Sal Oliver grew up in the Gailwood area on Chicago’s Northwest side. He graduated from Fenwick High School where he played football and basketball in the prestigious Catholic 5′-9″- and-Under League. He graduated from Loyola University with a degree in business administration. Sal had a twenty-one year softball career, and for those twenty-one years, he managed one team – the Stompers. He managed them to the USSSA National Championship in 1985 and runners-up positions in 1984 and 1986. They won the Kelly Park Tournament in 1975 and the Forest Park Tournament in 1980 (they were runners-up in 1978). All totaled, the Stompers played in four ASA Nationals. Sal was named USSSA All-World manager when he led the Stompers to the National title. During his career he has managed at least fifteen players who would go on to become Sixteen -inch Softball Hall of Fame players. Great managers have great players and great captains who help them win championships. Sal would like to thank Steve Rostan who helped him put together the first Stompers team at Amundsen Park. He also thanks Stomper captains Paul Sitkowski, Rick Rostan, Mike Romanelli, and Mike Oliver. They made it possible for the Stompers to be around for twenty-five years. Sal has been employed at Central States Trucking for the past twenty-five years, the last seven as senior vice president. He has three children: Michael, Michelle, and Steven and two grandchildren – Michael and Angelina. He lives in Naperville, Illinois.
