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Photograph courtesey of Felix Balga
The 1954 Sunnyvale National Seals Little League 11-12 age team. Their coach is Romie Christianson. Felix Balga is in the back row, second from left.
Playing Ball
Longtime volunteer Felix Balga represents a history of Sunnyvale Little League baseball
By Amy Jenkins
In light of the controversey surrounding "baby-bomber" Danny Almonte's violation of the Little League's age restriction, the league's World Series received more press coverage than usual. Even those who weren't fans of sports, baseball or Little League, were aware of Almonte's transgression--the mandatory age restriction is 12-years-old and Almonte is 14. One person who knows this rule well is self-proclaimed Sunnyvale national Little League historian Felix Balga, district administrator for California Little League District 44.
Balga says he has seen many changes in the 33 years he has worked in various aspects of Little League. For 13 years he has managed 14 leagues, making sure they operate under the rules and regulations of Little League baseball. He manages leagues in Campbell, Santa Clara, Los Altos, Cupertino, Mountain View, San Jose and Sunnyvale. Everyone involved in the league, including Balga, are volunteers. Each of the leagues has a president that Balga meets with on a monthly basis.
There are some 6,000 dedicated Little League players in the 14 leagues Balga manages. Any child can play because there are no restrictions, he says. The coaches select teams in February, based on whether a child would make a good role model. Many, but not all, of the coaches are parent volunteers. The regular season runs from mid-February through mid-June, and the all-stars go from the fourth of July until the end of August, depending on whether the team keeps winning.
"I am more interested in the regular five-month season, with a vast number of boys and girls, than the all-star program series where there are fewer, more-talented kids," Balga says.
In 1954, at age 11, Balga was on the first Sunnyvale Little League team. He says he didn't imagine at the time he would become district administrator or still be involved in Little League. During the two years he played Little League, he had a life-altering experience, he says. Balga attributes his longtime involvement to two managers while he played Little League, Kim Amick and Romie Christianson.
"I had a great experience and memories of them as role models," Balga says. "They taught me a great deal about being a human being and an adult. I believe they are why I came back [to Little League] as an adult."
Aside from the televised all-star games and Little League teams, Balga oversees softball and senior league baseball, which includes 15- and 16-year-old boys. Last month, a Sunnyvale boys' team participated in the senior league world series in Florida. Out of 3,600 teams who participated worldwide, Sunnyvale ranked third in the world and second in the United States this year. The top eight teams in the world were eligible for the world series, four U.S. teams and four international teams, including Venezuela and Guam. "I think out of this staggering number, coming in third place is great," Balga says.
Balga attributes the districts' success to the help of adult volunteers. "We are the finest run district in Little League baseball. Little League is a family-oriented program," Balga says.
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Sunnyvale resident Felix 'Junior' Balga was only 11 years old back in 1954 when he played as a first baseman and pitcher for the newly formed Sunnyvale National Seals, the city's first baseball Little League team.
Balga says he believes Little League values extend beyond the playing field. He says he sticks closely to the three words the Little League program is based upon--"character," having the character to treat each other with respect; "loyalty," being loyal to team members; and "courage," the ability to stand up for yourself while playing baseball and while growing up and making life decisions.
Balga says he has seen many kids excel in life because they learned these three traits. Balga's son, Ken, now 35, played in Little League from age 8 to 15. Felix says he learned character, loyalty and courage during those eight years.
"Any kid that absorbs these three things can only succeed in life," he says.
According to Balga, parents, coaches and managers must also abide by these attributes. "If a manager, parents or fans are not obeying these rules, I speak up," he says.
Balga says Little League is family-oriented, meaning parents must be involved. "Kids have to be taught not only by managers and coaches but by parents themselves," he adds.
Regarding Almonte, Balga says, "I firmly believe it is a remote case that happens in Little League, and I hate to place blame but it is because of the parents."
Some local players have gone on to the major leagues during the time Balga has worked in the Little Leagues. According to Balga, Scott Erikson went on from Sunnyvale Little League to play on the Baltimore Orioles.
"It is exciting to see a kid at 7 or 8 years old progress through Little League and excel as they go through college and in different programs and go into the pros," Balga says.
Balga says he foresees a bright future in Little League. "I'm in the program because two managers worked so hard and taught me how to excel in life, and what I stress most are character, loyalty and courage," he says.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
