Bolen has become a fixture with Capahas summer baseball team

Jess Bolen began playing for the Cape Girardeau Capahas -- believed to be the oldest amateur baseball team in the United States -- in 1959.

By all accounts, Bolen was a fine player. But he has made his biggest mark with the tradition-rich summer squad after taking over as manager in 1967.

An almost mind-boggling total of 38 years later, Bolen is still going strong at the helm of the Capahas. His record is a staggering 1,229-314, which includes 23 consecutive appearances in the prestigious National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

"To be honest with you, I never thought I would stay at it this long," Bolen said. "But the Capahas mean a lot to me, and they've been a big part of not only my life but my family's life. I love it and as long as I keep loving it, I may as well keep going."

Since Bolen took over the team, the Capahas worst record has been 14-6, and that came in his first season. Since then, the Capahas have averaged more than 30 victories per year.

Bolen has built his dynasty using an annual blend of current and former college baseball standouts, and he's also over the years utilized his share of future and former professional players.

Under Bolen's direction, the Capahas won their first state amateur baseball championship in 1980 and have captured a dozen state titles since.

Although the Capahas have had a host of strong showings at the NBC World Series, their high-water mark came in 1988 when they finished fourth.

In 1987, the Capahas won their first 28 games. That year, they went 16 games without committing an error, which Bolen figures must be a record for any level of baseball.

"That's just unheard of," Bolen said. "Especially since a lot of times some of the fields you play on are not that good."

The Capahas have given fans plenty of summer thrills over the years on muggy nights and sweltering days. They've had a solid core group of fans and are able to add new ones annually.

"I think the support we've gotten from the community over the years has been wonderful," Bolen said. "And also the great support our different sponsors over the years have given us. Without them, I don't think all of this would have been possible."

With another 30-win season under the Capahas' belts in 2004 and 62 wins in the past two seasons, there appears to be no letting up in sight.