03/01/2026
My Father, Welford Neff “Mac” McConchie was born 97 years ago today in Washington, DC. As I have conveyed on the anniversaries of his birth and death for several years now, on Facebook, I like to share some memories. All that knew him and those that have followed my posts over the years are familiar with his love of his family and baseball. He worked diligently to provide for Mom and his 3 sons, retiring from the Post Office after 30 years. Besides taking care of us, his passion was his life long love of baseball. He played baseball and softball until late in life. He taught and coached his sons and many of the boys and even girls from the neighborhood baseball from my earliest days until my youngest brother quit playing at 50. Some of his teams won championships. In fact his 1963 his team won all their games but one and that was a one run loss. My brother Phil, was on that team, I had moved on to another league due to my age, but I was on his 1962 championship team. He loved going to games, listening to the Senators on the radio and watch games on TV. Last week Bill Mazeroski, Hall of Fame secondbaseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates died and it reminded me of the when he, my Mom and I went to the First Cracker Jack Old Timers game played in 1982, played at RFK Stadium. I vividly remember his joy of being able to get on the field and walk around with other fans prior to the game and mingle with the players, talking to them and obtaining autographs from some of his favorites, including Mr. Mazeroski. I still have the scorecard he kept from that game with the autographs. He did not go to many movies, but I persuaded him and my Mom to go with me and my wife to see Bull Durham, which they both loved. I think it was the last movie my Mom ever attended. Whenever I watch, Field of Dreams, which I generally catch at least once a year, I have to hold back the tears when at the end of the movie Kevin Costner’s character and his Father play catch as it reminds me of the hours my Dad and I played catch over the years. Happy Heavenly Birthday, Daddy!
