Twice a week during the summer, the Goodtimers come to bat. The team, part of the Lexington Men’s Senior Softball League, has remained a fixture in town since its founding more than half a century ago.
In 1974, Bob Burbidge, then a senior at Northeastern University, was among the Goodtimers’ founders. The team joined the existing Lexington Men’s Softball League.
“I thought it would be something to keep the friends from college together after we graduated, and we figured we’d play for a few years, and that would be the end of it,” Burbidge said.
A few years has turned into 53 for the Goodtimers. Though Burbidge no longer plays, he remains actively involved with the team and its outings.
“I live vicariously through them when I get out and watch,” Burbidge told LexObserver. “We also have done a lot of fundraising and charity work, including on our 30th anniversary and 40th anniversary.”
Front Row: Dan Tocci, Rick Burbidge, Paul Spuria, Bobby Shields, Lou Fedele, Bill Finnegan
Back Row: John Simpson, Paul Silverman, Marc Ciampa, Bob Burbidge, Lenny Tierney, Herb Cabral, Al Ginesky, Bruce Berchtold, Peter Gennaro
The teams in the adult softball league, including the Goodtimers, are made up of people whose lives and commitments often extend well beyond the softball field.
“There’s a lot of folks in the league that are doing other things here in town: they’re on committees, they’re in town meetings, so the one to two nights a week rule works pretty well today,” Burbidge said.
Brian Soucy, one of the Goodtimers’ managers, joined the team four years ago. His goal reflects what the team has valued for decades: giving players a chance to compete while still having fun.
“I wanted to make sure that there’s a way for the older guys to continue playing, and that we stay true to that spirit, but at the same time try to get a little more competitive and people from the younger generations,” Soucy said.
After their weekly games, the Goodtimers often spend evenings together, either at a player’s house or at a local restaurant.
“I do enjoy the time chatting with alumni, hearing their old stories, reminiscent of old players that have come and gone,” Soucy said.
One of the players at the center of many of those stories is 88-year-old Ray Ciccolo, the oldest member of the Goodtimers. As younger teammates continue to join the team, Ciccolo has become a fixture in the league.
“Lots and lots of guys say to me when they see me play, then they’re going to continue playing,” Ciccolo said. “They say I’m not retiring until you retire.”
It does not seem as though Ciccolo will be retiring anytime soon. In a recent outing, he got on base twice in a close game and eventually scored both times, helping the Goodtimers win their first game of the season.
Since joining nearly four decades ago, the Goodtimers have become an integral part of Ciccolo’s life, creating a community unlike any other.
“It’s created terrific friendships. I know many of the players on the other teams, and I look forward to seeing them every year,” Ciccolo said. “It’s a wonderful way to spend the summer.”
Having existed longer than many of its current players, the Goodtimers’ longevity has become central to the team’s identity.
“It is special to be a part of a team that’s been around Lexington for so long. Goodtimers are still hanging around and they’re still playing softball,” Soucy said.