National Sandlot Association of America
Glendale, California, USA
Since 1960
Current Jib and History On-line Playing continuously since 1960, the NSAA was a conglomeration of mostly High School buddies from Glendale California and vicinity, who enjoyed playing pick-up sports, namely Slow Pitch softball in the summer and and Flag Football in the fall. But nothing lasts forever and the NSAA was no exception. It all ended during the 55th softball season on May 28th 2014 when field non-availability and a general lack of players brought down the curtain. As for football, needless to say it was not as popular as softball as it demands a much better physical condition to play, and injuries do crop up. Nevertheless it still kicked a hole in 229 Sunday afternoons up until 1982. We really didn't require a certain age or size as much as "Could the kid play ball and
take care of himself on the field?" We were looking for people who know the fundamentals of the
game and not people
asleep on the field or playing "grab-ass". Great softball or football skills per se, however, were not mandatory.
We liked "White Chips" (lowest skilled) players
just as much as we liked "Gold Chips". (Well, almost). If you were looking for a serious, ultra-competitive brand of action, this league was probably not for you.
Updated May 2024
During the last half-century, the league used 16 different
facilities (school grounds and parks) in the greater Glendale, La Crescenta, La Canada and Burbank areas and sported a roster of over 200 different guys
and gals who had played at least 10 evenings in their careers. Another 100 played less than that. On the softball side, two "pick-up" games were played
each night with those on hand, with 30 nights comprising a season. Wins-losses and batting stats were kept for each individual and printed weekly. At season's end, an NSAA ballcap was presented to the player with the best won-lost record amongst those who made 2/3 of the games or more. The season ran from mid-April thru early August
and was followed immediately by the infamous Del Mar junket.
Playing NSAA softball must have been a healthy passtime as we have alot of guys hangin'
right in there rollin' up to eighty. Or was it the pizza and beer?
