PCABA celebrates 50 Years of service to kids

Thursday, May 27, 2010

For The Plain City Advocate

Plain City has always been known for great baseball and softball and 2010 is no exception. While the Jonathan Alder Varsity Baseball team is enjoying a run at the state title, the Plain City Area Ball Association is celebrating 50 years of teaching baseball and softball skills to area youth.

The Plain City Area Ball Association was founded in 1960 when a group of residents, led by Paul Kaiser, built Kaiser Field at Pastime Park. Previous to 1960, the Plain City Little League consisted of four teams, Red, Green, Gold and Blue, that played on a softball field located at the current site of the PCABA Pony Field.

“We had a great time playing ball here in Plain City back in the 1950’s,” said Tom Miller, longtime Plain City resident. “We only had four teams for boys ages 9 to 12 and we just played each other.”

Boys who were especially good ball players were selected for the Plain City All-Stars team and traveled down to Grove City for the National Little League Tournament each August.

A stroke of good luck in 1960 resulted in the organization of the Plain City Area Ball Association. Paul Kaiser, who drove a truck for the Sohio Oil Company, and his wife, had the great fortune of winning the “Sohio Mile of Money” contest.

SEE FULL STORY IN THIS WEEKS PLAIN CITY ADVOCATE