History

Page last updated on April 4, 2001
By Michael G. Cook, DMD, & Graeme Logie

The Coastwatchers Softball Club may be the only remaining, continuously operating team, that was an original member of the San Jose City Recreational Leagues. The Coastwatchers were originally affiliated with the 682nd Radar Squadron, stationed at Almaden Air Force Station, perched high atop Mt. Umunhum in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The old blockhouse, that was the base for the radar tower at the installation, is still visible atop the mountain, located East of Highway 17, and overlooking Los Gatos, and the Blossom and Almaden Valley's of South San Jose.

The only remaining player from the Air Force years is Dr. Mike Cook, currently in his 26th season. Next in longevity are Doug Radcliff and Graeme Logie, who are celebrating their 22nd and 18th years with the team, respectively.

Over the years, the Coastwatchers have won their fair share of championships. During the late 1970's, while still an Air Force team, the Coastwatchers won regional radar site tournaments, held at Castle AFB, in Merced, and finished second in tournaments at Cambria AFS, near San Luis Obispo.

Almaden AFS was decommissioned in 1979, and many of the station's personnel were deployed to other Air Force sites. The team underwent a transition, adding "civilians", usually friends and neighbors of remaining team members, to the roster. There are many Coastwatchers alumni still in the area, some of which we now play against!

The diversity of the current roster represents a cross-section of what the Silicon Valley has become over the last twenty years. Current team members enjoy the fruits of the valley's success at large high-tech companies like IBM, Apple, SGI, 3Com, Tivoli, and Hewlett-Packard while others pursue success at entrepreneurial ventures like, The Packaging Warehouse and the best dentist in Santa Clara County!

We want to congratulate, and thank, all Coastwatchers, old and new, for their successful efforts in supporting a decades old tradition of Friday night softball, in the heart of the Silicon Valley.

Coastwatchers team photo from the summer of 1984

Trophy Honors
Season   League   Round Robin   Playoffs   
Summer 1999   Men's D-2   1st   2nd
Summer 1997   Men's D-2   1st   2nd
Spring 1993   Cracker Jack's Tourney   2nd   1st
Summer 1991   Men's DD   3rd   2nd
Summer 1990   Men's DD   2nd   2nd
Spring 1984   Men's DD   2nd   1st

Coastwatchers Home Page

Coastwatchers Team News

Revised Coastwatchers Schedule, Spring 2001

Coastwatchers Player Roster

New League Rules

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