By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

It has been 58 years since Tom Hannan played baseball for the first time.

Even today, though, at 67 years old, it still feels like the first time when he walks onto the diamond.

The excitement.

The joy.

The freedom.

The desire to win.

The diamond has always been a place for Hannan to get away from everything and immerse himself in the warmth of the sun, the smell of the grass, the feel of the dirt, the distinct sounds and the priceless friendships that have filled his heart for decades.

When he is on the field, he is still the same carefree boy.

Maybe, admittedly, with just a few more aches and pains now than yesteryear, playing two of the most demanding positions on the field as a catcher and first baseman.

At one point, Hannan was still playing as often as four times a week in amateur leagues across Northeast Ohio.

And beyond.

He recently returned from a week-long tournament in Fort Myers, Fla.

The game still has a hold on him and it has never let go.

Or, better stated, he has not let it go.

“I told my wife before we got married that there were two things I would never give up: Playing baseball and coaching football,” Hannan said.

He has stayed true to his word, but so has his wife of 44 years, Maureen, a dental hygienist, who has lovingly supported him along the way.

Hannan is currently the football head coach (142 career wins) at Rootstown High School and the baseball head coach at Salem High School. He has spent the last four decades coaching both sports with various stops along the way, most notably for his 16 years as the football coach at Crestwood High School.

Some would not be surprised that he is still coaching.

Others, however, may be surprised to know that he is still playing baseball at 67.

The explanation is easy: His competitive spirit and his love for the game still burns bright.

Initially, money actually caught his attention.

When Hannan, who moved to Sheffield Lakes from Miami, Fla., when he as 10, first started playing baseball for Lorain Little League. His father, Jack, would pay him for his success at the plate.

“He would pay me a quarter for a single, 50 cents for a double, 75 cents for a triple and five dollars for a home run,” Hannan said with a smile.

It was a simple motivation, albeit expensive for the elder Hannan.

As Hannan grew older, the game itself was enough to inspire him.

He starred at Brookside High School, lettered in all four years at the University of Mount Union and has played in semi-pro leagues after graduating with his Bachelor’s degree in education.

Hannan, who has since retired as a Physical Education teacher, has been inducted into the Brookside High School Athletic Hall of Fame, Cuyahoga County AAA League Hall of Fame, Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame and most recently was added to the National Semi-Pro Baseball Hall of Fame. 

His amateur career began with the Lorain Internationals and Strongsville Americans.

Hannan is the Cuyahoga County AAA League’s all-time leader in at-bats and hits (1,037). He is also approaching 1,000 hits while playing as a member of the Erie Coast Cubs, which he has also managed.

Hannan, who graduated from Brookside in 1978, has also played for the Bison, Avon A’s, Lumber and Lightning, 50-and-over Sidewinders, 40-and-over Canton Tigers and 60-and-over Orioles.

“I never started playing baseball to be in any Hall of Fame,” said Hannan, who has had three surgeries to repair his meniscus, as well as operations for a torn rotator cuff and labrum. “I only played and still play because I just love playing. God blessed me with the ability to hit a baseball. When I first started playing, I loved that feeling, and I fell in love with the game.

“Then, when I got into my adult life, I was fortunate that my work schedule, being a teacher, gave me the summers off, which gave me the time to keep playing,” Hannan added. “If I had a 9 to 5 job all year round, I would not have been able to keep playing.”

His playing schedule includes the 60-and-over league at Thurman Munson on Saturdays, 60-and-over league in Cleveland on Sundays and the 65-and-older Roy Hobbs League in Akron on Thursday afternoons.

The excitement and joy of the game will be there.

So will Hannan.

Just like always.