An Iowa Valley League legend

From his days as a batboy to his current role as league secretary, Mike Gibney is Iowa Valley League baseball to many.

That's what happens when you spend 65 of your 70 years attached to a labor of love.

"Well I started out as a batboy in Iowa Valley League in 1946 with Atkins, when I was a kid," Gibney said.

He later played in the league, managed and, for the past 32 years, has held his current title.

He has seen the town league - which includes teams from Fairfax, Walford, Norway and Watkins - go through a lot of changes over the past 65 years.

"Back in the '40s and '50s, it was common for player to move into the community, to live, work and play baseball for the town team," he said. "That's really how the league got roots. It was so ingrained with the community.

"The Sunday afternoon ballgame was a big event for the area."

Gibney said that has changed a bit over the years.

"Now you see more college players coming out here to play," he said. "We have been getting players from Iowa, and a lot of the Division III schools have had guys come out here to play."

There also have been professional baseball players in the league, either before or after their best days.

Former Norway High School and University of Iowa standout Mike Boddicker, whose Major League Baseball career included an American League Championship Series MVP award with Baltimore in 1983 and an All Star game appearance in 1984, played in the league before his pro career.

"Dick McVey, who played pro ball for a few years, ended up playing here for a long time," Gibney said.

But this league was built around the towns and the people who live there, people like Gibney.

"Over the years, we have had our share of great people come through, including a few out of the same families," he said. "People like the Schirm's out of Covington, or the Arp's from Walford.

"That's part of what makes this league special."

By Jeff Hare, correspondent