Happy Birthday, Joe.
Dispatches contributors share their favorite Joe Horton memories from the last year
By Roberto Santiago & Dispatches Staff
OAKLAND and ELSEWHERE— Joe Horton’s infectious enthusiasm is difficult to ignore. This is a guy who is intensely into the things he is intensely into. I can’t pretend to know them all, but I know that three of them are writing, family and baseball. With that, Joe started a blog to catalog his thoughts and experiences on the Oakland Ballers. He put up his first post on January 19th, 2025. On November 6th, 2025 Dispatches was announced as the B’s official media partner, as an independent outlet, “Dispatches will become a training program for aspiring sports journalists. Writers will be interns, students, and aspiring reporters looking for experience and guidance. Joe will continue as the publication’s instructor and editor-in-chief.” Since then, Dispatches has published nearly 200 stories about the Ballers 2026 season, including a recap of every single game. Joe’s blog became exactly what it set out to become in that November announcement, an incubator for emerging talent with writers ranging from veteran freelancers to high school seniors, and became THE place to find news on scores, transactions and scuttlebutt. Dispatches also ran features on players, staff and fans. Today is Joe’s birthday. Glove of the Series writer Kyle Robinson had the brilliant idea to gather favorite Joe Horton memories from Dispatches contributors to commemorate this special day. These are their stories. (Bom bom)
Joe, you’re one of the most ridiculous humans I have ever had the pleasure to know, but I’d do just about anything for you. Apparently that includes writing. My favorite memory of the year? Taking India to dozens of games and knowing that seeing Uncle Joe was one of the things she looked forward to most, second to the Pineapple whips, of course.
Love to the family, and Happy birthday, buddy. -Kyle Robinson
In terms of favorite Joe memories, it's just a broad one. I'm a patently offensive/"WTF did that guy just say?!" guy, and Joe is just unrattleable. It's amazing. I also appreciate how excited he gets about things. I thought I had some pretty "zoomed in" likes, but he goes to Ballers games in Montana and Pecos League games in, like, Santa Fe. WHO DOES THAT?! It's insane. I love it. -Dan Silvert
Happy birthday, Joe! You’re one of the people who makes this Oakland Ballers community so special. You’re just a genuinely great guy—and I’ll always remember my daughter’s first baseball game ever this season, when you tapped us on the shoulder and gave her her first real home run baseball (hit by franchise home run leader Jeter Ybarra!). That was such a cool moment for us. Thank you for being such a great partner at Dispatches, and for everything you’ve done to make this community what it is. I hope someday I can get you to sign my copy of the Dispatches coffee table book! -Chris Drue
The North Korea inspired comment from Joe was hilarious. My favorite interaction with him was when me and my girlfriend Aubrey (who’s had her photos on Dispatches) were outside Raimondi trying to get a foul ball, we try to go after one but it bounces over to someone else. And it’s Joe of course, and he gives us the ball. He’s always everywhere all at once, all the time. He’s the best editor I could’ve asked for and proud to be a writer on his website! -Nick Clementi
When I looked back to figure out when I first met Joe, it was at a Ballunteer Event at the Community Kitchen on Telegraph Ave. We were randomly put together to scoop cookie dough onto baking sheets for a couple hours. There was another guy, Chris who was helping us, but I never saw him again. For some reason Joe stuck. That was March 25, 2025. Roughly 18 months ago. Why does it feel more like 18 years? I’ll tell you why.
At the beginning of the 2025 Ballers Season, Joe and I would see each other in the stands and simply wave hello. (We also randomly bumped into each other at a ballgame across the bay where that former team from Oakland and the Giants were playing). Then I kept seeing him here and there and eventually everywhere. I thought, who is this guy and why is he stalking me? (I think we were secretly competing for Ballunteer of the Year, so always showing up at those community events.) The 2025 season was finding its footing, and I kept finding Joe. Turns out we were both completely obsessed with baseball and were quickly falling in love with the Oakland Ballers. (And then I met Joe’s family and fell in love with them!). Joe and I ended up hanging out in the right field bleachers with the Oakland 68s. Both of us were at just about every game that year. The Ballers were climbing to the best record in the PBL, and all the while Joe was becoming my favorite fan to watch the game with. Joe is kind, smart, and so very witty. (His brain moves faster than Fenceman when he sees Anthony coming with the rake. ) Joe makes me laugh. A lot. It took me half the 2025 season to figure out when he was kidding and when he was serious. His sense of humor is off the charts. It’s my favorite thing about him. When the Ballers won the PBL Championship in game 5, we both cried happy tears. There IS crying in baseball, and that’s when I knew I had found my baseball bestie.
