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| GLASA Charter Member |
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| Charter Member: |
Mark L. Springer |
| Joined GLASA: |
1989 |
| Team Affiliations: |
Stray Cats, LA Blaze, LA Batboys C & B, LA Radicals, Vipers |
| GLASA History: |
Joined the league in 1989 as a player. He served as league commissioner from 1991 through 1999. During his tenure, the league experienced its greatest growth, necessitating a move from a single field at Poinsettia Park in West Hollywood to Valley Plaza in North Hollywood to our current location in Whittier. The move also helped the league to reach out to new communities in the East Los Angeles Area. Over the years Mark has played for 8 national championship teams and the one Gay Games champion in 2002. He currently manages the defending 2006 national champion, Vipers. |
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| Personal Message: |
| I joined the Greater Los Angeles Softball Association in the Winter of 1991. During the Summer of 1991, I was appointed to the position of League Secretary by Commissioner Rick Leon. I was the League Secretary both for the League and the Los Angeles Gay Softball World Series in 1992. In 1993, I was elected as the new League Commissioner, replacing Rick Leon who was not seeking reelection. I’ve been a member of the league ever sense. |
Mark L. Springer |
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| Highlights: |
- Secretary – 1991 to 1993
- Commissioner – 1993 to 2001
- Represented Los Angeles in two Gay Games (New York and Sydney) winning one Gold Medal with the Stray Cats in Sydney. The team I played for in New York was a upper C, possibly a lower B team that was eventually eliminated by the Stray Cats.
- Player on LA Blaze (Won the NIT Tournament during the 1991 Boston GSWS. This was the last NIT Tournament – 1992 started what is called the “B” Division today)
- Player / Co-Coach with Frank Delgado on the LA Batboys C and B teams before moving to the LA Stray Cats.
- Coach of the LA Radicals (“C” Team) who participated in two GSWS Tournaments (Kansas City and Toronto).
- Player / Manager LA Stray Cat who won 10 straight GSWS “A” Division Crowns. I was a member of the team for the last 5 championships (Washington DC, Portland, San Francisco, Toronto and Kansas City)
- Player / Manager of the LA Vipers who won the last 3 of the last 4 GSWS in the “A” Division (San Diego, Ft. Lauderdale and Seattle), while Coaching the Last Call “C” Team.
- Represented Los Angeles at the NAGAAA Winter and Summer Meetings from 1992 to 2001. I was appointed as the Chairman of the Liaison Committee. The Liaison Committee was the only link between the Open and Women Divisions.
- Co-Author of a proposal that prompted the beginning of the player rating system being used throughout NAGAAA. This was the beginning of making playing field level for all ball players.
- Inherited a league of 10 to 12 teams. During my Commissioner years we grew to as many as 34 teams. Because of this steady growth, the league had to move to accommodate this growth. We moved to the Valley where we enough room to keep all the teams together. Eventually, I moved the league to Whittier Narrows, where we still play today.
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