Mark "Wheels" Olmsted
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| St. Louis Perfectos Base Ball Club |
Though he's only been with the team since the middle of the 2005 season,
there aren't many members of the St. Louis Perfectos who have
accomplished more than Mark "Wheels" Olmsted. The team's most
valuable ballist for the past two seasons, Olmsted has been a fixture in the
garden for the Perfectos. The team's usual left scout in big matches,
Olmsted also has been a driving force with the club off the field and within
the Lafayette Square community. He has served as a team captain and has
helped the executive board in many areas. It was his residence in the
Lafayette Square area which brought him to the Perfectos. "I lived in
Lafayette Square at the time and had seen several games in 2004," said
Olmsted. "During Shepard Barclay of 2005 I talked to Tony “Danger”
Pellengrino and Rick “Sting” Rea about playing. I began playing shortly
there afterwards." Olmsted soon made an impact. The fact he could run like
a deer and belt the ball a long way helped him become a fast favorite. "I
enjoy vintage baseball because I get to run around and chase the ball,
some days more than others, while helping to teach and represent a
portion of American history to others," Olmsted said. "I enjoy being apart of
an organization that has set a mission and goals and works hard at not
only achieving them but improving them. Most of what I like about vintage
base ball is most teams are out there for the communities and the
spectators not themselves." Olmsted has made it a family affair with the
Perfectos. His wife, Courtney, has become a fixture in the concession area
and usually can be found at the road matches as well.
Oddly, Olmsted didn't play much baseball growing up in St. Louis and
Littleton, Colo. He played for three years, from the fifth through seventh
grades. Olmsted feels Lafayette Park is a perfect historical setting for the
Perfectos. "Although I am still learning, the history and connection between
the park and St. Louis base ball make it an ideal location," said Olmsted.
"The park is beautiful, well kept and we always have our share of loyal
cranks there. I enjoy the fact that we are part of the neighborhood and
involved in the rich tradition and history that the neighborhood portrays. Our
cranks are wonderful, especially the ones who come regularly. Some of
them have made attempts to learn the language of the game and it really
adds to it. They fact that there are members of the community that help us
fundraise and organize things make me feel like we are part of the
neighborhood, not just a team using their park." As a vintage ballist,
Olmsted has had many positive experiences with the club. Some of his
favorite memories have come at the Ohio Cup Festival. "I love seeing other
teams there bringing there uniforms and traditions with them," Wheels
said. "Plus, with six games in two days, you get to play a lot. Each of the
past three years we have also done much as team while in Ohio, I have
gotten to know several of the guys much better from these trips. 2007 was
special because my brother was able to come out and play with us. We
haven’t played baseball together in many, many years."
The Fields at the Ohio Cup are some of his favorite venues as is the home
of the Rock Springs Ground Squirrels in Decatur, Ill. "I enjoy playing in
Decatur," Olmsted said. "The way the field is cut right out of the tall grass
makes it feel more relaxed. In addition to the location the Ground Squirrels
are one of the classiest organizations around. I love playing in Columbus,
Ohio, as well because if the great variation of teams and locals represented
there."
Mark "Wheels" Olmsted
Positions: Left Scout
Clubs: St. Louis Perfectos
Ballist Since: 2005
there aren't many members of the St. Louis Perfectos who have
accomplished more than Mark "Wheels" Olmsted. The team's most
valuable ballist for the past two seasons, Olmsted has been a fixture in the
garden for the Perfectos. The team's usual left scout in big matches,
Olmsted also has been a driving force with the club off the field and within
the Lafayette Square community. He has served as a team captain and has
helped the executive board in many areas. It was his residence in the
Lafayette Square area which brought him to the Perfectos. "I lived in
Lafayette Square at the time and had seen several games in 2004," said
Olmsted. "During Shepard Barclay of 2005 I talked to Tony “Danger”
Pellengrino and Rick “Sting” Rea about playing. I began playing shortly
there afterwards." Olmsted soon made an impact. The fact he could run like
a deer and belt the ball a long way helped him become a fast favorite. "I
enjoy vintage baseball because I get to run around and chase the ball,
some days more than others, while helping to teach and represent a
portion of American history to others," Olmsted said. "I enjoy being apart of
an organization that has set a mission and goals and works hard at not
only achieving them but improving them. Most of what I like about vintage
base ball is most teams are out there for the communities and the
spectators not themselves." Olmsted has made it a family affair with the
Perfectos. His wife, Courtney, has become a fixture in the concession area
and usually can be found at the road matches as well.
Oddly, Olmsted didn't play much baseball growing up in St. Louis and
Littleton, Colo. He played for three years, from the fifth through seventh
grades. Olmsted feels Lafayette Park is a perfect historical setting for the
Perfectos. "Although I am still learning, the history and connection between
the park and St. Louis base ball make it an ideal location," said Olmsted.
"The park is beautiful, well kept and we always have our share of loyal
cranks there. I enjoy the fact that we are part of the neighborhood and
involved in the rich tradition and history that the neighborhood portrays. Our
cranks are wonderful, especially the ones who come regularly. Some of
them have made attempts to learn the language of the game and it really
adds to it. They fact that there are members of the community that help us
fundraise and organize things make me feel like we are part of the
neighborhood, not just a team using their park." As a vintage ballist,
Olmsted has had many positive experiences with the club. Some of his
favorite memories have come at the Ohio Cup Festival. "I love seeing other
teams there bringing there uniforms and traditions with them," Wheels
said. "Plus, with six games in two days, you get to play a lot. Each of the
past three years we have also done much as team while in Ohio, I have
gotten to know several of the guys much better from these trips. 2007 was
special because my brother was able to come out and play with us. We
haven’t played baseball together in many, many years."
The Fields at the Ohio Cup are some of his favorite venues as is the home
of the Rock Springs Ground Squirrels in Decatur, Ill. "I enjoy playing in
Decatur," Olmsted said. "The way the field is cut right out of the tall grass
makes it feel more relaxed. In addition to the location the Ground Squirrels
are one of the classiest organizations around. I love playing in Columbus,
Ohio, as well because if the great variation of teams and locals represented
there."
Mark "Wheels" Olmsted
Positions: Left Scout
Clubs: St. Louis Perfectos
Ballist Since: 2005