“I like (to watch) basketball,” remarks centenarian Leo Baley, “but baseball’s my game, has been since I was a kid.” Leo (pictured at left) still has his first glove, which he keeps among his baseball memorabilia. It was very well used during his high school and college years. “Look at the difference between then and today, in the design,” he marvels. In law school, though, Leo had to give up the sport. “I was married at the time, working during the day and going to school at night; at my wife’s urging, I didn’t have time left for sports.” Leo describes himself as having been a “country lawyer,” but he spent part of his career working for the state of Wisconsin. “I retired as soon as I could, and my wife, who was a nurse, and I enjoyed life. We took cruises and one year drove up the Alaskan highway.”
Leo is still enjoying his retirement years, complete with a little baseball participation. For his 100th birthday last July 8th, he got to throw out the first ball at an Arizona Diamondback’s home game. He also got to meet some of the players and Joe Gargiola, Sr., pictured with Leo at the left. “That was a real thrill,” he tells. Is he looking forward to a repeat performance this year? “I doubt it,” Leo says with a smile. “That’s a once-in-a lifetime experience. But I’m glad the season’s started so I can watch the games on TV!” Leo has been a life-long Milwaukee Brewers fan; now residing in Arizona, he counts himself as one of the thousands of Arizona Diamondbacks fans. 
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