Setting the record straight on Twins baseball and Memorial Field
The Glacier Twins Board members are community members, former players and parents of past, present and future players. Some are parents of players who are or were part of the Twins, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Blades, Badrock and local youth baseball programs. Some are new to the board and some serving for over 20 years.
Mr. Julio Delgado has a long history of coaching baseball that deserves recognition, but he is not actively involved in any organization that provides opportunities to play baseball in our community as far as we are aware, and hasn’t been affiliated with The Glacier Twins for over 30 years. To paint this board (Memorial Field being treated like a private playground, April 6) as anything other than a dedicated and diverse group of members who participate in, serve and support not only the Glacier Twins, but various baseball organizations across the community, is simply unfair and untrue.
We don’t always agree and the work of being on such a diverse board is not easy, but we are bound together by our commitment to the Glacier Twins and the greater baseball community. If that is not being all about baseball in the community, then what is?
To make statements about “good faith,” “bamboozling,” and “not caring” is fundamentally wrong and borderline libelous. Mr. Delgado owes quite a few apologies to community members and representatives.
To fit our letter into the space available we can only address a few of the falsehoods.
The arrangement between the city and the Glacier Twins is being misrepresented in his letter and in conversations and social media posts.
The property is city owned, but the baseball facilities have been built and maintained over the years by Whitefish and Columbia Falls American Legion Posts, the Glacier Twins and generous community contributors, not taxpayers. It is untrue and hypocritical to claim that the Glacier Twins Board “would tell you” that they personally were responsible for building the field, while claiming credit yourself and neglecting to credit the involvement of so many others. This program and its facilities stand on the shoulders of so many people and so many stories over the years. Conversation about whether the field contract is the best arrangement — and we believe anyone who has all of the facts would agree it is — is a separate issue from the logistical and financial facts of the contract.
The current grandstand is anything but generic and does in fact have a number of rooms beneath it that are used for umpires, equipment and merchandise.
To say “you can partially thank the Glacier Twins program for your property tax increase” is also incorrect. Nowhere in the presentations and conversations was there mention of a portion of the project being necessary because of anything the Glacier Twins did or did not do. We did hear a lot about the outfield of a baseball field not being optimal for a football field and how current football structures need significant capital improvement anyway.
The Glacier Twins is a not-for-profit entity with a treasurer who does her job incredibly well and an audit committee that reviews finances. An accusation such as “saw Memorial Field as a money-making enterprise” is untrue and again unfair to the board. Comments regarding one or two accounting line items without a full financial understanding run the risk of being misleading or entirely wrong.
Some of the numbers quoted in this letter and discussed in the community are from city financial documents that we are required to file as part of their oversight and our open communication. In fact, many of our board members and family members donate above and beyond what is fundraised to support the extra needs of the program like earning a spot in regional competition last year or the expense and expectations of hosting the 2026 Montana Alberta American Legion District Tournament.
We are not a pay to play “for profit” organization, we do not charge for winter workouts, and no player is turned away for inability to pay. Last year we voted to eliminate the registration deposit and allow our players to earn their entire fee. Our players and their families, coaches and board work hard to raise money for anyone who wants to play.
The garland you see hanging in Whitefish and Columbia Falls is our main fundraiser. We are so grateful for the continued community support that allows us to do it and for the handshakes, hot cocoa and treats while we do. It is heavy, cold, hard work, but we are proud of it and love giving the boys the opportunity to contribute and engage with the community.
This isn’t their only way to earn credit. Some of the boys earn more than they need so they apply it to a future year or donate it to another teammate who needs it.
The cost and logistics of spring baseball practices and games are complex.
The Glacier Twins Board supports developing a partnership between Whitefish High School Baseball and Glacier Twins in respect to players and facilities. We want the high school team to play at Memorial Field and as someone so perfectly put it, “hang up their high school jersey at the end of the season and be encouraged by the high school coach to put on their Glacier Twins jersey” and continue playing.
There are legitimate concerns that we are actively working to resolve. If anyone wants to know more first-hand, please speak to a member of the Whitefish High School Baseball Board or the Glacier Twins Board, or both. Please do not rely on opinion pieces or social media exchanges from people not doing the work.
The reference to fees charged to cover the cost of using the field “proving they think the district has deep pockets of taxpayer monies” is false. Whitefish High School Baseball is not funded through taxpayer monies, it is funded through the hard work of the families, players and coaches. Some of those actually not so deep pockets belong to Glacier Twins Board members.
We were approached by the adult league with a proposal that we accepted. We did not dictate the terms. Teams and games are still being finalized, but they will run within our season, so the logistics are not as complicated as an agreement that uses the field outside of our season during the more difficult spring months. It is an opportunity for players who did not or could not play in college or are out of college and want to keep playing. How is that not something that is seen as contributing to the community?
It would take an entire separate letter to tackle the details behind how Legion Baseball has changed and why we are no longer eligible to be a AA team, or how pay-to-play, showcases and recruiting methods have changed the landscape, or why there is a flight from local baseball, or the myriad of other reasons why players choose to play for any particular program.
There is mention of “only 11” players last year, but no mention of the against all odds accomplishment of the coaches and players in winning state and playing in regionals. If you have the chance ask Glacier Twins player what they think of Mr. Delgado’s letter.
If you have questions or think we have something wrong, let us know. We are a group of volunteers doing the best we can and don’t always get it right. Come to a meeting and ask us or reach out to any of us individually. Contact information for board members is on the Glacier Twins website.
American Legion Baseball is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year and the Glacier Twins have been a part of our community for over 60 years. We are so proud of contributing to this tradition. There is work to be done. There is so much history to be honored and some to be moved beyond. There is opportunity for partnership and continued growth of powerhouse baseball programs for Whitefish and Columbia Falls.
We very much agree with Mr. Delgado’s advice on petty grievances. Anyone not willing to set aside their grievances and speak truthfully and productively should ask themselves if maybe they need to step back and get out of the way while the real work of creating unity and growing the game in our community is done.
The Glacier Twins Board of Directors.