In Memoriam
This is to honor those in the Tri-Valley family who are no longer with us.
Al is in the middle of this photo with four other TV Hall of Famers
Al Hilman
Al Hillman, a long time TVMSBL player, died on February 26, 2022 in Phoenix where he had been playing in the MSBL since moving from the Bay area with his wife Jeanette.
He played in a number of Arizona games and collected a ring or two. If he wasn't playing, he would visit with his old buddies who had traveled to Arizona.
Al was born in Merrick, New York in 1938 and was a 3-sport Hall of Famer (football, wrestling and lacrosse) at Franklin & Marshall College. He joined the Navy in 1960 and served as a navigator on P-3's until 1967. He received his MBA at Long Beach. Al mostly played the outfield and managed the Rockies in 1995. He continued to play until moving to Phoenix in 2005.
Al was in the first or second class of the TVMSBL Hall of Fame. Many positive comments can be said about Al. He was kind and up-front, and he was always ready to play!
Allen Kick
On May 11th our beloved friend and teammate chose to take his own life. This was as unexpected and shocking as anything could be. On Sunday’s, Allen was as upbeat and positive as any person I’ve known. Allen’s demeanor when I first met him back in 2006 was the same until the last day I saw him on May 8th of this year.
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Allen’s wife Kelly has allowed me to share the details of Allen’s death in hopes that it will raise the awareness of mental health and help somebody before they make the same decision that Allen chose. People can seem perfectly normal, still be in pain and mask their symptoms from others.
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Please visit the family’s post of Allen’s death at:
https://medium.com/@corykick_30276/the-importance-of-mental-health-transparency-9818ce8653c3
A GoFundMe page has been setup for Allen’s family at:
Please make a donation in any amount you can to help out the Allen’s family in their time of grief and need.
As I’ve told the players in our Brewers Family, if any of you are in a position where you feel you can’t reach out to your own family for help, please reach out to me or someone on our team. Tri Valley MSBL is a large family of many families. I hope we all can be there for each other in a time of need. Maybe we can be there before one more life is unnecessarily taken.
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Allen’s wife, Kelly, welcomes all calls and would love to hear the stories you have about Allen. Kelly can be reached at 925-212-2394.
Dale Marinello - 40+ Brewers Manager
Anthony Jones
A standout on TV40's Run of Years with Championships. Besides his stellar play for the regular season 45 Cardinals and TV40’s, Rook was a member of the NorCal Stars in our league for years. In 2001, the merger of the regular season Stars and the League Champ San Ramon Blue Jays created one of the most loaded tourney teams of all time, as we ran through the very strong 30+ American Division for the ring. This team’s roster shows up heavily in TV40’s tourney rosters from 2004 and forward. Rook was versatile enough to play all-star level OF, and also played a fair share of SS.
Scott Lunger
Scott Lunger, a member of the TV A’s in the 45+ division, was killed in the line of duty as a Hayward Police Department Officer on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. Scott has been a member of the TV A’s for the last three years. He will be remembered for his calm demeanor and his great team attitude. The only time Scott showed his frustration on the field was when he did not feel like he was helping the team win. All of the stories you may have heard about him in the media that say how he was a great guy and always generous with his time are absolutely true.
Scott will be deeply missed and never forgotten by his fellow TV A’s teammates. May he rest in peace!
Bert Rodriguez
Tri-Valley lost another member, Bert Rodriguez, in February. We recently got this message from his daughter.
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This is Mariaelena Rodriguez, the daughter of Humberto Rodriguez. I was able to login to his gmail account and found this email.
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Since baseball was my Dad's passion and I know he made many friends playing into his senior years, I felt the need to let you know of his sudden passing on 2/1/21 in Vacaville, CA.
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Thanks guys. If you're able to play ball by now, I hope you all have an awesome season!
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Mariaelena Rodriguez
Bert's obituary has more information.
Bert played with Clyde Jones and the Solano Braves in the Norcal Oldtimers League and with the Antiques in Tri-Valley.
John Sellick
With a heavy heart we share that the Tri-Valley family lost our brother John Sellick on Saturday, February 27th. John passed away peacefully after a valiant battle with cancer. His family and close friends had a chance to spend Friday evening at John's bedside, and his sisters have been at his side throughout.
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John was a larger-then-life personality and impacted so many people in the baseball world, bringing together the baseball family that extends from his time with the Express, Cubs, and Cardinals, as well as all of the other teams he’s participated with or competed against over the years.
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John was a fierce competitor on the field, who was blessed with great ability as a player and instilled much confidence in the teams he was a part of.
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John was a loving father and devoted a lot of time to coaching his children’s teams. That was always a priority for him. John was a great teacher of the game and whatever age of player he was coaching you were always able to pick up a little something about the game. We will miss the countless stories and times shared on and off the field.
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He will be deeply missed and forever loved.
