World’s Oldest Jai-alai Player, Al Almada, has Passed Away at 98

World’s Oldest Jai-alai Player, Al Almada, has Passed Away at 98

West Hartford: February 9, 2026:  The World’s oldest jai-alai has passed away.  Al Almada of West Hartford was 98.  Not only was he the oldest known jai-alai player in the world – playing into his 90s – he was one of the finest human beings you could ever meet.  A true gentlemen in every respect.  And boy, did he love the game of jai alai.  For someone his age, he was a sharp as one could be and I was lucky to have played with him on the Jai-alai Heaven court, located just outside Hartford many times and at Matt’s court once.  Jai-alai was his passion and he played on a regular basis – at least once a week – if not more.  Al also made cesta traveling bags, and I still use it today on my travels to Miami, Connecticut, or Cancun.        

Ever since “Four Decade Pro”  Randy threw the first pelota in the state of Connecticut at the Hartford Fronton, Al was in love with jai alai.  Soon after, he started playing jai-alai while he was in his 40s and continued for nearly 5 decades. Al and several other gentleman had their own cancha in the basement of a rec center located on a huge church’s property. They played for decades until the church sadly pulled the plug on their operation with little warning and no valid reason.  I was lucky to have also played with Al Almada at Matt’s court once, and he count still catch and throw the ball very well for someone 90 years old.  He competed with anyone.  His friendship with the fellow players and respect of everyone was immeasurable.

That day at Matt’s court, about 8 years ago, he gave me a collection several pelota’s from start to finish in the assembly of them – goatskin and all.  I made a great display of it in the museum that was inside a custom-made wall with a glass covering and a plaque explaining the procedure of the making of a pelota and the donation in his name.  In my opinion, it was one of the coolest displays in my museum.  It was educational and perfect for a museum that few in the jai-alai world had any idea how a pelota was made.  What a great idea Al had.  When the museum was flooded 16 months ago, that was one of the first things I checked on to see if the flooding had reached it or not.  It came up 46” and Al’s collection he donated was 46 ?” above.  Unfortunately, the drywall wall had to come down and the museum was closed.

RIP Al.  We will miss you.          

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