A great defensive and strong hitting second baseman, Barney Nemec began his softball career from Cornell Park at the age of eighteen, Barney Nemec played with the Fuka Bullets until World War II interrupted his efforts. After his return from the war, Barney played with Stony Tires, Bill Rand’s, Shaw Jewelers (they once beat Fewer Boilers 11 – 3 with Nemec gathering six hits) and Midland Motors in a Sunday league at 103rd and Church. Some of Nemec’s fond memories include hitting seven home runs in two nights at Hillburn Park, playing at Comiskey Park with previous Hall of Fame nominee Sweetwater Clifton, and the many $1,000 pot games at Cornell Park with the Robie’s and the Bill Banana’s. In 1948 and 1949 his team won the Industrial Division of Edison, a league sponsored by the Herald-American. In the Grant Park Tournament of Champions, Nemec’s Edison team lost 2-1 to Illinois Central Railroad. Nemec hit a towering home run to score Edison’s only tally. That year Barney was also nominated to the All Star team. Barney lives in Chicago.