A virtual memorial service was held via Zoom on Sunday, March 7th.
Ken Beecham
The Tri Valley Family in shock over the loss of another great family member. Kenny Beecham passed away on 9/20 from a heart attack at the age of 58. Kenny always had a smile on his face and a positive attitude that would bring light to anyone's day. Smooth, charming and thoughtful off the field, Kenny was a feared, much respected and loved competitor, teammate, brother and friend on the field.
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Funeral Services for Kenny will be at:
Progressive Community Church
2820 S. B St.
Stockton, Ca. 95206
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If you would like to leave a comment about Kenny, please do so at:
https://www.cherokeememorial.com/services-obituaries-main .
Scroll down to the middle of the page until you see Kenneth Beecham. Click on his name and it will take you to the comment form.
Derick Lynch
It's with great sadness that we announce the passing of Derick Lynch. Derick passed away on 8/29 at the young age of 54.
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Derick led by example and was a mentor and role model in every way. He was a Husband, Father, Coach, Teammate and Player.
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Derick and Cris Aldridge formed the Bay Area United Baseball Club, an organization committed to providing the best on-field instruction and personal training possible to enhance the development of our young athletes.
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Derick was also a key member of the Tri-Valley 40's World Series Championship teams.
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Services for Derick will be:
Saturday September 7th, 10:00 a.m.
Chapel of the Chimes
4499 Piedmont Ave.
Oakland Ca.
Steve Azevedo
Steve Azevedo, a long-time member of the TV A’s, passed away on August 8th from complications associated with a heart transplant. He was a great player and teammate to many of us, but more importantly he was a great friend to all. Steve had a really smooth glove at first base and was the consummate number four hitter because of his power. He loved playing baseball so much that before his surgery was scheduled he was trying to figure out a way to get back on the field. He was also an avid Oakland A’s fan and loved to ride his Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Although Steve may not be with us here on earth, he will be in our hearts forever. Steve, may you rest in peace.
Darrell Sparkman
On December 5th, 2015, a Live Oak tree memorial was dedicated at Monte Vista High School’s baseball field to honor former TVMSBL player and treasured teammate Darrell Sparkman, who passed away from cancer on October 24th at the age of 47. Darrell starred at Monte Vista in the mid-80’s before playing college baseball at the University of Miami and Portland State.
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Darrell was a larger than life personality and star player in the TVMSBL from 2001-2004 and 2006. Darrell came into the league with the formidable Concord Redmen (also known as the Padres). When that team unfortunately folded, Darrell, along with ex-pro teammates Joe Millette and Pat Brady, moved over to the 2001 champion and 2002 runner-up San Ramon Blue Jays in 2003 to help form one of the TVMSBL’s most dangerous hitting lineups of all time.
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While only in the league a few years, Darrell’s prodigious home run blasts (he and his buddies called them “YAK’s”) and his “clubhouse” humor were legendary. No matter the score, situation, state-of-health, etc., Darrell NEVER got cheated in the batter’s box. Darrell’s TVMSBL career was still gaining steam until he severely injured his leg (torn ACL and broken femur) late in the 2004 season while “moonlighting” playing softball. Darrell sat out the 2004 playoffs and 2005 season while recovering from leg surgery, but returned as a part time player for the Blue Jays in 2006. After briefly considering playing in 2007, Darrell retired from hardball to star in local softball leagues and on golf courses for several years.
Darrell leaves behind daughter Nicole (14), son Trevor (5), wife Karen, his parents Susan and Jim, brother Brian, and numerous friends and teammates who will never forget playing ball with, and just being around, #22. Sparky will be missed. – Submitted by David Matthiesen, Darrell’s former manager/teammate – San Ramon Blue Jays.
Pat McGlennon
Our dear friend Pat McGlennon passed away on December 28th, one day short of his 74th birthday.
He was a big part of the “Krusi Experience” (weekly practices in Alameda) with his witty ribbing of all of us. I think we all marveled at his hanging in there to flawlessly field ground balls, no matter how hard Mike Hank's hit them, and then non-chalantly fire a strike to first. That was the Pat that we all saw, but there was another side of Pat that some of you may or may not have observed. He was genuinely concerned about and supportive of others and so very generous, having countlessly contributed more than his share toward new baseballs and equipment, so that we could keep at the top of our game.
Pat probably wouldn’t want me to go on like this because he didn’t like to draw attention to himself. However, he bravely carried on through his illness and didn’t ever use that as an excuse for anything. There were probably many days when he didn’t feel up to coming on a Tuesday or Thursday for practice, but he was out there almost all of the time.
Pat will be greatly missed at our Krusi workouts and at games by those of us who were fortunate enough to have him as a teammate. It was my observation that he loved the competition, but more important were the lasting relationships built between him and all of you. In Pat’s memory, we should all cherish our great fortune to gather, to bond with one another, and to hone our skills.
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