Congratulations to Jess Bolen on an outstanding career

After half a century, Burger King Capahas manager Jess Bolen is laying down the scorecard. On Tuesday, he coached the final home game of his baseball career; he is retiring after what was originally going to be a short stint on the baseball diamond.

"It was supposed to be a year, and it turned into 50," Bolen told family, friends and fans who gathered to pay tribute to him at Capaha Field.

His impressive 1,515-409 record as of Tuesday's game is just a part of his accomplishments. His resume also includes 19 state championships, 35 consecutive National Baseball Congress World Series appearances and four Hall of Fame honors: the NBC Hall of Fame, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame and the Southeast Missouri Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, as the Southeast Missourian's Josh Mlot reported after the final home game. Bolen won that game 7-6 after rallying in the ninth inning.

The Burger King Capahas manager was treated like a king himself on his last home game. Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger and Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce president John Mehner were on hand for this momentous occasion, sending Bolen off with fitting adulation. Perhaps what speaks best of the influence he had, however, are the 21 former players who took the time to return for the occasion.

"Through the years, to stay with it, he and [wife] Mary and the family, to stay with this team over 50 years," Rediger said. "You saw how many former players [came tonight]. They didn't have to come tonight. They love Jess and Mary and the Bolen family."

He added, "They've just meant so much to our community and the Capahas and Capaha Park. ... In the summer when you talk baseball, you talk Jess Bolen and the Capahas."

After 50 years, fans would find it odd not to see a Bolen at the helm of the oldest amateur baseball team in the U.S., dating back to 1894, but they don't have to worry about that. Bolen's son Tom will assume the role of coach next summer. He has some huge cleats to fill, and we wish him well.

Congratulations, Coach Jess, on your career, and thank you for bringing such good times to our community.