A story of how one man’s devotion to America’s pastime became a lifetime commitment to Little League Baseball in Huntington
By Katrina Mailloux
HQ 58 | SUMMER 2006
On any given spring evening just outside of downtown Huntington, you will find a snapshot of Americana— the smell of hotdogs and french fries wafting through the air, the sound of the national anthem echoing from the press box, and young men and women geared up for play at Huntington’s League Three baseball field.
You will also find one man, either standing by the dugout encouraging his batters as they jog out to home-plate or sitting in the stands, patiently sizing up the opponents his team will face later in the week.
It all started in 1952 when David Glick, at the ripe age of 10, launched his career in Little League Baseball. David was a member of one of the first little league teams in Huntington under the coaching guidance of John Sakakini.
“I played at a time when there were no mandatory playing rules,” David reflects. “I wasn’t one of the best players. Needless to say I got to know the bench pretty well,”
“I was even the first little leaguer ever traded,” he says laughingly. “I left to play for Dr. Joe Shepp, a local dentist, and Roy Straight, who gave me the opportunity to play the game, even though I wasn’t a star player. It was with Coaches Shepp and Straight that I developed my strengths and my love for the game.”
David’s career playing baseball ended in junior high school when he decided that his chances of pursuing other avenues were better than his chances of making it to the majors. David left Huntington and attended the University of Cincinnati, and ultimately returned to help with the family business, Star Furniture. David married Karen May of Huntington, and they had a daughter, Shelley, who now resides in Huntington with her husband, Tim, and soon-to-be little leaguer, son Jackson.
In 1966, David was offered a position as the head coach for League Three’s Neighborgall Construction team, and has been coaching for Neighborgall since. When asked about his most memorable moments in little league baseball, David quickly responds, “Even though I try to focus on doing what’s right and fair at all times, I remember one game where the umpire, Les Guiz, called one of my players out three times on close calls at first base. I got a little out of hand with him and was thrown out of the game. I spent the rest of the game climbing the fence to see what was going on.” The very next day, Guiz called David and asked him to lunch. David asked, “Are you buying?” From that point forward, they were lifelong friends.
Another fond memory was making it to the final game of the city tournament, which is now called the “Guiz Tournament” after David’s good friend.
“Pat Smith scored our only run in that game where we lost 9-1. Even though we lost, we had a great time.”
The same young man who scored the sole run in the city tournament now coaches alongside David today.
“David Glick is the greatest coach in the world,” Pat Smith states. “For the most part, he lets me call the plays and coach the team without interjection, but the minute he thinks I’m making decisions which might seem unfair, he reels me in. He truly wants to do what is right and fair for both teams.”
John Brunetti, head coach for League Three’s Goldsmit-Synder team states, “David has the most consistent record of playing kids in different positions and making decisions that allow all kids to be involved rather than making decisions to ensure winning. At team practices, if he sees kids hanging around from other teams, he always invites them into his practice. When he manages All-Star teams, he fills the roster to the maximum of fourteen players, instead of the minimum of twelve. ‘Let them play!’ is what he always says. You have to love that.”
David is all about making sure the kids have fun.
“When you ask any of the kids who have gone through League Three baseball what their record was the only statistics they will remember is whether they lost all their games or won all their games,” Brunetti says. “We all remember our coaches. What’s interesting here at is that everyone that has gone through League Three, parents, players and volunteers included, remembers David Glick.”
Despite the accolades, David advidly admits that being involved in youth sports can be bittersweet.
“I remember one time we played the Elks team, and beat them 6-5. I walked over to talk to the pitcher of the Elks team, Kyle Foster, who was notably upset. I asked him, ‘What’s wrong?’ and he said, ‘You beat us.’ I told him that next week he wouldn’t remember anything about this game.”
The following week, David happened upon Kyle at the ball field, and said, “Do you remember what you were upset about last week?,” to which Kyle replied, “Sure. You beat us.” David said, “Do you remember the score?” Kyle said, “No.” David retorted, “Well, it was 6-5, and you’ll never forget it!”
Kyle, son of Dr. Earl and Carol Foster of Huntington, went on to play college baseball for the University of Richmond and Emory University where he led the conference in all batting statistics. “To this day when I see Kyle he greets me with ‘I remember Mr. Glick, 6-5.’”
Sitting on the bleachers in the late afternoon sun, David studies the stitches and scrapes of an old baseball. When a parent asks him what he’s thinking about he looks up and says, “The kids. If I’ve touched just one of their lives then it has been worth it. The winning and losing, it all comes and goes. But the opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life, well, that will provide a lasting effect for many seasons to come.”
