Roscoe Speak

Steve Virgen

Nowadays, Roscoe Speak spends most of his time in a recliner or his

wheelchair.

But that was not the case 20 years ago, or even two years back.

Speak, a Costa Mesa resident who will be 84 in May, starred while

playing senior division softball for 18 years, winning 12 world

series titles. He had to stop playing two years ago because of

illness.

For the past year, Speak has been dealing with lupus and low blood

pressure. He is only able to walk short distances. Evelyn, his wife

of 48 years, usually pushes him around in a wheelchair, mostly to

doctor appointments.

“I can’t complain about my condition now,” Speak said. “I was real

healthy and my friends couldn’t get over the energy I exuded

throughout the years.”

Speak, a left-hander, started playing senior softball when he was

64. He loved the game and could play any position on the field, but

he mostly pitched or played first base.

He competed for Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, San Juan Capistrano

and San Diego. There were times he played in Anaheim. During a week,

Speak, who was retired, would play every day.

From 1990 to 1996, when he played for the San Juan Capistrano

Angels, he traveled a great deal. Speak and his wife went to Chicago,

Detroit, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma City, Arizona and Canada, among

other destinations, to play softball.

“Softball kept me young and my wife was my best supporter,” Speak

said. “She loves to travel. She took pictures and kept score. She met

a lot of the other wives. We met nice people throughout the country

and we have good friends in Iowa. We also had relatives in Kentucky

and Virginia and we visited them. We loved to travel.”

One of Speak’s softball highlights came in 1990. At age 70, he

helped lead the San Juan Capistrano Angels to a world series

championship in the 70-and-older division. He pitched in the title

game in Arizona.

“I have 12 world series championships,” Speak said. “Eleven rings

and one watch.”

Last week, the Angels had a reunion at a restaurant in Costa Mesa.

Speak was saddened when he realized seven of the 14 players have

died.

“I miss those guys,” he said. “I keep a list of those who have

died.”

Softball was a great retirement activity for Speak, who definitely

put his time in before he retired. He served for 21 years in the

Marine Corps and retired as a first sergeant. He also worked 18 years

for Ford Aerospace.

Now, Speak is doing his best to relax in his Costa Mesa home and

he’s trying to enjoy his days with Evelyn. They have two grown

children and six grandchildren.

Their son, Eric, died in the Vietnam War. Roscoe fought in World

War II and the Korean War. The memories of his son bring him

happiness.

“He was awarded the Silver Star,” Speak said. “He used to play

Little League in Costa Mesa. He played at Lions Park. He was a

pitcher and first baseman. Nobody could hit off him.”

Like father, like son.