Guy Leeder Invitational honors slow-pitch 'Godfather'

While sitting in the Guy Leeder Complex bleachers at last weekend's Guy Leeder Invitational, Roger Jackson nodded to the field.   

"This kid right here, (No.) 27," Jackson said.  

Jackson, who helps run Clovis USSSA softball, was making the point that this "No. 27" likely never got to experience the legend that is Guy Leeder – the man who transformed adult softball in Clovis from a 1960s hobby to a cultural phenomenon – and that's why holding the tournament was so essential: Ensuring that future generations understand the meaning behind the name.   

"The Godfather of Slow-pitch in Clovis," said former umpire Jeff Greene, whose Guy Leeder-inspired apron draped over his Guy Leeder-inspired jersey.  

Seen on the sleeve of Greene's jersey was the timeline of Leeder's life: 1942-2007. 

As the anniversary of his passing is creeping up on two decades, it's even more important to keep his memory alive.   

Because without Leeder, this complex wouldn't bring in hordes of teams from Lubbock, Amarillo, Albuquerque and beyond to Clovis. This increase in out-of-town traffic brings an increase in revenue to local motels and restaurants, Jackson said.   

Leeder, an electrician who could dance the jitter bug, wanted to build softball around a family first culture. It is why he insisted on teams bringing their families to local games and then traveling with their families to away tournaments.   

And on multiple occasions, if a player could not afford a motel room, then Leeder, who coached Guy's Electric, would pick up the tab himself.   

"He didn't want just the ball player. He wanted the family, and he wanted the kids," said Jackson.  

This mentality spread into the construction of the complex, exemplified through the jungle gym. This past Saturday, as softballs were being thwacked, kids zoomed down a red slide, bellowed into talk tubes and scooted through red tubes.   

All of them catching whiffs of the hamburgers and bratwursts sizzling on massive grills heated by vats of charcoal from nearby Amistad Pavilion.  

And, it was here at this pavilion, where a gaggle of people wearing those purple Guy Leeder-inspired jerseys (purple was Leeder's favorite color) served food and laughed.   

"This was Guy," Mary Beth Chancey said, gazing out at the scene; wooden tables filled with people munching on hamburgers, smoke rising from grills all while a softball tournament was played.   

It offered a glimpse at the greater purpose of what Leeder was trying to build. All of it though, traced back to softball. Leeder's passion for it was uncanny. Quinn Culliver, who played for Leeder on Guy's Electric, recalled that Leeder would keep a mental rolodex of players' tendencies. Positioning Culliver out in centerfield for a batter who Leeder may not have seen for years.   

Leeder even gave young, directionless adults opportunities to work for his electric company. Sometimes on one condition: They must play for Guy's Electric.   

But, of course, those days have since passed.   

What remains are the memories, the merchandise, the complex, the tournament and a thick, yellowing photobook Stuart Stratton has from those glory years.  

From his Clovis home, Stratton thumbed through it and reminisced. One photo showed Leeder hoisting a massive trophy with his right arm. Another showed teammates hanging out in lawn chairs. Another photo was from a tournament in Dallas.   

From one page to the next, a smile unraveled underneath Stratton's blue eyes. When reflecting on Leeder's passing, those blue eyes were surrounded by red strings.   

"Brought back some feelings," Stratton said. "It's tough."   

But, in this case, "tough" is better than forgotten.  

"They (players unfamiliar with Leeder) need to know Guy Leeder started all of this. He started this whole thing," Stratton said.