As they mourn last month’s death of their friend Andy Crandall, Ed Katz writes:
“It was just a Sunday softball game — one of thousands, perhaps tens of thousands conducted in the US every weekend.
“But for this group of aging athletes, Boys of Summer Softball (BOSS) was a ritual — something to look forward to every Sunday for 6 months every year — and something to reflect upon every week and throughout the winter. It was a gift, one that will always be remembered, and will always be appreciated by all who were lucky enough to be part of it.” — Eric Baron
BOSS was never just about the game. It was a cherished tradition that for nearly 4 decades united a diverse group of middle-aged men who found joy in the camaraderie as much as in the competition.
Every Sunday, from April to October, these men gathered in Westport — not just to play softball but to relive a piece of their youth, to reconnect with the simple pleasure of a well-played game.
The Boys of Summer: Fall, 2014
BOSS began in 1983, born from a casual suggestion among dads coaching their kids in recreational baseball. Twenty men showed up for the first game, marking the start of a 40-year journey. The games eventually found their home on the softball field behind Town Hall, thriving until COVID brought the tradition to an untimely end.
BOSS was more than a game. It was about lifelong friendships, annual trips, and a yearly banquet celebrating the season with awards, trivia contests, and the presentation of the “Player of the Year.”
Alan Neigher fondly recalls the mix of players who, despite their years, played with the enthusiasm of boys. The banter, the occasional “atta boy” after a solid hit or a clean fielding play — it all created a lively, unforgettable atmosphere.
BOSS was rich with personalities and stories, like radio executive Dick Kalt, Emmy Award-winning TV host Richard Wiese, and lawyer Josh Koskoff (famous for his running — and often falling — catches).
Former judge and state representative Doug Mintz was a BOSS original.
Ed Katz was the winningest pitcher in BOSS history, with approximately 240 wins and 114 losses. He recalls his teammates carrying him off the field after pitching a shutout. His final at-bat in 2018, before moving to Florida, ended with an RBI single to tie the game. He then scored the winning run — a perfect way to end his BOSS career.
Boys of summer, at their annual team dinner. From left: Andy Crandall, Dr. Bob Selverstone, Ed Katz.
The roster of BOSS players reads like a who’s who of local characters. Courtney Wilson, Andy Moss (who called our games “a 2-hour vacation every Sunday”), Mike Berkin, Steve Yudelson, Mike Stiskal, Reynaldo Santana, David Halper, Bob Hertzel, Andy Davidson, Dave Quigley, Bryan Alix, Justin Tishman, Adam Chusid, Mike Walmark, John Brace, Jason Li and Jonas Katz all deserve mention.
One cherished tradition was the end-of-season videotape, edited by Eric Baron (with help from Josh Greenberger), provided much laughter.
Another was the weekly newsletter, first by Eric Baron and later Greg Pinyan, which humorously recapped the games and wove together our BOSS community.
Boys of Summer book.
Games were filled with moments that became legendary in BOSS lore, like Craig Bruce’s towering home runs and an infamous outfield error.
The love and respect among the players were extraordinary. Dr. Bob Selverstone — known for his speed even in his 60s — was the heart and soul of BOSS. He always arranged for the field and shared poems at the banquets — a testament to the dedication and passion that fueled BOSS.
Over the years BOSS lost 11 beloved players, with Andy Crandall the most recent.
Greg Pinyan sums up Andy well: “He could be a real pain in the ass at times.” That’s because he took the game seriously, and spoke harshly to players who made mental mistakes or didn’t hustle. “But he was a good guy and a solid player.”
To honor those who passed, plaques were placed in the dugout. The field was named after Harvey Harris, a fallen teammate. Steve Lindemann and David Vroman were also memorialized.
As we reflect on the passing of Andy, and the end of BOSS, we celebrate not just the game, but the spirit of camaraderie, the unforgettable moments, and the lifelong friendships forged on that dusty field.
BOSS was a tradition, a piece of our lives that will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
This is a beautiful tribute, Ed. The word that stays with me is camaraderie. How lucky you all were.
