Scenes from CMSA men's softball. Photos by Ross Forman_________
They brave bitter late-winter conditions at times, while on other days—such as July 8—they endure scorching heat and humidity. Softball is simply a summer staple for the LGBT community, just like Northalsted Market Days and the Gay Pride Parade.
'The biggest appeal [ of softball involves ] camaraderie and friendship, and just being active in the gay community,' said Joe Cappelletti, 44, commissioner of the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association's ( CMSA ) predominantly-male Open Softball League, played every Sunday on five fields at Margate and Clarendon Parks, both located in the Uptown neighborhood.
The league features 43 teams, with about 650 players. About 90 percent are gay, and no team has more than three straight players. The players, who hail from a variety of professional backgrounds, range in age from 20 to 60.
'One of the biggest changes over the years is [ that ] there are just more players, especially younger [ ones ] . Plus, players interact socially more off the field on Sundays [ than in the past, ] ' said Cappelletti, who works for a real estate investment company and has played outfield for more than 10 years. He is on the Spin Hitmen this season.
The CMSA Open League is the largest in the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance ( NAGAAA ) , which oversees gay softball and runs the annual Gay Softball World Series, held Oct. 1-6 this year in Phoenix. CMSA will be sending seven teams to the World Series in October.
'Placing second at the [ 1993 ] World Series was a highlight of my softball career, and I'm sure for others too. It was a big accomplishment for a lot of us,' Cappelletti said. 'The World Series is an important event. It's an honor to represent CMSA at the World Series, and just representing Chicago and CMSA is very important to a lot of players locally.'
'We've struggled getting enough players to play A Division ,' Cappelletti said. 'There definitely is a huge difference in the quality of play [ between the divisions ] , such as, the ability to hit, field, run bases and [ having ] knowledge of the game.' ( A Division is what the top players compete in. )
'The main thing about the D2 Division is that it gives players the opportunity to come out who have never played ball before, some who have never picked up a glove or bat before in their lives,' he added. 'It truly is a beginner division. But their desire to win is as strong as the players in the A Division.'
The fee for playing this season is $70.
'A lot of people just like being out here on Sundays, to watch their friends and to watch others,' Cappelletti said. 'For a lot of people, softball is a big part of their lives, particularly because it offers people who are just coming out [ as gay ] to be part of an organization and a league that allows them to be with people with the same interest. Softball is a big deal to a lot of people in the gay community.'
The Open League has been running for more than 20 years and truly includes every ethnicity in the LGBT community.
'I still have a lot of fun out here,' Cappelletti said. 'I've met some of my best lifelong friends playing softball.'
And others, such as Brian Kettner and Joe Green, have found their life partners—each other—on the CMSA softball fields.
NEXT WEEK: Windy City Times will profile the CMSA's Women's Softball League, including the tale of Jen Vejvoda and Stacey Walton, who are teammates on and off the softball field.
