87-year-old Bruce Jaslow just can't quit playing baseball

Bruce Jaslow won’t let his age stop him from doing the things he loves.

The 87-year-old retired dentist from Old Brookville plays competitive baseball twice a week for two different Long Island teams, and has no plans to stop anytime soon.

“It’s almost close to an addiction, really,” Jaslow said.

Jaslow is the oldest player in the Long Island-affiliate of the Men's Senior Baseball League, which was established in 1988 and has leagues across the U.S and in Puerto Rico, the Netherlands and Australia. 

Jaslow plays in the 55-and-over division with teammates who are mostly in the 60s, his teammate, Cliff Archer said. But Jaslow is the oldest, "by yards," Archer adds.

Jaslow said he received a tryout letter from the Brooklyn Dodgers after graduating from Forest Hills High School in Queens, where he was a lefthanded pitcher. He weighed the offer against a summer job to pay for college and chose the latter, deciding he wasn’t talented enough to make the big leagues. He pitched at the University of Buffalo but said he never received attention from pro scouts.

Jaslow has been a part of the MSBL since 1989, but he’s been playing the sport since 1950 when he moved to Bayside at 12 years old.

“A local sports store organized a baseball league for kids who were around 12, 13 years old. I signed up for it and been playing ever since,” Jaslow said.

Jaslow’s pitching days are long gone thanks to three rotator cuff surgeries, but he has other skills to offer.

“When I started playing [in the MSBL] I realized I have to learn how to hit so I've spent the past several years learning how to hit,” he said. “Running the bases, I don’t think I’ve really slowed down very much.”

Archer, one of Jaslow’s teammates, agreed.

“We have to put a harness on him once he gets on base because he just wants to run,” Archer said. “He runs the bases like a thief.”

Archer, a catcher who has played on-and-off with Jaslow for decades, said one of his favorite memories of Jaslow was watching him strike out former major league pitcher Dave Von Ohlen on three pitches. Jaslow said he was in his mid-50s when the lefty-lefty matchup occurred.

“It was probably the biggest celebration you’ve seen on this side of the ‘69 Mets,” Archer said. “I don’t even know what Bruce threw him but he took it for a called strike three.”

Jaslow confirmed that a curveball, a high-and-in fastball fouled away and a split-finger fastball got the job done.

Above all, his teammates value Jaslow’s enthusiasm, especially Archer, who umpires little league baseball and still sees more enthusiasm from Jaslow than the newest generation of ball players.

“I see 10 and 12 year olds that don’t have the get-up-and-go that he does,” Archer said. “He gets disappointed when we get rained out, almost like a kid.”

No matter the age, those around him remember why they play baseball.

“He’s just so inspirational,” Archer said. “You see Bruce in the outfield, warming himself up, and you’re like, ‘Well if he can do it I can do it.’ ”