Ex-President: Beverly Little League Tarnished His Reputation

BEVERLY, MA — In a letter to Beverly Little League families, former president Thomas Smith said the league tarnished his good name when it issued a press release last week to explain his resignation. Smith called on families to push for an investigation into his ouster, and said that the league issued the press release in an effort to avoid the threat of a "so-called "Mob scene'" that had been made in an anonymous note to the league's executive board.

Smith, who started coaching in the league in 1976, said "serious health issues" were the real reason for his resignation. "I have no further interest in spending 40 hours a week on Little League when physically I am not up for it, and not getting any support from the Board, either emotionally or physically," Smith, 60, wrote.

The press release issued by the league last week said a family had complained the Smith made their sons feel uncomfortable during league events, while noting the "conduct was not sexual in nature." The league also said pornographic material had been found in the league office, but did not say Smith was responsible for it being there.

In fact, Smith said in his letter, it was he who reported finding the pornographic material to the league and that he was the board member who pushed for the suspension of the coach responsible. "But because this information is disclosed in a press release discussing my resignation, some people think this refers to me. It does not," he said.

Smith's letter provides a detailed version of his account of what happened with the boy whose family complained to the league. Smith said the boy was acting as scorekeeper during a particularly long game last August. When the game ended, the boy raised his arms in celebration. Smith said he tickled the boy.

"It was a joke, and everyone knew it was a joke," Smith said of the incident, which was witnessed by five people in the press box. "The parent complained about it and said his son didn't appreciate it, and if I had thought that at the time I certainly never would have done it. It was simply a joke."

The league suspended Smith from coaching for a year but allowed him to continue as president. In its press release, the league said Smith "violated our directive not to have any contact with the family" during this season's opening ceremonies. Smith said he was the only volunteer who showed up to hand out sweatshirts to the players graduating from the league, and one of the family's sons was one of the players he gave a sweatshirt to.

"I gave the kid his sweatshirt, and that was that. I didn't think anything else about this as what should I have done?" Smith wrote, saying that the boy had arrived late to the ceremony. "How could I in good conscience treat him differently and not give him a sweatshirt simply because unlike the other 40 kids, he wasn't driven there on time?"

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).