Occasionally however sad news hits our little band of brothers and sisters as it is this time. Yesterday, March 29, 2007 in Las Vegas, Harry Wade passed away.

Harry, in the photo between Dennis McCrosky and Neil Adams, was a long time member of DTW having attended his first camp in 1987. It's been said many times that once you understand that with Harry, nothing is sacred, then you love him like a brother. He was always entertaining in the dugout, or anywhere for that matter, cracking jokes and making comments.

Over the years, he participated in well over a hundred DTW tournaments and was involved in many baseball trips to all parts of the world. Harry was always very helpful to everyone on the trips, especially in Cuba, where his knowledge of Spanish and the culture made it easy for the others feel more comfortable.

I don't remember the first time I met Harry. I don't think it was at a regular DTW game, more likely at one of the tournaments. But I do remember something I thought was unique about Harry.

One year I was playing in a tournament in Palm Springs. It was an MSBL affair and Harry was there, not to play with us but to lend moral support as he was playing with a team he brought from Las Vegas. Anyway, we were playing at Palm Springs Stadium and Harry was there to root us on.

Now it also happens that my mother lives in Palm Springs and as mothers will do for their sons, she too was in the stands to root. I introduced Harry to my mom and they conversed a bit. But from then on whenever I saw Harry he remembered my mom and would ask about her and asked with true interest not just as a passing thing.

I find that unique, one that he would remember her from one brief meeting and two, that he showed interest thereafter. It is something I learned from and will always remember about Harry. It is also something that I have tried to do myself.

Thanks to our commissioner Neil Adams for the input here. Harry will be sorely missed.