What is Saggese Baseball? 

At a very young age, my Dad and brother exposed me to a game that would change me for the rest of my life.  A game that in one form or another would, over the years, bring joy, tears, happiness, friendship, injuries as well as misunderstanding. 

I grew up in a city, would run home from school, grab my baseball glove and would throw a ball off of a wall for two hours at a time, three to four days a week.  It became my life.  My Dad coached Little League Baseball.  When I was 9 years old, I was playing with 12 year olds.  My brother would soon become my mentor.  With his words and teachings, I would soon come to realize that I wanted to play ball the rest of my life…my goal was to become a professional baseball player.  Knowing my brother as only a brother could, we both took on that dream.  When our parents moved to Saugus, MA, I took the challenge of playing baseball there and opted not to go to Chelsea High School for baseball.  I successfully played three years at shortstop and had a batting average of 500 in my senior year (with wood).  I was fortunate enough to go to several local tryouts for Major League teams, but the dream never came to fruition. 

After I lost my brother in 1992 due to a baseball accident, baseball subsided in my life.  I didn’t want to watch baseball, talk it or think it.  But, I knew that was not something my brother would have been proud of.  I read an article in my local paper about a baseball league that was forming for 30 year olds and older.  It was hard, real hard for me to even think about playing again.  But, once again, my brother was my driving force.  I joined that league and enjoyed myself every Sunday during spring, summer and fall months playing the game that has a special place in my heart.  I played for ten years until I dislocated my shoulder diving into a base.  My brother played every game with me.  I talked to him on the field and at the plate.  I overcame an obstacle of how a ball, at one point, changed the life of two brothers on and off the ball field.  I viewed a tape of what my brother and his family did for my nephew, Rick, Jr.  I knew first hand the bond, the love, the desire and dedication of what my brother, Rick Saggese, would give in his life.  I’ll keep my memories all the days of my life.  To the big guy, love you brother.