CJ’s from Cedar Rapids, Iowa played from 1995 -2018 . They were sponsored by Punch and Connie Vasquez who owned CJ’s Sports Bar & Grill. Danny Arenas and Jody Beltram with family and friends established the team at Kirkwood Complex. As they started to have success, eventually, Greg “Termite” Mara took them to the next …
Mike began his30-yearpitching career after following his brother Frank to pitch practice by playing with his neighborhood team the Lu-Ginksin the youth leaguesat Sayre, Riis, and Amundsen Parks. After high school, they began playing in the men’s leagues at Sayre, Shabonna, Merrimac, and Portage Parks. The pinnacle of the team’s successoccurred in the summers of …
Eric had a very successful 30 year career as a great hitter, leader and mentor starting with the Tribe, Pound 4 Pound and Solutions on the south side. He was a versatile infielder playing SC, 3rd and 1st. His prime years were from 2007 to 2017 capturing 6 ASA national titles. He earned MVP honors …
As a player, Pat started playing 16-inch Softball at the young age of 16. He started playing with his older brother’s Buc’s and Right-On’s teams in Mt Greenwood Park, filling in for absent players. It didn’t take long for him to earn a regular spot and playing time. Soon, he was being recruited by other …
“Cav” began playing 16-inch softball in the mid 50’s when he was 7 years old in the alleys of Chicago at 71st & Racine. Like most kids, he progressed to playing on the street corners at 72nd & Ada using the 4 cornered manhole covers as bases. They played from early morning to late at …
Roy started his career at 16 years old with John Aggens Alsterda Construction team in Oak Lawn. They won the title in his 1st year as starting left fielder. In 1970-72, they played in Mt Greenwood with several Major teams and players in Metros every year. But 1974 was a breakout year. In the 4th …
Gildo “Gil” Coldebella started playing softball at Riis Park when he was a teenager. He played third base for the Lobos when they won the state title in 1955. He played with the Rogues at Clarendon and Kelly Parks and with the Big Banjo Bruins and the Lobos at Kosciusko Park. He primarily played third base …
Like many young people growing up in the inner city of Chicago, Dennis Colucci sought activities that were affordable and could be played in the streets and parks of Chicago. Sixteen-inch softball fit that requirement perfectly. He started playing organized softball in 1956 with the Jokers, a neighborhood team from Chicago Avenue. He became their …
Clyde Park District located in Cicero has been the site of softball league for decades. Starting in 1985 executive director Rusty Carlson took the league to the next level by attracting some of the best teams in the game until 1995 with his Super A league and tournaments for men and women. His hard work …
When it was completed in 1916, many considered north side Clarendon Park to be the largest and most practical bathing beaches in the country it lost this status in the 1930s when the Chicago Park District expanded Lincoln Park north to Foster Avenue, eliminating Clarendon’s lake frontage. While it was a great swimming beach and …
