Resident tapped to play ball

Resident hall-of-famer Bill King stepped up to the mound.  

Residents at Primrose Retirement Community in Mishawaka, Indiana, put their names in a hat for the chance to throw the first pitch ahead of Sunday’s game for the South Bend Cubs, the Class-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. King attended many games with his family growing up and grew up to be quite the athlete.

King, 89, ran track and played football for the undefeated 1949 team at Ball State Teachers College, now known as Ball State University. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. He’s a member of the Ball State Hall of Fame, Elkhart Hall of Fame and Indiana Hall of Fame.

“I’m going to do my utmost,” King says to local CBS affiliate WSBT. “I don’t play that much or use the ball, but I’ve been playing a little bit. So hope I get it from here to there, but I’ll have fun just being there.”

But that wasn’t satisfactory for the two South Bend Cubs players who moved into the community.

“Bill, you better get it there,” says pitcher Chad Hockin.

“I expect a strike and a big smile,” adds catcher Tyler Payne.

“Well, I hope I get it out there right across the plate,” King says.

His family and friends from Primrose Retirement Community, including Hockin and Payne, cheered him on. 

Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.