The Frank C. Holan Award honors those who show passion for the game on and off the field. Passionate about the game of softball, or all other sports for that matter, is an understatement for Joe Mercadante. He grew up playing football, basketball, and baseball in Chicago; and his love for sports stayed with him […]
Michael Anast grew up in Garfield Ridge and attended St. Rita High School, where he was a multi-sport athlete. His love of softball began in 1963 when he played his first game in the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). He would end his softball career nearly forty years later in 2001 while playing with Out of
Tom Balek began playing softball in 1969 with his neighborhood friends in local leagues on Chicago’s Southwest side. From the early ’70s until the late-’90s, Tom was a softball junkie, playing more than 150 games every year. He played in the early ’70s with Touch at Tom Bonen’s Bridgeview complex. Tom then moved to Tahoe
When Tim Flanagan was a kid, his father would take him to Kelly Park at night to watch softball games. He remembers the excitement of the crowd and the major-league atmosphere on those hot summer nights. Little did he know that some day he would be roaming the outfield at Kelly and other parks. During
Bobby Lopez started playing softball at sixteen in La Grange with his brother’s team, the Family. Mike Spidale saw him play and invited him to play third base for the Stooges. After that, it was on to the Jaw Jackers in Cicero, the Titans and Jerry Main, and then with Lenny Nuzzo on the Blues.
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Randy attended George Washington High School where he played baseball and football. He was named to the all-state team in both sports. In 1976 he attended West Hills Junior College where he was named a baseball All-American. He played baseball for Cal State Stanislaus in 1979 and 1980. He was selected an All-American there and
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With a pitching record of 2000-plus wins (including two no-hitters) against 700 losses, George Kelleher certainly ranks as one of 16-inch softball’s great pitchers. He played for the Raiders (’89), the Stickmen (’73 – ’97), Sports Channel (’98), and Crush (’89 – ’02). In 1974 he was MVP for the Class “A “Windy City World
Jim Matlock played wide receiver for Hinsdale South High School, so it made sense that when he started playing softball, he would become a natural left fielder. He started his thirty-four year softball career with some friends in a Sunday morning league at Shabonna Park when he was nineteen. As is true for all
Tim McManigal started playing softball in 1977 in the Worth Park District with the Players when he was fifteen years old. He then moved to the Hot Shots in the Worth Men’s League. In 1984 and ‘85 he played for Barrel of Fun. They took fifth place in the ASA National tournament both years. He
Born in 1951 in Chicago, IL, Steven Jerome Kirby began playing organized 16-inch softball for Medill School Park in the Monroe and Racine Police District league when he was twelve years old. He played second base for Medill School and W.S.O.Express from1963 to 1979 at Garfield Park. He joined the Koreans in 1980, playing in
