James Meilinger of Glen Head spent decades supporting Glenwood Glen Head Jr. Baseball
38 years out at the ball game
James Meilinger has been the backbone of Glenwood Glen Head Jr. Baseball for 38 years, dedicating countless hours to nurturing youth baseball in the community. His tenure, which began in 1986, has seen him wear many hats — from equipment manager to coach to president — shaping the league into a thriving institution.
Meilinger’s journey into volunteering with the league started innocuously enough, prompted by his son Jesse’s interest in baseball. Meilinger said that as a young kid living in Glen Cove, Little League and community baseball had offered him a chance to play sports that he would not have been able to otherwise, and he wanted the same for his son.
“I didn’t really play in high school because I wasn’t good enough, but I always enjoyed playing sports when I was growing up,” Meilinger reminisced. “When my son came of age I said ‘We’re gonna join him in the baseball league,’ and it just hit me all over again from being a little guy.”
After joining his son in the league, which was founded in 1955 and serves local children between kindergarten and 7th grade, Meilinger quickly began volunteering wherever he could. After only a few months, Meilinger was approached by one of the league organizers at the time, John Glennon, about helping on a more permanent basis.
“In Jesse’s first season I just started helping out the manager wherever I could,” Meilinger said. “About two months in, I was approached by this fella John Glennon, who asked me if I’d be interested in coming on the board, and I said, ‘Absolutely.’”
In the nearly four decades since, Glenwood Glen Head Jr. Baseball has flourished. From humble beginnings with just two fields and a legion of enthusiastic volunteers, the league has expanded significantly. Meilinger’s involvement extended far beyond his role as president; during his time on the board he served as equipment manager, umpire-in-chief, and even took charge of fundraising through the concession stand with his wife, Patty.
Throughout this time, Meilinger was also balancing raising a family and running his own business with his work in the league. Meilinger’s welding business also sponsored teams in the league for decades, and even after selling the company he and his wife continued to sponsor teams in the league.
“Around 36 years ago I began sponsoring under my company’s name,” Meilinger explained. “Even when I gave up the company, me and my wife still sponsor a team as ‘Patty and James Melinda,’ and we will continue sponsoring as long as we are around.”
The league’s growth mirrored Meilinger’s commitment to community service. Beyond his administrative duties in the league, he coached for 24 years, nurturing young players, and instilling in them a love for the game.
“Any kind of youth activities are very important for the growth of a child,” Meilinger said. “They learn how to work together as a team, work on their personal skills, and they get to have a little fun and a chance to get away from all the other drama in life.”
As Meilinger prepares to step back from his formal roles in the league, he remains optimistic about its future. While he may not make it to every game anymore, Meilinger said that the league would always be an important part of his life.
“I’ll miss the thrill of opening day,” he admitted. “Any way I can still help I always will, but now I’m just going to kick back and relax with a hotdog and pretzel and watch some baseball.”
Meilinger emphasized that what kept him in the league for the last several decades was not just a love of the sport, but also an appreciation for what the league means to the youth in the community. While he may not be taking an active part in organizing the league anymore, Meilinger’s influence on young Glenwood Landing and Glen Head athletes spanned decades.
“It’s all about the kids,” Meilinger emphasized. “When you do the work behind the scenes and get the whole program up and running, I thought it was a good thing for the community.”
