You’re never too old for baseball

At 86-years-old, Bruce Jaslow stands as a testament to the enduring love and passion for the game of baseball. Despite his age, the Old Brookville resident continues to lace up his cleats, take the field, and play the game he fell in love with as a child growing up in Queens.

Jaslow’s journey into baseball began at the age of 12, where he found his passion for the sport in the concrete jungle of Queens. Limited green spaces pushed him to the local schoolyard, where he honed his skills in softball and stickball. However, it wasn’t until his family moved to Bayside months later that Jaslow had the opportunity to join a Little League team and play hardball.

“I grew up in Queens, and there wasn’t much space there to play baseball because everything was concrete and asphalt,” Jaslow said.

Under the guidance of Tony DePhillips, an ex-Major Leaguer who ran a local sports store, Jaslow found his footing in the Tony DePhillips League, a baseball league for kids aged 12 to 14. From there, his love for the game flourished, and he excelled as a left-handed pitcher.

Despite his diminutive stature in high school, standing at 4 feet 7 inches tall and weighing only 78 pounds, Jaslow’s confidence in his pitching abilities never wavered. By his junior year, he had gotten taller and stronger, and helped turn around a once winless high school team. When Jaslow hit the field, the team started winning again.

He went on to play for various local teams, including the Bayside Hawks and the Long Island Yankees, where he showcased his prowess on the mound. Reflecting on his pitching days, Jaslow recalled his love for the strategic aspect of the game.

“I had real good control, and I could throw the ball where I wanted to,” he said. “I could throw curves, and I had what they called ‘savvy,’ so the batter couldn’t figure out or guess where I was going to throw.”

After high school, Jaslow’s baseball journey took a backseat as he pursued other endeavors. He received an offer to try out for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955, but he felt he could not risk losing his job at the time to take the day off.

However, his passion for the sport was reignited in his early 50s when he discovered the Men’s Senior Baseball League, a league for players aged 30 and above.

Since then, Jaslow has continued to play the game he loves, defying age and expectations with each swing of the bat and every ball he throws. Over the years, he has racked up an impressive collection of accolades, including 15 MSBL World Championships with various teams.

However, Jaslow’s journey has not been without its challenges. As time has worn on, he has had to deal with medical issues, including a recent surgery to fix a 20-year-old rotator cuff injury. Yet, with determination and the unwavering support of his wife, Jean, Jaslow bounced back and returned to the field once more.

“I thought the surgery was going to help me, maybe in a naïve way,” Jaslow said, reflecting on his journey. “I never considered that it was going to fail. I figured ‘This is a procedure that fixes it, so we’re going to get it fixed.’”

Throughout his athletic journey, Jean has been Jaslow’s biggest supporter, managing logistics, and ensuring he has everything he needs to continue playing the game he loves.

“We’ve been a team,” Jaslow said, reflecting on their 62 years of marriage. “She’s always supported me in everything.”

As Jaslow continues to defy age on the baseball diamond, he offered words of encouragement to fellow athletes approaching their golden years.

“If you’ve got the mindset that you want to play, go for it,” he advised. “Physically, mentally, if you feel you can do it, then do it.”

For Jaslow, age is just a number, and the love for baseball knows no bounds. If he can step onto the field and feel the crack of the bat against the ball, he will continue to play the game he loves, inspiring others with his remarkable journey.