With a softball career spanning 27 years, Frank Lentine has played for such legendary teams as Cherry Lounge, the Jokers, Rogues, and the Bobcats. Although he played all outfield positions, Frank’s favorite position was left field. With a .600 plus batting average, Frank was known as a contact single hitter with exceptional base running skills. […]
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It seems that Jerry Kelleher’s appearance on a team yields interesting results -they win championships. With the Strikers he won championships at Ridge, Foster, Kennedy, and Ashburn Parks. The Blazers won the championship at Curie. 1981 was a particularly good year as Kelleher played on two National championship teams – with the Bobcats in winning
Like thousands of others before him, John Hornacek began his 16″ softball career at the age of 17 in the parks of Chicago. However, unlike most of those thousands, John went on to become one of the top first basement with one of the legendary teams in softball – the Sobies. John began his playing
With the nickname of Dr. Power, it’s no wonder that John Straley was known for his towering home runs. Yet he was also known as a punch hitter who followed Wee Willie Keeler’s adage “hit” em where they ain’t. Straley could drop a single or double in between outfielders who were pulled back out of
With the nickname of “Sweet” this right-handed hitter was considered to be the greatest all-around black softball player of all time. A right handed hitter who played most of his great years with the Flamingos, Johnson was a lightning fast 225 pound ball player with an arm like a rocket launcher but with a fine
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Softball critics from the 60’s and 70’s claim that Willie Frencl, a clutch left-handed hitter and pitcher, was considered by to be the toughest single out from the left hand side of the plate during his era. His baseball and softball career began after graduating from Reavis High School in 1957 where he was selected
According to Bill Jauss in the Chicago Today, life-long Chicago resident, John Bereckis, was the Con artist of the game, a herk-and-jerk, ball-and windmill, hesitate-and-drag pitcher. This so-called con artist and his brother, Bill, led the Sobie’s / America Rivet teams to three A.S.A. National title from 1966 to 1968. Bereckis’ defensive skills were a
Urbanski believes that life is as a challenge that one must attack with diligence and tenacity. This belief has certainly been proven in Urbanski’s softball career. Beginning with Gaffie’s Gaffers at Cornell Park at fifteen, Bruins and concluding with the Budweiser Whips in 1984. Richard has won three National Championships, three ASA National Championships, has
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Ron played every field position with the highest degree of skill. He was an outstanding infielder, a swift outfielder, and punishing catcher. Ron batted right and threw right. He played with the Bobcats, Whips and Amalgamonsters where he was considered to be the top player in 16” softball during the 1970’s. His 100 home runs
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A perfect nickname, for Bob because he owned one of the best pair of hands that ever played this game. Before gloves were used, he played as though he had mitts on both hands; spearing line drives righty or lefty. With Bob at third, smart pitchers would jump as far as they could toward the
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