It was particularly good for me because it was my first year with the team. In ASA national championship play, Hunter lost only three of 23 games, striking out 236 batters. Within the non player category, there are five different divisions one can be nominated in: Commissioner, Meritorious Service, Umpire, Managers and Sponsors. Within the non player category, there are five different divisions one can be nominated in: Commissioner, Meritorious Service, Umpire, Managers and Sponsors. Visitors are also provided a glimpse of softballs history when it was part of the Olympics. Established in 1957 by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA), the National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum is a permanent shrine to the men and women who played the game so well. Gerber walked one and Solt nine in the 2:30 minute marathon. ASA of PA Hall of Fame. Phase II renovations to the National Softball Hall of Fame & Museum are complete and open to the public. If it hadnt been for a heart attack, Billy Wojie, 5-foot 11, 175 pounds, would have played longer than seven years for the Raybestos Cardinals of Stratford, CT. On Sunday, USA Softball announced its 2020 Hall of Fame class, which includes seven men and just two womenlegendary softball Olympians Lovieanne Jung and Natasha Watleywho both happen to be women of color. About winning the national title, Hunter said, Yes, we expected to win it. 2021 Men's Major Fast Pitch National Championship August 6-8, 2021 | USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex Congratulations to the NY Gremlins, the 2021 Men's Major Fast Pitch National. Office: (570) 286-7070. asapahof@verizon.net. The Central Virginia ASA Softball Hall of Fame will endeavor to Honored for their accomplishments and dedication to the sport of softball will be meritorious leaders Doug Lindaman and Jim Craig; standout umpire Joe Massaro; coaching legend John Stratton; Olympian Valerie Arioto; slow pitch greats Sue (Corcoran Bupp) Ilyes, Monty Tucker and Ray Fleetwood; and the Sikorsky Aircraft softball team. Born June 11, 1931, Dobson started her career in 1944 with Vancouver, WA, joined the Erv Lind Florists a year later and remained with the team until retiring as an active player in 1959 to devote time to her career as a professional educator. Ruth was one of the original Lionettes when the team was formed in 1937 and batted .585 with the team in 1938. Rated one of the best left-handed hitters of all-time, Hughie Johnston was born March 14, 1916 in Belfast, Ireland before he moved to Canada with his family when he was eight. The 2015 Indiana ASA/Wayne L. Myers Softball Hall of Fame Class was inducted on Saturday, March 14 at 6:30 pm at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bloomington, Indiana. The slow pitch category increases by three with the selection of Sue Ilyes, Monty Tucker and Ray Fleetwood each of which demonstrated distinguished careers, including one of the top all-around players in the womens game and two power-hitting legends from the mens game. In 1947, he hit the first homer out of the new Zollner Stadium, a 260-foot blast. Congratulations to the NY Gremlins, the 2021 Men's Major Fast Pitch National Champions! Born July 12, 1938 in Middlefield, CT, Stratton said her greatest thrill in softball was winning the 1958 national championship. She allowed only five hits in the four games. The Hall of Fame and Museum does not charge, but donations are greatly appreciated and accepted. In the 1940 national, Castle batted .353 as Kodak Park won its second title. Hammel began playing fastpitch softball with neighborhood friends in 1966, spent two years in military service and resumed his career in 1969, when he embarked on a 15-year career with Kress-Meyer, Don's Meats, Lux Club . An intense player who had a so what attitude when he did something outstanding on the softball diamond, Leroy Hess wore the Aurora, IL Sealmasters uniform from 1946-1963. youth slowpitch news; tournaments; . John Hunter, Nashville, Tennessee Mens Fast Pitch Pitcher. Dedication ceremonies for the expansion were held July 23, 1977. USA Men's National Team Snaps 22-year medal drought with bronze medal finish at 2022 WBSC Men's Softball World Cup; Seven times she earned All-America honors including first-team laurels in 1958, 1959, 1961, 1964 and 1965 and second-team honors in 1956 and 1963. Three times he was named the tourney MVP (1951, 1953 and 1955) and five times was named an ASA All-American. In 1936 she batted .560 playing for Santa Ana, CA. The youngest player to play for the renowned Clearwater, FL Bombers, Bobby Forbes made the Bombers in 1941 at age 14. In the 1936 national Castle batted .375 with six hits in 16 at-bats and starred defensively, making only one error with 32 putouts and one assist. He batted .309 in 1950, .326 in 1951, .340 in 1952 and .317 in 1954. In eight nationals, Wojie made 40 putouts, had 44 assists and made only two errors for a fielding percentage of .980. Within the player category, there are five categories: Mens/Womens Fast Pitch, Mens/Womens Slow Pitch and Modified Pitch. Kay Rich, Los Angeles, California Womens Fast Pitch Shortstop. Rosemary (Micki) Stratton played all