Curveballs: Film Highlights Heart of Estero’s National Amputee Baseball Team
May 2, 2025
By D. K. Christi
Louisville Sluggers Warriors coaches and players (photo by Louisville Slugger Warriors)
“Take me out to a movie,” may be a little off from the unofficial national anthem of baseball written in 1908 by Jack Norworth: “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” But it’s still a call to the magic world of professional baseball.
Estero resident David Van Sleet, general manager of the Louisville Slugger Warriors National Amputee Baseball Team, puts Estero on the map with the premier showing of “Curveballs … secrets to the game of life,” at the Fort Myers Film Festival. Showing at 7 p.m. May 14 and May 17 at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, the documentary tells the inspiring story of the world’s first competitive baseball team made up of amputees – the Louisville Slugger Warriors.
Sports writer Craig Handel, a former contributor to Estero Life Magazine, wrote about the team’s unique story and pitched it to nine-time Emmy award-winning documentary director and producer John Biffar. Filming began at Florida Gulf Coast University in Estero and JetBlue Park at Fenway South.
The story behind this extraordinary team starts with Van Sleet, a U.S. Army veteran and career stand out in prosthetics with multiple awards to his name. His professional training and love of baseball came together when he attended a retreat for top-level VA employees nearing retirement. The group was challenged to find an idea that would serve injured military service members who had been discharged and needed an outlet.
“Why not give them their own professional baseball team — give them back something they thought was lost?” Van Sleet thought. “My idea stayed with me as I left the Veteran’s Administration and did not slip into retirement quietly.”
He thought baseball might be a way to fulfill childhood dreams for veterans who lost limbs in service or through accidents or disease. Van Sleet pulled together passionate baseball supporters who wanted to make a difference in the world and established a nonprofit organization.
David Van Sleet, general manager of Louisville Slugger Warriors (photo by Savannah Kleiner)
He then held national tryouts for exceptional baseball players and formed a team of 15 diverse players — many with prosthetics for limbs, or even eyes — ranging in age from 20 to 40.
Skills put them on the team, but their passion keeps them there. The chemistry created by their shared bond adds magic to Louisville Slugger Warriors games.
“Inside the baseball line belongs to the coaches; outside belongs to me,” said Van Sleet, who oversees operations, including publicity and corporate sponsorships.
The game, however, belongs to the players. They meet challenges with humor and make audiences cheer as they go up against talented, able-bodied opponents.
“Everything for our success has been provided by long-running and loyal sponsors such as Louisville Sluggers, Wilson, Margaritaville and a community service partnership with FGCU,” Van Sleet said. “Each trip for games runs an average of $15,000. While players receive no salaries, they have zero expenses while on team time and travel.”
Attendance at the games is no cost. Tickets for the “Curveballs” premier, however, are on sale through the Fort Myers Film Festival (fortmyersfilmfestival.com).
LS Warriors players come from multiple states, where they have careers, activities and families. They train on their own but enjoy the camaraderie when they practice together before each game — always aiming to win.
Coaches and many of the players have major professional baseball credentials and experiences. Head Coach Curtis Pride, a former Major League Baseball player for 11 years as an outfielder, was the only deaf player in the MLB. He recently published a book called “I Felt the Cheers,” which describes those amazing years.
Len Whitehouse, former pitcher for the Minnesota Twins and the LS Warriors’ pitching coach, has a shoulder replacement prosthesis. Strength and conditioning coach Kirby Retzer, an Estero resident, was with the Boston Red Sox for 10 years.
“Curveballs” viewers will share in the laughter and tears of overcoming obstacles to win at the “game of life.” Whether baseball is a metaphor or a passion, for these players, their sponsors and their audiences, life’s challenges are just a little sweeter because of the game.
A few players to watch for in the documentary or on the field are Carlo Adame, Parker Hanson-Harden, Michael Came and Colton De Rocher — who came to Estero to play ball and decided to stay. Each of these players has an inspirational story to tell and great moves to watch on the field.
They will be attending the premier of “Curveballs.” Then the team will be off to play in Las Vegas.
Five of the team’s current players said they are playing ball today because they were inspired in their youth by MLB pitcher Jim Abbott, who threw a no hitter for the New York Yankees in 1996 — with one hand.
“Hitting a baseball is one of the hardest things to do in sports,” Van Sleet said. “Can you imagine how difficult it is as a player with an amputation or limb difference?”
Now these extraordinary baseball players shine, not only on the baseball field, but also on the silver screen.
“More than a team, they are a family,” Van Sleet said.
Strength and conditioning coach Kirby Retzer, general manager David Van Sleet, pitching coach Len Whitehouse, and head coach Curtis Pride
