Gary Fischer and The Bridgeton Invitational Baseball Tournament

Beacon (00:01.94)
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Beacon (00:37.772)
the Bridgeton Beacon. We are here

and it must be 80 some degrees at the end of October. And I have the pleasure of interviewing Gary Fischer

Gary, want to say congratulations first. Thank you so much. your being the recipient of the 2024, British and area Chamber of Commerce Community Hero Award. So congrats. Very nice. Thank you. And I figured we'd come out and you could tell me a little bit about yourself. Tell me a little bit about your baseball career, the Invitational tournament, which is really near and dear to my heart. I grew up right over on Lake Street and I laid in bed.

in my house in Lake Street and could hear every summer this tournament coming over Jetties Pond. So a lot of memories for me and a lot of memories for a lot of folks. Thanks to you, it's still going strong. It is. But you started here on these very fields as a baseball player. I did. So why don't you tell me a little bit about that? Yeah. So back in 1979 was my first year playing in this event.

That carried on through 2015. So in essence, I played in this tournament five decades. It's a long time. I do hold the record for most games ever played. So it's quite a bit of accomplishment. Had an opportunity to play on seven different teams. Won two championships here. you know, Bridgeton Invitational has been kind of the holy grail for me, so to speak.

Beacon (02:21.392)
Always looked forward to it each and every year since the existence and especially when I started playing to you know Couldn't wait to play basically position. I was pretty much a middle infielder in a pitcher here. Yeah later in my career I did a little bit of catching But primarily I was a you know middle infielder pitcher

And all that occurred out on this field, huh? Let's take a look. I'm just gonna have you walk along with me and you can show me these fields. Now, this is a grass field. Has it been the same ever since you've been playing? Well, I can tell you this much. What I know from the past founders of this complex, it was built back in 1961-62. And it was specifically...

to host the 1962 Babe Ruth World Series, which they did and it was very successful. Because of such a good turnout from the community, Jerry Alden, was the founder of this tournament, put the blueprint together to turn this tournament

into one of the biggest events on the east coast. The field was built for the dimensions of the Babe Ruth World Series and as you see here this still remains the same setup. Basically over the years there's been some renovations, field renovations,

Of course, we do miss the old historical bleachers and the tower, press box tower they used to have, but I guess for safety reasons they had to take it down and put new style bleachers up. My grandfather helped build those original bleachers. yes, there was a lot of volunteers and of what I know, the volunteers did so much.

Beacon (04:39.63)
for this recreation. It's gorgeous field. I've never looked at it from this perspective. Yeah, yes it is. It's one of the nicest fields. Again, as a player, I've played in quite a bit of tournaments throughout the country. I mean, I've played West Coast. I've played down south. This event here is just...

nothing like it. Not only from the baseball aspect, but just the atmosphere that goes on around it. You know, there's very good support from the community. And then, you know, special events we have outside, it creates a nice family atmosphere.

Any particular, I know you said you won a couple championships and you certainly play it on what, seven teams? Seven different teams, yes. When you think back over your career out on this field, give me one or two highlights that really stands out that you want to share with us. Well, I'm going to go back to 1990, where we, at that time there was two brackets in the tournament.

And we were really an unknown team at the time. And we were able to win our bracket and get into the final round. I think that was a highlight because most of the guys on the team, including myself, were local, local-born players. So... What team was that? That was the over 30 All-Stars. It was an All-Star team put together.

And I think what it did was it really pulled the community together. And I distinctly remember on the finals night, this place was packed. I mean, there was people up and down the sidelines. Every seat in the bleachers was full. And to walk off that field that night as champions, it's something I won't forget.

Beacon (06:48.398)
So there came a point in time, well, you know what, before we get to that, you played in high school, right? I did. Sacred Heart? Sacred Heart, yeah. What year did you graduate? 79. 79, so you just kept going. I did not stop. No, I continued. You know, was a three-sport player growing up. You know, I played football. I played midget football right here. And...

you know, when it came to high school and being recruited to go to Sacred Heart at the time as a prep school, they didn't have football. So I missed out. really did like football. But, you know, went on to Sacred Heart and had a really nice baseball and basketball career. Yeah. And then of course, you know, moved on to college. Where'd you go to college? York College, Southern Pennsylvania. You play in college? I did. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Played four years there and I had a couple

highlights in my career there as York as well. And then you know from there you know it was very hard you know you always want to go to the next level and you know you always dream of playing at the pro level.

