Lance Hoffman shared his decade-long journey visiting San Quentin State Prison to play baseball with inmates and described his unexpected experience joining them for a lively pickleball game.
For a decade, Lance Hoffman has made an annual trip to San Quentin State Prison to play baseball against the inmates.
This year, his visit took an unexpected turn when he heard about a new activity happening across the prison yard, i.e., pickleball.
Hoffman shared his new experience on Punta Banda Pickleball.
After finding the inmates are playing pickleball, unlike baseball, Hoffman asked for permission to check it out. Later, what followed was an unforgettable experience.
He recalled the experience in the post, writing:
I just wanted to watch, but in typical inmate fashion, they all welcomed me to play and handed me a paddle.
Lance Hoffman
The inmates’ warmth caught him off guard, and before he knew it, he was in the game. They welcomed Hoffman warmly, handing him a paddle and inviting him to join their game.
The pickleball court wasn’t exactly professional grade; it sloped slightly downhill about 2 degrees. Likewise, the wind made shots tricky, and the black asphalt caused some unpredictable bounces.
To top it off, the inmates used a unique scoring system. However, none of that mattered for Hoffman had a great time. He shared his time spent there, saying:
it was a blast!
Lance Hoffman
The group laughed together, and the inmates enjoyed seeing the “old white guy in a baseball uniform” take a break from his usual game to join them on the court.
Above all, Hoffman’s visits to San Quentin have been more than just games. Over the years, he’s formed meaningful connections with the men he’s met there.
Many of them, he notes, ended up in prison because of a single bad decision made in their youth.
The experience reminded him of why he keeps coming back, saying:
Going into the prison has been life-changing to me.
Lance Hoffman
He further explained that meeting these men, hearing their stories, and sharing moments like these have reshaped how he views them.
Through these interactions, Hoffman has come to see them not just as inmates, but as fellow human beings.
