History

History

by Jon Dryden

What is now unofficially known as the Slackers Softball League (Or SSL) began in 1996. Instigated by Californian-turned-Brooklynite musician Jesse Murphy, softball games began in Prospect Park in the summer of that year. The teams were mostly made up of musicians and artists, but attracted other people as well. (Jim Clouse, sometime third baseman, traces his softball ties in the park back to the 1970s, with a 'league' they called "Reefer Dome". You can guess what was ingested before, after, and during their games.)
In 2000 or 2001 (who's counting?) Tim Luntzel took over the softball gear provided by Jesse. The first league name was NAMBLA, or, the Non-Athletic Musicians Baseball League Association. Due to its similarity to the Man-Boy love association, the name was dropped and replaced with the SSL. Games were played on a variety of days, but finally settled on Friday afternoons when artists such as Jordin Isip and Eric White somehow met the mostly musician league. Since then, games have been played on Friday afternoons, starting at 12:00 noon. There are also games on holidays such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, plus any other time a bunch of people can make it out.
The nature of the SSL has always been to have a semi-competitive environment with an easy-going relaxed attitude. Some players are quite proficient, some aren't, and it all balances out. The fun part is just getting out there and playing softball with people you wouldn't have known normally. The game itself blends people of different backgrounds into one fun day at the park.