I was close. I was close to getting that opportunity. But needless to say, just for the love of the game, I just kept on playing. And as I stand here right now, I'm still playing. There you go. So let's talk about that. So you came back from college. I did. You began playing in this tournament. I began. Well, I came back from college. Actually, 1979 was my first time playing in his tournament, so I had just graduated high school.

So that first summer was the first time I played here. So did you play in the tournaments all through college? I did. Okay, well, yeah. Yeah. So you really have been playing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I continue to make, you know, make the time out for this event. So fast forward a bunch of decades and

Beacon (08:49.155)
Back in the day, the tournament was always in August. Correct. Okay. And there came a point in time, it's my understanding, where the future of the Bridgton Invitational Tournament was uncertain. Is that fair to say? I think that's a fair statement, So how did you get involved on the other side of it? Well, I remember it was the 50th year and for the last time, young George Bar- Six or seven years ago?

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, six years I'd say because we just had the 56th. George Joyce came to me and said, Gary, we're understanding this could be it. Let's put a team together representing Joyce's Stars.

So in fact we did and then during that event I remember Dave Elwell who was at that time the commissioner. I was actually on deck getting ready to hit and he came up to me along the fence line he says hey when this is done you and I need to sit down and talk.

So that's kind of how the first connection started. I had no idea what he wanted to talk about. So after the event and the tournament was done, we spoke a little bit more in depth. He said he was stepping down and he said, all the fingers are pretty much pointing to you to keep this going. hesitation to step up when asked? No, no, I think at that time, as a player,

I think I was ready. I think it was a good time for me. Did you stop playing once you took over as director? Yeah, because of the interference, just didn't match up right. So at that time, I think it was good time for me. So I sat down with Dave and of course Mayor Kelly and I offered my suggestions.

Beacon (10:50.184)
of something that I wanted to do. And really it was based on just how the tournament was going from a player's perspective and not seeing support in the stands. I thought it was time to, if I'm gonna do this, make this move now. Tell us what you did.

And I did, but I did talk to some coaches that were previously entered teams in this tournament. I kind of picked their brain a little bit and see what they were going to offer to me. And they thought it was a good move. It was time to get it out of August and make that move. And I did. It took two years for that transition to happen.

But I can honestly say I'm happy with my decision because the last two years have been very successful here. It's a new tradition that people come to look forward to it. Correct. mean, it's the same tournament. You know the blueprint that was put together for this event in 1967. Nothing's changed. I still keep the standards of what they put in place other than the fact that I just moved it out of.

but everything else is the same. Great. Highlights from this past year's tournament. How did it go? Yes, very good. mean, one thing that was also, and I forgot to mention, you can probably adjust that. When I made that change, was based on not only participation, but...

The leagues that used to send a team up in this event, they were folding. One was our own league, Salem County. That league folded. Atlantic County folded. What do you attribute that to? Just generations, know, just different times, I guess. You know what I mean? It's a lot of work to go around and be in tournaments. is, it is. losing those particular leagues. Put a hurting right here.

Beacon (13:07.214)
Because you know that the community was looking forward to the Joyce's Stars, to the Seabrook Storms, teams from Atlantic County coming here, and the support was there. But now I think that was another decline because of support that we don't have any local teams anymore. And that's very challenging.

Did moving it from August to May help with that in any way? It did. And why? I'm going to say because of the few leagues that were still existing, and I only know that for a fact at that time because I was still playing in those leagues, they increased their league play, including playoffs, into August. So at that time, they're thinking, why are we going to leave our playoffs?

to take a team up to Bridgeton when we still have playoffs going on. So that was another- it coincided with other tournaments? Yes, well not so much tournaments, their own league that they play in. got it. And that was definitely a deciding factor. So then again, when I went back and talked to these coaches, the same ones who play through the summer, I said to them, what do you think about me taking this event and moving it to May? And it was a win-win for them. Great.

It was like their spring training basically, you know, at this event. Right. And it coincides really with the start of the...

National baseball season pretty much. Yeah, get pretty much kind of psyched up for it and yeah and all that and then the other Deciding factor that was big is that we didn't have the volunteers that we used to basically I'm down to ten and and When I decided to move into May They came to me and said Gary

Beacon (14:58.453)
We can't do three weeks long of this event anymore. Can we shrink it down? So I was able to shrink it down to an eight day window. It used to be like three weeks long? It used to be three weeks long. How about that? And I was all volunteer, you know, all by the volunteers. So that was another deciding factor that I shortened the tournament. It's a win win for them.

