Where Did You Go David Hall??
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2020 9:11 pm
UMEBA Legend Can't Find Work at 31 Years Old
Sitting in David Hall's Hanover Park, Illinois mansion I asked him why he can't think of retirement. "I've never done it for the money," the 31 year old said. "I've been playing this game since I was four years old. It's all I know how to do."
Last season Hall set the UMEBA single season home run record with 64 and he holds the UMEBA career records of homers and RBI. So why couldn't the two time two-time Bancroft League Position Player of the Year find a job in the UMEBA? "I don't have that answer," he said sheepishly. "But I know I can still hit a baseball as far as anyone in the BBA or the UMEBA."
Hall finally signed a minor league contract with the BBA's Rockville Pikemen. "I was grateful for the opportunity at first thinking I'd get an invite to spring training," Hall explained. "But I didn't get that invite. They stuck me on the rookie league roster and now I'm just waiting to hear from them while everyone else is playing baseball. I'm only 31, I can't be washed up yet! I hit 64 home runs last year...is there not a team out there that could use that kind of production?"
Hall found himself stuck in a strange situation this past offseason. With the UMEBA contracting the remaining eight teams were plucking talent from the four teams that were folding. Not the best timing to be a free agent when teams have access to younger players already under contract. Hall sat by the phone and waited...and waited...and waited. Spring training came for the BBA and the UMEBA and Hall didn't get a single phone call.
Hall started making calls himself. The first one was to his agent. "I fired his ass," he said angrily. "Did I mention I hit 64 home runs last year? I hit 64 home runs and he couldn't find me a job. He had to go." Then Hall made more calls, to the General Managers of the BBA teams. Finally Rockville gave him the minor league deal on April 2, the day after opening day. "I wasn't disappointed, I was mad!!" he said emphatically. "I'll get a chance to show all of them that I can still play this game. If they really do put me in a rookie league lineup...BAM, watch out--I might kill someone down there!!!"
"What if you never get out of rookie ball?" I asked.
"Then I'll go to Japan, I'll go to Korea, I'll go to Cuba!" he told me. "I've made over $30 million dollars playing this game. It's not about the money - I just want to keep playing."
Last season Hall set the UMEBA single season home run record with 64 and he holds the UMEBA career records of homers and RBI. So why couldn't the two time two-time Bancroft League Position Player of the Year find a job in the UMEBA? "I don't have that answer," he said sheepishly. "But I know I can still hit a baseball as far as anyone in the BBA or the UMEBA."
Hall finally signed a minor league contract with the BBA's Rockville Pikemen. "I was grateful for the opportunity at first thinking I'd get an invite to spring training," Hall explained. "But I didn't get that invite. They stuck me on the rookie league roster and now I'm just waiting to hear from them while everyone else is playing baseball. I'm only 31, I can't be washed up yet! I hit 64 home runs last year...is there not a team out there that could use that kind of production?"
Hall found himself stuck in a strange situation this past offseason. With the UMEBA contracting the remaining eight teams were plucking talent from the four teams that were folding. Not the best timing to be a free agent when teams have access to younger players already under contract. Hall sat by the phone and waited...and waited...and waited. Spring training came for the BBA and the UMEBA and Hall didn't get a single phone call.
Hall started making calls himself. The first one was to his agent. "I fired his ass," he said angrily. "Did I mention I hit 64 home runs last year? I hit 64 home runs and he couldn't find me a job. He had to go." Then Hall made more calls, to the General Managers of the BBA teams. Finally Rockville gave him the minor league deal on April 2, the day after opening day. "I wasn't disappointed, I was mad!!" he said emphatically. "I'll get a chance to show all of them that I can still play this game. If they really do put me in a rookie league lineup...BAM, watch out--I might kill someone down there!!!"
"What if you never get out of rookie ball?" I asked.
"Then I'll go to Japan, I'll go to Korea, I'll go to Cuba!" he told me. "I've made over $30 million dollars playing this game. It's not about the money - I just want to keep playing."
