GAMES PEOPLE PLAY — Lower Little League Salutes Mickey McPherson-7-25

Mickey McPherson is perhaps best described as a product of his generation who continued giving back to the youth of hiscommunity for three decades.
Born Richard McPherson more than 73 years ago in the only community he’s ever called home, the Cold Spring resident is about to end an era of remarkable success as a manager in the Lower Cape May Regional Little League.
He will manage his final little league contest at 7 p.m., Saturday at Rotary Field behind the Mitnick School at the foot of the West Cape May canal bridge.
McPherson, who labored on his family’s dairy and lima bean farms as a youngster, followed up a two-year Navy stint with a career as an oil and gas delivery man and nearly two decades as a school bus driver.
For most of those years, McPherson spent his spring and summers on little league diamonds working with youngsters on the fundamentals of a game McPherson has never stopped loving.
“I was watching my son’s team in 1978 and he didn’t get to play much,” said McPherson. “He was a good ballplayer, and felt he deserved a better shot so I asked Margie Dellas if I could take over the team the following year when the coach left. My son eventually left little league but I never did.”
In his 20s, McPherson patrolled left field for the old Cape May Marlins in the late ‘50s and ‘60s. His enduring love for the game was born on sandlots throughout Lower Township and Cape May where neighborhood kids played from dawn until lunch, and then again until dinner and then until dark.
“Electronics have changed everything,” said McPherson of the obvious decline in interest among America’s youth in baseball. “It started with TV and it’s gone downhill from there.”
Over 29 years of coaching, McPherson has seen the steady descent in baseball’s popularity among young people. He recalled the nearly 200 boys present for tryouts in 1990 compared to the less than 40 who showed up to show their stuff this past season.
“There are so many things to occupy a child’s time,” said McPherson. “A parent tells them to pick something. And a lot are dropping baseball.”
Over the years, McPherson’s biggest joy came from drafting nine-year-olds and watching them develop their baseball and life skills. He credits good health with allowing him to keep up with youngsters.
This season, however, McPherson started experiencing shoulder trouble due to arthritis, which robbed him of his ability to toss batting practice and work “hands-on” with the players.
“A key to my success was being able to act like a kid and teach the players,” said McPherson. “It’s really all about pitching and I always tried to develop and teach pitchers.”
McPherson’s alumni include former Triple A professional baseball player Steve Worrell, who came to McPherson’s tutelage as a tiny nine-year-old draftee. Several coaches selecting ahead of McPherson selected bigger, slugging type kids.
“Steve had to pitch in his first year out of necessity,” said McPherson. “As a lefty he had a natural slider movement on his pitches. He was 8-0 that first season and he later threw the only perfect game I ever saw in little league. Eighteen up and 18 down.”
McPherson’s loving spouse, Sandra, patiently and understandingly shared her husband with the countless little leaguers he helped mold and guide into adolescents. The couple has three grown children in Susan, Sandra and Eric along with six grandchildren.
So when did Richard, or Rich or Dick become Mickey?
“I was in third grade and my cousin, Muriel, insisted that I should have a nickname,” said McPherson with a chuckle. “The next day she came up with Mickey and it stuck.”
To many little leaguers he’s been known as “Mr. Mickey.” There’s a story behind that, too.
“Mr. McPherson was kind of tough for the kids so I told them to just call me Mr. Mickey,” said the coach.
As for advice to current and future little league coaches, McPherson says the key is to treat the players like adults.
“Treat them right and explain things to them,” he said. “Be straight forward with your players. If they’re happy the parents are happy. And it’s not necessarily about playing time.”
As for what he’ll miss the most come next spring, McPherson was quick to say, simply, “all of it.” He cited the “atmosphere” of little league baseball and teaching the players about life.
“Baseball is a lot like life,” said McPherson. “There are good days and bad days and they have to learn how to handle it.”
Although McPherson won his share of titles, the part-time Clearwater, Fla., resident insists his affection for his annual coaching duties was never about championships.
This Saturday evening will be the ultimate home game for Richard “Mickey” McPherson. There will be free hot dogs and other goodies to celebrate the contributions of a humble, hardworking man who never stopped giving back to youth. It will be a small token of a career in community service.
Most importantly there will be a little league baseball game.
“I love baseball,” he said. “I love getting out there with the players. I love the game. I truly enjoyed all of it.”