Beautiful.
I’m sorry to hear the news about Andy Crandall. I enjoyed many Sundays mornings being a kid again with Andy. Those were good times!
Thank you for this beautiful tribute! Andy C would have been so proud. I loved watching you guys play this game with comradery, joyfulness, and a bit of competitiveness.
Sincerely, Andy’s friend from Canada
A beautiful tribute! I loved the synergy this group had and the love they shared! My husband Ed, wouldn’t miss a game for anything! One of the many things that made Westport special to us!
Getting together to play with my BOSS buds was the highlight of my weekend. A wonderful group of guys, who maintain relationships to this day. Thank you Ed, you did a wonderful job of capturing the personality of the group and the game. Thank you Da for sharing this story. I miss my good friend Andy Crandall and Sundays with my BIOSS buds.
Thanks so much, Dan, for publishing this. I am happy so many have such fond memories of BOSS. It really was a wonderful experience for all of us who were a part of it. I have to thank Eric Baron, who helped so much with the writing of this piece- and in keeping the league going in the early years- and Greg Pinyan, who really kept it together through the later period.
Ed, you’ll never truly know how deeply I appreciate you casually inviting me to join BOSS. I have not participated in any sports for quite some time because I was busy raising a family and running a business. However, your casual invitation at the party at Mark’s house was the start of something that became extremely meaningful to me for over 10 years. After playing a couple of games, it was clear to me that the spirit of this game was to compete and have fun at the same time. The people I met at BOSS will stay in my memory forever. What struck me about them is that so many were extraordinarily successful people, but everyone, no matter how successful they were, checked their ego at the gate and came in the spirit of letting loose, having fun and competing at a fairly high level. When people asked me how I liked playing, my reply was that it’s the most fun I have with my clothes on all week.
I was saddened to hear about Andy’s passing. He was a crusty guy but it was just because of his competitive nature. Underneath the exterior he was a very good guy.
Great article, add. It is a fitting tribute to a great group of guys and a wonderful tradition that I am very happy to have been a part of.
Though my husband Paul never played with BOSS, we knew about the group from the enthusiasm when Harvey Harris & David Hauer spoke about games. We miss those two former players deeply since Harvey passed & David moved.
Fellows, keep on doin’ what you’re doin’
.
Great tribute. My nephew, Jonas Katz, was a player. I also knew Bob Selverstone, Josh Koskoff and Dave Quigley, who was a great mentor and Little League coach to my son, Jackson. I believe Jackson even played a game once! What a fabulous group of Westporters!
A great part of the joy of BOSS was in the special people who played – and that’s what we did. We were playing – and loving the game and each other. The special enthusiasm of the Westport school’s Sal Cassano. The special thoughtfulness of Westport Principal Steve Sellinger and of State Representative and later state Judge Doug Mintz. And the fact that many of us could play ball with our own sons. And not just our sons.
Some decades ago, our son Marc, brought his fiancée Bonnie to play. While some raised eyebrows, they grudgingly agreed to “let the girl play”. And then, when she gracefully turned the pivot at second base for a 6-4-3 double play we all cheered. No wonder our multi-talented daughter-in-law now runs the undergraduate program in “Women, Gender and Sexuality” at the University of Virginia.
Also, decades ago, as Marc and I approached each other with his team coming off the field and my team going out, we paused to embrace. Andy Crandall, astonished, said: “You kissed your own son?” Two years later, when he and his son Josh similarly approached each other, they stopped and embraced. Yeah; even us old dogs could learn new tricks.
Having joined BOSS in their 2nd Season I consider myself one of “Founding Fathers”; playing every Sunday was a most joyous adventure. Brought my daughter Nikki to many of the games starting when she was quite young. I must have been on the DL when the pic was taken. In those beginning years we extended our Fall Classics and played at the Neville in the Catskills, Stepping Stone Ranch and Arrowood in Westchester; our families came with us making it a mini-vacation. The memories will last a life time. Sal C aka Duct Tape