The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — As one of the highlights of this year’s Hayden Daze event, the new Little League field at the town’s Dry Creek Park will be named after Don Morgan on Saturday.

Morgan, a longtime Hayden resident, was on the town’s first baseball team in 1913, parks and recreation officials told the Town Board in May. He also was a teacher, coach, principal and superintendent in the Hayden School District.

Morgan, 90, lives at the Haven Assisted Living Facility on the eastern side of town. He spoke with emotion about his passion for baseball and softball — and about the town’s decision to name the field after him.

“I thoroughly enjoy the game,” Morgan said. “I played it all my life, from a kid on up through adulthood.”

He said he lived in Denver and played in the minor league there for years. His room in the Haven is decorated with dozens of family photos and baseball memorabilia. On top of his television sits the first foul ball he caught as a spectator at a game. He can’t remember which team was playing.

Morgan said he was shocked and thrilled to find out about the field naming.

“I fainted,” he said jokingly. “No, but that’s how I felt. This was quite an honor for me. ... I’ve lived in Hayden for a long time, but this was quite a surprise.”

Morgan said he definitely plans to attend the field naming, which is set to occur Saturday evening during the Community Potluck.

“You couldn’t keep me away,” he said, smiling. “I want to be there when it happens.”

Although Morgan is happy to have his name on the field, he said he was not looking for the recognition.

“I just had a great life playing ball,” he said.

Also at Hayden Daze

A couple of things will be different at this weekend’s Hayden Daze, Parks and Recreation Director Kathy Hockett said. The Lions Club and the Bob Robinson Sr. breakfasts were canceled this year, she said.

“They’re just unable to drive to do these events anymore, and it was getting to be pretty expensive for them with the economy,” Hockett said of the groups.

There will be more and larger inflatables this year, she said. Also new this year, Chaos Ink Design and Screen Printing in Craig is giving the town 50 free T-shirts. The first 50 people to dunk a coach at the dunk tank will receive one, Hockett said.

The town had considered skipping the parade this year, in part because the Shriners will not be coming from Denver to participate, she said. The show will go on, however, and the town is accepting entries until Friday.

— To reach Blythe Terrell, call 871-4234 or e-mail bterrell@steamboatpilot.com