Jon Insel

Elected : USSSA New York Hall Of Fame in 2006
Inducted : March 2007, Rochester, NY

Upon returning from Viet Nam in 1968, I spent the summer playing 'Beer Games' with a bunch of long-haired misfits that hung around the 'Baby Poor House'. We lost every game but we had fun!

At the end of that season we decided to regroup and play competitively at Hopkins Road Park. Improbable but true, this band of scoundrels with their muttonchop sideburns, handle bar moustaches, Beatle haircuts, goatees and Afros won their league in their first year.

Like the New York Mets (who went from 9th place in 1968 to the World Series Champions in 1969), we went from a 'Losing Beer-team' to League Champions in 1969.

In the 16 years of their existence, the Mets Softball Team played in 34 leagues finishing 1st or 2nd - 32 times. We competed for the State 'B' Regionals 10 times, winning 6 times.

When the 'Mets' decided to call it quits in 1983, my softball career was filled with umpiring in the CNY - USSSA, coaching ladies fast-pitch team at Onondaga Community College, managing the Poor House West team and the Phoenix V.F.W. team. With the Poor House West we won the 'B' Regional once in three attempts and the V.F.W. won 'B' Regionals three times in 5 attempts.

I am currently still a member of the CNY Umpires Organization.