In Memory
Nov 26, 2002 marks the passing of our good friend and the founder of the Little League Challenger Division, Ed Beardsley of Bristol.
Ed was always closely associated with our Newington team and for many years happily accepted our invitation to play us on our opening day.
Ed began playing baseball with his 8-year-old son, David, and four other disabled children in 1986. Word spread about what he was doing and within three years mentors were doing the same in other states.
Little League officially took on the idea in 1989 and named it the Challenger Division. Today, there are 25,000 handicapped athletes in the program, all thanks to Ed.
Ed was the recipient of the first Little League Challenger Award in 1998. He and his wife, Ann Bachand, represented Bristol in the third series of "T-Ball on the South Lawn" at the White house with President Bush.
We will always be thankful for all of Ed's selfless hard work on behalf of our children, and we will never forget his soft spoken kindness, his wit and humor and the joy that he has brought to the players and their families. Rest in peace, Ed.
Read more about Ed and the Challenger Division in THIS ARTICLE that appeared in USA Today.