Softball Player Wakes Up to Heartfelt Text from 80-Year-Old Teammate (Exclusive)

Daniel Evans woke up one morning to find a message sent at 2:30 a.m. by John Nelson Bradbury, the 80-year-old member of his local 15-man softball team in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, Canada. 

After getting up for his usual “night pee,” Bradbury was unable to fall back asleep and spent about half an hour thinking about their upcoming game and the bond he shares with his teammates.

“I was thinking about all of the good players we had and how important this game was for us. A win would almost guarantee a playoff spot,” Bradbury tells PEOPLE exclusively. 

“I got up to go to pee and I brought my iPad. I thought that I would send a message to the group chat for the team to inspire them a little.” 

In a heartfelt message, Bradbury expressed how much he appreciates being part of a community of men who keep him going, attributing it as a reason he gets out of bed in the morning. 

He humorously thanked them for keeping an “old fart” like him on the squad and admitted that while “some days are better than others,” he’s determined to keep contributing his best. 

The touching message resonated beyond the softball group chat when Evans’ wife, Sam, 34, shared Bradbury’s early morning text on TikTok. 

“My husband showed me the message the following day and it made me very emotional,” Sam reveals. “I thought it was wonderful that a man would be sharing something so sweet and heartfelt with other men.”

The post quickly went viral, capturing the hearts of over 14 million viewers — standing as a powerful reminder of how friendship and purpose can inspire at any age.

“He is really active in the group chat, but never sentimental,” Evans admits. “He is always asking if anyone is free to go knock a few balls around, lots of jokes, and honestly, it’s like talking to any of my other friends in their 30s.” 

Despite Evans, 35, being the youngest member on the team, he gets along very well with Bradbury, who is more than twice his age, and the other older players. 

The Men’s Mount Pearl Senior Slow Pitch Softball League is a recreational league for players aged 35 and older. 

Al Heath, a member of the team and also the league president, confirmed that while there are several players in their 70s across the league, Bradbury is the oldest player at 80 years old. 

Each year, the league holds a draft, meaning team rosters change annually and players may find themselves on a new team each season. This year, Bradbury is playing for Tutor Doctor, one of the league’s 16 teams.  

Bradbury, however, has always had a passion for softball, dating back to his childhood. 

He began playing fastpitch around the age of 8 and continued through his teenage years in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland. In his 30s, he played intermittently in St. Mary’s Bay and St. John’s. 

After a long hiatus, he returned to the game at age 69 — at which time he was already considered “old” by league standards, despite being extremely agile. 

“The difference between when I started at 69 and now at 80 — I’ve slowed down about a step and a half. I’m not as fast as I used to be,” Bradbury reveals. “It has become more difficult over time. I can’t do all of the things I used to.”

Nevertheless, Bradbury practices by himself a couple of times a week during his free time, given that he has his own batting machine and tee. “Every now and again, I practice with another retired guy on the team,” he says. 

Bradbury believes that staying active at his age is essential, emphasizing that, “If you don’t keep active, if you sit on the chesterfield (sofa), doing nothing and ‘let the old man in,’ you will wither away real quick.” 

The league’s season runs from May through October, and they usually play three games a week with Bradbury as catcher. 

“He is at every game and gives me a fist bump,” Evans says. “Honestly, he isn’t seen as the ‘old guy’ other than we know he takes a lot of naps.”

Evans recalls a recent memory where, while searching for an open field to practice batting, Bradbury casually suggested they just jump the fence to get in.

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“The group of guys on our team make showing up to the field that much better,” Evans shares. “We can all joke around and just go out and have fun, no matter the age.” 

There is a strong sense of camaraderie among the team players, who support one another and enjoy each other’s company. After every game, they socialize and often discuss the highlights and moments from the match.

“This league is a big part of my social life, it keeps me active and it keeps me in communication with a whole bunch of younger people,” Bradbury shares. “Gives me someone to talk to, to listen to and to be part of each other’s lives.”