Meeting the city? The volunteers. The volunteers, I say.

it's worked to this point. So before we talk about highlights there was one thing I wanted to ask you about and I had spoken with somebody, Dave Hitchner, a couple years ago about the tournament and there's two kind of unique rules to this tournament.

That I wanted to just touch upon because I just think it's that speed clock. Yes, and is it the designated hitter? Yep, can you talk about both of those things and why they're important to this long-standing? tournament here in Bridgeton Well, I it's unique. So yeah, it's it's it's unique right? This is the only tournament that I know That I've played in Has such type of rules

Tell me what they are for our listeners who may not know about them. They are the speed up clock for the pitcher. He has 20 seconds to deliver the pitch. Every pitch after that becomes 10 seconds. The batter on the offensive side has 10 seconds to get in the batter's box.

Beacon (16:37.311)
Okay, has that always been a rule in this tournament as far as you know? Has always been the rule to this moment. There's nothing's been doctored or anything's been adjusted. Of course we have the designated hitter rule that was established in this event and used for so many years by the American League. Now it's been adapted to the National League as well. So the whole Major League Baseball uses the designated

hitter. And correct me if I'm wrong but also has modified the rules recently as it relates to this the time right? Correct. Yeah. Yes. They're following your lead or our lead I should say. Yeah. Yeah pretty much. I mean it you know it's I'm proud to say because I again I play in a lot of tournaments and you know that you meet new people and they're like where are you from and you know

talk about tournaments and I of course I'm proud to say about the Bridgerton Invitational and I'm you know I put in those little little digs like the designated hitter and the speed off clock they're like no way so yeah it's pretty proud of that. Sure, sure and there's been a lot of neat folks that have come from out of the area over the years to visit this tournament so it's really it's really kind of neat. Yeah.

Highlights from this past year's tournament and or highlights of this coming year's tournament in May. Anything you want to share or not quite ready to do that? Well, no, I will say this. The last two years, the competition has been very, very strong for this event.

I will say that each year from the last two, there's always been a new entry coming in. So that's very positive and promising. I had a team from New York two years ago come down here. We haven't had a New York team down in this event for quite some time. And this was their for they came all the way from Buffalo, New York to come down here. Anybody who went pro ever playing this tournament over the years?

Beacon (18:57.85)
that you know? Yes, there's been numerous players in this event. I can think back from, I don't know, Randell Byers from Cumberland Regional went on to play professional baseball. Of course, I don't even know and I'm proud to say, but my youngest son Darren played professional ball for Tampa Bay race. Congratulations. So I had an opportunity to play here as well. So

Yeah, I'm going to say through the years, especially myself as a player, you're running into a couple of ex-professional players that have played. That's excellent. Yeah. Do you miss playing at all?

Well, I miss playing in this event because again, still playing. I travel. Again, next week I'm leaving to go play down in Fort Myers. So I'm still at it. I'm playing in the summer and I traveled to tournaments. Tell me about the league you're playing in now. The league is what they call Men's Senior Baseball League. OK, I didn't realize that. Yes. And it's nationwide. It's very big. I can only tell you I'll be down there.

next Friday and I'll play from Friday to the following Saturday and there is 85 teams in this event. And where is this held? Fort Myers, Florida. with the use of the Minnesota Twins and the Boston Red Sox complexes. That's awesome. So that's a real treat, right? You an opportunity to play. producer's down there. I'll get him to come over and get some footage of you. Yeah, yeah. So you have an opportunity to play on professional fields. I think that's a highlight down there.

I'm going to be partial. Nothing's like this event here. It just just what's the difference? I think it's just you know how again how the event was put together not only on the field, but I'm going to say that all the activities to go outside the field and that's real important. A lot of community support fan support. We have special gas fully fanatic. We've done firework night.

Beacon (21:05.024)
So I think that right there, it's a big sale for So it's the community and the fans. I think so, yeah. Well, thanks to you, it's still going on, it's still going strong. Yes. And I can see why you are the well-deserved recipient of a Community Hero Award from the Bursonary Chamber of Commerce. Thank you very much. Thanks for coming on. Yes. we'll look for you out on the field. Yep. Thanks, You might not have lived that. Yeah.

One of the best ways you can support the Bridgeton Beacon is to go to the Bridgeton Beacon YouTube channel and hit subscribe. When you hit subscribe, we're going to need you to also click the little bell icon so that you actually get alerts when we post new episodes. But this is a great way for you to support the Bridgeton Beacon in lieu of an actual donation or monetary support.