For the 2026 season, the Ballers didn’t get to where they wanted to be, but Joe’s Dispatches from Raimondi took off. He wrote a lot, I wrote a little, and countless other very talented fans wrote. Joe encouraged and taught and guided many of us so that we could share our love of baseball with others. Joe and I also traveled this season to see the Ballers play in Montana (with sister Kate!), and in Long Beach (with Milo!). Joe is an easy travel buddy until it comes time to drink hotel water. He won’t do it.
Joe’s energy is infectious and he brings out the best in all of us. He’s also persistent and annoying when it comes to needing content or photos for Dispatches. But ya know what? I’ll take it! Any time Joe is around is a good time. I have absolutely loved the last 18 months, and look forward to (what already feels like) the next 18 yrs.
Happy Birthday Joe! -Dawn Pieper
These two [Dawn and Joe] fighting over who volunteered first, got to the event first, and who was more engaged. Honorable mention Joe yelling "I'm sick" every time he saw Dawn this season for drowning herself in huckleberry jam. -Laura Geist
Joe Horton. Where do I even start with that guy? To have met him is to love him because he’s just that guy. Joe is the life of the party. He is insanely smart, can befriend literally anyone and make you feel like lifelong friends in a single conversation, has a heart of gold, and an unparalleled sense of humor. I’m honored to have gotten to spend time with him and his beautiful family. I wish him the absolute best birthday yet! -Allyson
Joe takes his responsibility to The Dispatches team, the Ballers organization, and the overall Oakland area very seriously, having been directly quoted as saying "The future of the whole team and city is securely on my shoulders alone" Every time I photographed a Home game Joe would always tap my shoulder and sarcastically say "Do you need a bigger lens?" And that was our inside joke for the entire 2026 season. - Terence Tee
During the championship trip to Idaho Falls, the Ballers weren’t playing particularly well, and Casey and the crew were spending a fair amount of time over by the bar. Fortunately, Joe was there to lift everyone’s spirits. His method? Getting down on the ground and putting his legs behind his head.
Yes, our beloved Joseph is incredibly flexible.
Around this time, an Idaho Falls fan had taken issue with the Ballers contingent—supporters and front office alike. He was leaning heavily into the confrontational “bad boy” routine, at one point informing Casey that he had “zombie eyes.” Then he saw Joe with his legs behind his head. That apparently changed everything. The hostility faded. The tough-guy routine disappeared. The fan kept coming back, but no longer seemed particularly interested in picking a fight. In Casey’s telling, he seemed to have developed a little crush on Joseph instead.
Joe hadn’t just cheered up the Ballers crowd. He’d won over the opposition. And that, according to Casey, was when the run to the championship began. We’re not saying Joe putting his legs behind his head won the Ballers a championship. But we’re not ruling it out, either.
Happy birthday, Joseph. Some people give rally speeches. You stretch. - Casey Pratt
Haha. All seriousness… thank you Joe for building great community and journalistic coverage. Hope fatherhood been treating ya well brotha! - Drew Harris
Happy Birthday, Joe! I am so lucky to be mentored by you. From your writing tips, to cheering me on via email, to just always making me feel welcome and a part of the Baller Fam—I appreciate you so much. I can’t wait to continue writing stories this year for you, and of course —to be reminded that you’re always in our corner! Sending you the biggest hug ever and a tinier one to the newest addition to your beautiful family -Natalie Villanueva
So what about me? My favorite Joe memories are often small. Joe is by far the best editor I’ve ever worked with. He gives great feedback and always makes you feel like you’ve done a good job. I didn’t really talk to Joe much during that 2025 season. He was always there in right field, but for some reason we just didn’t cross paths. I don’t really expect people to remember me. I’m an NPC in much of the fandom community. At the parade, Joe gave me a look and a wave that said, “I know you. I remember you.” and that filled my heart with joy. When I answered the call for writers in November, he replied with, “Of course I remember you.” Over this first summer covering the team every day, he’s shown a lot of trust in me. Even when I, as maybe more of a Dan Silvert type, sometimes make minor waves with the Ballers C-Suite. I’ve always wanted to cover sports, especially baseball. Joe gave all of us that chance. He is the embodiment of the phrase, “People won’t always remember what you said, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel.”
Thank you , Joe. Happy Birthday. -Berto
