Manheim Church Softball League History
Fast-pitch league started in 1953 before switching to slow-pitch in 1973

    The Manheim Church Softball League is one of the longest continually-running softball leagues in the state of Pennsylvania. It started in 1953 as a fast-pitch league, and the eight teams in the league during the inaugural year were: Salem United Brethren Church, Trinity Evangelical Congregational Church, The Church of the Brethren, Ruhl's United Brethren Church, St. Paul's Evangelical & Reformed Church, Zion Lutheran Church, Jerusalem Evangelical & Reformed Church of Penryn and St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Penryn. Memorial Field in Memorial Park was the main field used during the early years, with a second field located on the football field where bleachers could be used for all-star games. (A field located at the south end of Penn Street in Manheim behind the Fuller Company was also said to be used in the 1950s.) "Brethren" beat Salem two games to one to win the first playoff championship in 1953. Due to the popularity of the league, second Salem and "Brethren" teams were added to the schedule in 1954. (See Manheim Sentinel articles below announcing the start of the league and detailing all-star games in 1953-54.)

In the late 1950s, the league’s games moved to the Creek Field before finding their current central home at the Pool Field. With the slow-pitch game quickly gaining popularity, the church league decided to implement slow-pitch rules for the 1973 season. (At the same time, the Manheim Rec League was also formed. The rec league’s first slow-pitch game occurred on May 2, 1973, thanks to the organizational efforts of Bob Miller and Dave Carpenter. Six teams comprised the league: Longenecker’s Hardware, Zeller’s Gulf, the Jaycees, Old Barn & Tavern, Yorty’s Restaurant and the Camp Ground Crusaders.)

Lights were installed at the Pool Field for the 1977 season and were paid for thanks to the fundraising efforts of the rec league’s players (many of whom also played in the church league), soliciting donations from area businesses to help fund the cost (see plaque below). Home plate at the current Pool Field is in a different location than where it was originally positioned. In the early days, well-hit balls could travel past the light poles and land beyond the cinder track that circled the football field in left field and past the cannon memorial in right field. (See black-and-white image below.)

In the early 1980s, in order to install fencing that would not overlap the track, home plate was moved back, giving the field its current dimensions. Also part of this project was the construction of a concession stand. An addition to the stand was eventually added to the right side of the building by the Manheim Farm Show.

Throughout the early history of the league, writeups in local newspapers recapped the weekly slate of games and were a place to find the league’s standings. Manheim Sentinel articles written by Don Yingst highlighted a game’s top performers, and this practice was eventually passed down to then-league President Don Wenger, who provided the same information in the Merchandiser after the Sentinel was no longer in production.

Several churches in the league have had fields that are or were used by the league over the years, including East Fairview, Hempfield and LCBC. Mummau Park and Rapho Park continue to host games as well. The old junior varsity baseball field along Hershey Drive that sat in the corner where the current high school track is located was also used regularly in the early years of the slow-pitch league. Meanwhile the varsity baseball field on High Street was reserved for tournament play and provided not only a roofed grandstand for fans but also a tennis court in left field that only the league’s most powerful hitters could reach.

League all-star games were once a regular mid-season treat for deserving players, with each team picking several of its own to compete against counterparts from the other half of the league. All-star night consisted of two games to allow for ample playing time for the participants. Among the league's most famous alumni is Chris Heisey, who roamed the outfield for Mount Joy Mennonite prior to becoming a Major League Baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals from 2010-17. A handful of other players who played professionally in the minor leagues have also competed in the league.

While the league has never had a shortage of top-caliber players, its teams have also shined brightly on larger stages. Eight times a team from the Manheim League has hoisted the Pennsylvania state church softball championship trophy and six times a league team finished second. Teams from the league have also competed in national church softball tournaments in places like Georgia, Alabama and Texas and represented the league well.

Simply put, for 50 years, the Manheim Church Softball League has provided a great opportunity for players of all skill levels to come together on a ball field to compete for their church and engage in Christian fellowship with others from the surrounding area.

NOTE: Thank you to Larry Shelley, Bob Miller and the Manheim Historical Society for providing information and resources used in this article.

  The current home of the Manheim Church League is the Manheim Pool Field, circa 2022.

    Original Pool Field dimensions show Manheim Rec League players competing with the high school track in the outfield before fencing was installed
and home plate adjusted so that the later-added light poles and track were not inside the dimensions of the playing area.

    This plaque posted at the concession stand recognizes the many sponsors who helped pay for the installation of lights for the 1977 season.