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<p>When the discussion is about baseball legends, the name Reynold Derenfeld is never mentioned.</p><p>But it should be.</p><p>Reynold, for me, is a true baseball legend.</p><p>He was a participant in Victory Baseball, which is for adults with mental and/or physical challenges.</p><p>Reynold E. Derenfeld, 54, of Wilkes-Barre, died Feb. 2.</p><p>I&#8217;m &#8220;the announcer guy&#8221; at Victory Baseball games. And I tell people about our Victory participants all the time.</p><p>Like Reynold, a man who was in his mid-40s when I first met him. Reynold enjoyed playing baseball since the first time he stepped on the Victory diamond.</p><p>The first time Reynold played a Victory game, he was all decked out in his Phillies uniform. He had a good day, as all Victory participants do &#8212; never getting out and reaching base every time he got up to bat.</p><p>I remember when he scored his first run &#8212; it was like he had just won the World Series for his team.</p><p>When the game was over, Reynold stopped me and said this:</p><p>&#8220;This is the first time I ever wore a real baseball uniform and played on a real baseball field.&#8221;</p><p>Reynold was speaking for most of our players. And that&#8217;s why we have to speak for them.</p><p>Reynold loved the game of baseball. He couldn&#8217;t wait to get to the field, in his uniform, and get up to the plate. It never got old for Reynold &#8212; and he never complained about anything.</p><p>Whenever you have time, attend a Victory event. Whether it be baseball at West Pittston Little League, basketball at the West Side Career and Technical Center in Pringle, or a Victory dance at Our Lady of Mount Carmel on William Street in Pittston. One thing is guaranteed &#8212; you will have fun and you will be amazed at all that is going on at these events.</p><p>Victory is now in its eighth year. There are four baseball teams &#8212; Yankees, Phillies, Giants and Cubs. The players wear full baseball uniforms and they play on a real baseball field. &#8220;Buddies&#8221; are utilized to help some of the more involved participants hold a bat and run the bases. Nobody ever gets out in Victory, no team ever loses &#8212; everybody is always a winner.</p><p>Victory has received many testimonials from parents and caregivers who have seen remarkable changes in their children/loved ones. Each Victory participant is a story of courage, perseverance and determination.</p><p>Reynold&#8217;s obituary noted that he loved fishing, NASCAR racing and the Dallas Cowboys. Victory likes to offer its participants as many different activities as possible to expand/improve their quality of life.</p><p>That&#8217;s what it&#8217;s all about. Participants like Reynold get to do things they perhaps have never done before and trust me, they appreciate it.</p><p>Living our daily lives, we don&#8217;t always get an appreciation of what those who have not shared the same experiences would really appreciate.</p><p>Like wearing a real baseball uniform for the first time and playing on a real baseball field for the first time.</p><p>Like Reynold did in his mid-40s.</p><p>I will miss Reynold and his peers will miss him as well.</p><p>Sadly, we won&#8217;t ever see Reynold in the Baseball Hall of Fame, nor will any of his teammates be inducted into those hallowed halls of Cooperstown, New York.</p><p>But it doesn&#8217;t mean they don&#8217;t deserve it.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Reynold-Derenfeld-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Reynold Derenfeld </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Reynold-Derenfeld-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Reynold Derenfeld </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Columnshot-1-1-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Bill O&#8217;Boyle </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Columnshot-1-1-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Bill O&#8217;Boyle </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle, or email at boboyle@www.timesleader.com.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Beyond the Byline: Reynold Derenfeld was a Hall of Famer