a long walk to the parking lot, climb into the passenger seat of Jeannie's car, put on the baseball uniform she had for him, and go to the ballpark.
So on April 17, 2011 at McAuliffe Field, Dale Hall, dying of cancer, threw his last six innings of baseball versus the Sacramento Indians and got the win. |
| Mike Krukow, Dale Hall, Duane Kuiper |
About 100 people attended the game. |
"We had a nice BBQ afterwards and held our traditional kangaroo court following the game. It was a very emotional day for all. No one cared who won or lost the game, it was all about our friend Dale having this last opportunity and what he was about to endure,” Campos said.
In September, Campos arranged a special day for Hall. A devoted San Francisco Giants fan, Hall wanted to meet former pitcher Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper, the broadcast team for the San Francisco Giants, so he could thank them for the great job they do for Giants' listeners. "Those two guys are genuinely great people,” Campos said. "They made Dale feel special that day. We all cried in their announcer's booth.”
In October, Hall flew out to Phoenix to watch his Giants in their last two games in the 55+ Wood American Division, to say hello and goodbye to some his Arizona teammates, and to have dinner with MSBL founder and President Steve Sigler and his family.
Hall had been a valuable advisor in the early days of the MSBL, Sigler said, adding that he was fortunate to have spent time with Hall in October.
Hall was always humble. He told Gelhaus he didn't want a big deal made at his passing, but Gelhaus confessed he would be powerless to prevent any such fuss. There were far too many teammates and friends, and far too many other people over far too many years to avoid an outpouring of grief and respect, he told Hall.
"To me Dale Hall is a model MSBL mentor and he has been an example of what MSBL experience is all about,” said Campos, one of Hall's closest friends. "He is beyond just a teammate. He is a brother.” He was not an amateur when it comes to life's bigger picture. I will miss his wit, humor and easy going style.”
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The Sacramento MSBL will honor Hall with two "Hall #3 Giant” signs on the outfield fence at the McAuliffe Field home of the Sacramento MSBL. Additionally, some 300 memorial patches honoring Hall will be available for jersey sleeves and those attending his memorial service. |
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| Hall's tournament buddies from the Sacramento Tribe honored him after a tournament win in Las Vegas. |