Rick Ligon began his softball career with the Jugglers in the early ’70’s. Before he was through, his softball name, Rick Monday, would be known throughout the southside and in every Chicago area park where serious softball was played. In the mid-70’s, the outfielder/first baseman hooked up with the Senators. There, under the tutelage of …
After graduating from Richards High School in 1973 (where he was an All-Area basketball player), Ken Flaws started his softball career with Scotch Mist, a team sponsored by a local tavern. Ken’s career really took off in 1975 when Ed Zolna saw him play in Dolton, and recruited him to play with the Bobcats. A …
With a purported 36” vertical leap, sprinter speed and impressive upper body strength, Sammy Taylor was a triple threat in leagues throughout the Chicagoland 16” softball scene. A right handed hitter who consistently averaged over 700, Taylor could also surprise the opposition with his home run power. He played center field for the legendary Flamingos …
Silent,Feared,Effective,Respected. These are four words that describe the career of one of softball’s greatest power hitters. With three National Championships, five second place finishes, seven First Team All-American selections and three home run championships on his resume, these words are obviously not exaggerations. Fans of 16” softball will always remember the home run that cleared …
Throughout his 23 year softball career, Richard Ladewig played for three of the top teams in the 1980’s; the Condors, the Bobcats and the Whips. As an outfielder he had a lifetime batting average over 600, and hit more than twenty home runs a year. Ladewig accumulated four A.S.A championships and six U.S.S.SA. championships with …
Dave started his career back in the early 70’s with the burnside bums. In 1978 dave joined the Amalgamonsters and that started his run with some of the top major teams. In 16 inch softball. Dave’s best years and maybe his most productive were with the Whips in the 80’s, where Dave helped them win …
A glance at Ron Ziemann’s career reveals a single truth – teams he played on won a lot of championships. Ziemann’s career began at sixteen in Des Plaines when he played in a high school league. He started pitching by default – no one wanted to pitch. Seduced by the lure of big time softball …
Bob McClelland was one of the most feared leadoff hitters in 16″ softball. His fiery temperment, fierce competitiveness, and batting skills allowed him to “set the table” for some of the best hitters of his era. Many of the top teams of his time recognized and sought his skills as he played for Right-ons, J’s, …
Stretch Lee remembers traveling to Taylor and Fuller Parks to watch his older brother play 16″ softball. Little did he realize at the time that he would someday grow into one of the most feared long ball hitters of his era. Stretch’s softball career began in 1982 in local parks with Magnum’s. At eighteen he …
John Wooden once said, “Success is peace of mind in knowing you did your best. “ This quote fits Jack “Stone” Kelly because he always did his best. He began his major league softball career in 1977 with Shoes. From 1979 to 1981 Kelly played with Shoes, Condors, and Mr. Luckies respectively. He hit the …