but two years of her softball career with the famed Raybestos Brakettes of Stratford, CT, leading the team in batting three times: 1959 (.320), 1961 (.324) and 1965 (personal best of .370). The National Softball Hall of Fame Class of 2023 will increase the total number of inductees to 449 since its establishment in 1957. He also was an All-American in 1948, 1950, 1958 and 1959. West lost in the first round, 1-0 in 14 innings despite striking out 26 batters and allowing two hits. . In 1942, he batted .294 and drove in five runs as the Pistons finished runner-up, losing to the Deep Rock Oilers of Tulsa, OK, 2-0. At 14, he was eligible to participate in "The Big Spring Fast Pitch Men's Softball League" on a team "Valley Homes" managed by his uncle. The first of two additions to the National Softball Hall of Fame/USA Softball Headquarters was started July 5, 1976 and completed July 13, 1977 for an additional 4,350 square feet of space. The National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1957. Wojie had started his career in 1948 playing for Columbus Auto Body and joined the Cardinals in 1955 after Auto Body disbanded. In 1937, Gerber and former Columbus, OH State Auditor star pitcher Ralph Solt went 17 innings with Solt winning 1-0. Ironically her highest batting average in national championship play came in her last championship, .348 in 1965. By 21 he had become one of the top pitchers in his hometown of Milwaukee, WI. Districts. Craig began his renowned career first as an umpire in 1978, which was highlighted with working as the Umpire-In-Chief (UIC) for 61 national championships and five international championships while serving as the committee chairman of the UIC Clinic from 2007-21. and M.S. In the national tourney, he recorded five shutouts between an opening 7-0 loss and a 1-0 defeat in the finals to champion Briggs Beautyware of Detroit, MI. A 12-time All-American and four-time member of the USA Softball Men's National Team, Meredith won silver at the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, Mexico and pitched the U.S. to a Gold Medal at the 1998 WBSC Men's World Championships in Saskatchewan, Canada. Billy Wojie, Stratford, Connecticut Mens Fast Pitch Third Base. Wares also spent seven years as girls softball coach at NESCO High School in Zearing, posting a 214-94 record. The National Softball Hall of Fame was officially dedicated May 26, 1973 in Oklahoma City. Winning that championship was, according to Ruth, her greatest thrill in softball. She retired June 1,1973 after working 22 1/2 years as executive secretary to the superintendent of the San Joaquin School District. Born April 4, 1928, Contel played on three national championship teams (1953, 1954 and 1957) and was near perfection defensively in national championship play. Within the player category, there are five categories: Men's/Women's Fast Pitch, Men's/Women's Slow Pitch and Modified Pitch. Bobby Forbes, Clearwater, Florida Mens Fast Pitch Outfield. hall news; board members; elected members; tournaments menu . Hunter posted a 26-2 record that season. When asked why, Johnston said, I once tagged a runner in the usual way and the umpire called him safe. It didnt matter to Kay Rich if opposing pitchers were throwing from 35 feet or 38 feet. Story Links. He played for Bendix Brakes for 5 1/2 years, compiling a 113-19 record with 1936 (25-3) and 1937 (25-4) his best seasons. Meeting recently in Decatur, Illinois the USA Softball Association of Illinois Executive Committee voted to induct eleven individuals and three teams/organizations into their Softball Hall of Fame. Led by Hall of Fame member Ken Clark, Sikorsky Aircraft had over 50 players earn All-American honors totaling over 200 selections. During four years in the circle for head coach Cheryl . USA Softball National Office Certified . Click here for the Donor QuestionnaireForm, Warren Fireball Gerber, Columbus, Ohio Mens Fast Pitch Pitcher. There were no inductees into the National Softball Hall of Fame in 1962. He was a 1929 graduate of Mishawaka High School and received a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1933. Nina Korgan, Omaha, Nebraska Womens Fast Pitch Pitcher. He had some outstanding years for the Pistons, winning 28 games and losing four in 1947, going 34-7 in 1948, 36-2 in 1949 with 452 strikeouts in 285 innings and allowing 93 hits, 32-4 in 1950, 24-2 in 1951 and 24-4 in 1952, with 350 strikeouts and 18-4 in 1954, his final year with the team. In bridge theres an expression, When in doubt, lead trump. In fast pitch softball the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons would say, When in doubt, pitch Bill West. More often than not the 6-foot-2, 225-pound West would win. Through our vast collection of artifacts, the National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum strives to educate the public about softballs rich history. Then, in 1956, his two homers in the finals beat the Raybestos Cardinals. The building was opened to the public July 1, 1973. The proposed inductee can be nominated by anyone. Each person who is inducted into the Hall of Honor will receive a certificate of recognition. 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