About the Serengeti

Home

The Serengeti

Player Bios

Teams

About the Serengeti
—Background and History of the WBA—

The Serengeti
The Serengeti is the official wiffleball venue for the San Diego-based Wiffleball Association (WBA). It was discovered by accident one morning in 1983 when some WBA members were in search of a suitable playing field for regular games of wiffleball. Before you could say "chin music," the playing field layout and ground rules were agreed upon and promptly authorized for use.

Some of the more radical ideas that were debated and implemented were the inclusion of the existing tennis courts, basketball apparatus, and chain link fences as part of the general playing field. In addition, other inherent features regarding the general topography and playing surface were also integrated into the overall scheme of play—and ultimately—documented in the official rulebook.

The Serengeti quickly became the WBA’s version of Mecca, Shangri-la, and Field of Dreams—all rolled into one. And although it shared some of the same facilities and property as the Roosevelt Junior High School to the north, and the San Diego Zoo to the immediate south and west, it nevertheless provided a Saturday morning sanctuary for the WBA members and others who were fortunate enough to play within its unique confines.

The hay-day of The Serengeti largely took place in the mid- to late-1980s, before gradually falling into disrepair and neglect in the mid 1990s as a fickle Southern California aerospace/defense industry job climate forced some WBA members to pursue other interests or re-locate to other cities. Although The Serengeti was resurrected for a special weekend reunion in May 1998—held to coincide with Juan Baligad’s marriage to Suzanne Novelozo—WBA members have not played on its hallowed grounds since, nor likely will anytime in the near future. For the moment, all they have are sweet memories—and this Web site.

Epilogue:
Although the relationship between the WBA and San Diego Zoo was always an uneasy co-existence (at best)—confirmed reports indicate The Serengeti has finally fallen prey to the expansionist and corporate San Diego Zoo, which expanded its boundaries and annexed a large part of The Serengeti to be used as part of its storage and maintenance operations. To seek out The Serengeti today, one would discover that it’s unrecognizable and no longer resembles its former glory and original layout. It has all but disappeared, "like tears in the rain." *

* Quote from the film "Blade Runner." Used without permission.

More Serengeti pics: