Get Well Soon, John Wylde
T
Wareham Gatemen website which notes that John Wylde has recently been diagnosed with liver cancer. (Listen to our CodBall Conversation with Mr. Wylde.)
I would like CodBall readers to know a little bit about the few times I have communicated with Mr. Wylde. A few years ago (I believe it was the first year that the Cape League held their league-wide tryout at Spillane Field), I sent John an email and asked if I could attend. I did not know if they wanted “fans” in attendance or if it was not open to the public. Not only did he respond and encourage me to go, but he emailed me a list of which players were invited, what school they were from, etc. Basically, I got the sheet that is available on the day of the tryout in advance. A few days after the tryout, I received an email from John in which he said he hoped I had a good time, and asked what my impressions were, etc.
This summer, I attended the Brewster @ Wareham game on Saturday, July 21. I was chatting with some folks from Wareham and I asked if they knew why the game was scheduled for a 2:00 start. Almost in unison, they answered by saying something to the effect of “Oh, if you know John, you know that he can’t say ‘no’ to anyone.” The story I was told that day was that the league wanted to kick off the week before the all-star game by having one game start at 2:00 in order to benefit the scouts who were arriving on the Cape that weekend. They wanted to make it easy for scouts to go from an early game and then be able to go to one of the later games that same day, without making it the normal rush to get from a 5:00 game to a 7:00 game. None of the other teams hosting games that day were thrilled with the idea of a 2:00 start because of the likely smaller attendance, but John stepped up and said Wareham would start their game at 2:00.
I’m not even touching on his responsibilities and the time commitment as the head official scorer for the league.
Many people do know know what a mess the Wareham franchise was at one time. I do not remember the year, but I’m quite sure there was a time that Wareham qualified for the playoffs but did not participate because they could not afford to field a team beyond the end of the regular season. Although I don’t recall all of the details, but I am sure of the situation. I should ask Judy Walden-Scarafile about this because she was covering the league for the Cape Cod Standard Times around 1970 when I really started following the CCBL. Today, the Wareham franchise is probably about as solid as any other in the league. When I think “Wareham Gatemen,” I automatically think “John Wylde.” I do not profess to say that I know John Wylde well, but he has always been a gentleman toward me and I think of him as one of the best, if not the best, ambassadors the Cape Cod Baseball League has. My thoughts and prayers are with him. It will be even better to go to a game at Spillane Field next June and hear John’s voice on the P.A. system announcing the starting lineups for that night’s game!
Get well soon, Mr. Wylde!
3 Comments
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
- Update on John Wylde : CodBall: Unofficial Blog of the Cape Cod Baseball League - [...] reporting that John Wylde, the beloved leader of the Wareham Gatemen, is cancer-free. CodBall has reported extensively on Mr. ...
Dave, thanks for this post. I have emailed Mr. Wylde to let him know our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. We expect him to be off the DL very soon.
I know that this is the time of year when Mr. Wylde, as league statistician, is completing his data input and analysis. So we will look forward to his many interesting and important observations on the past season.
In an email exchange after the season, Mr. Wylde was already reflecting on some stats that were intriguing him — namely the ratio of strikeouts/at-bats. I won’t try to report his analysis here but I can assure you that when we do have the opportunity to get his analysis it will be fascinating. It always is.
I know that John Wylde will recover quickly and I know, too, that one day we will see his name in the Cape Leauge’s hall of fame. His contributions to amateur baseball are many.
(Note: I snapped the photo that accompanies Dave’s post at this year’s all-star game in Wareham. When I think of Mr. Wylde it is always of him gazing down on the field from his perch above the Gatemen field.)
If you are a reader of CodBall, please take a moment to post a comment here wishing John Wylde and his family a speedy recovery.
Great comments guys… I would also like to wish Mr. Wylde a speedy recovery. I read through the note on the Gatemen site again. If you notice, he is “apologizing” for any delays that he has caused with some research projects, etc. That sort of sums it all up for me. He is fighting this terrible illness and from the hospital he is concerned about others.
I will take Dave’s post a step further…not only has the Wareham franchise become the model franchise in a lot of aspects but I believe John Wylde has had a lot to do with the CCBL making tremendous strides over the past 10 years as well. Just like your example of the 2:00 game, Mr. Wylde seems to always do what is best for the league and not what is best for Wareham. He also hosts the Baseball Factory HS Classic every All-Star Weekend, the CCBL tryout as mentioned and the Perfect Game NE Showcase that is held over 3 days at Spillane right AFTER the season concludes. He gives up his time and sacrifices the wear and tear on Spillane Field to do what is best for the league. I don’t see a lot of other franchises supporting these events; nor do I see any other team volunteers at these events helping out. But there you see Mr. Wylde, perched above the field guiding these events and treating everyone there like it is the most important baseball event in the world. He is a class act and great man!
Get well soon Mr. Wylde.
Here is an update from Wareham:
Update from Mr. Wylde:
“I returned home on Tuesday evening (October 2nd), and will be here until surgery, which is scheduled for October 19th. I am very tired and weak but optimistic that all will go well. My team of doctors at Beth Isreal are tops and I am confident in their ability to get the job done. In the meantime, I need to rest and prefer not to be called at this time at home. Your emails and cards are greatly appreciated.”
Warmest regards….John
P.S. My apologies for not responding to many messages.