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Michael Coyne

A few years ago, the Chicago Public Schools made 16” softball a varsity high school sport. What many might not know, however, is that softball was a Catholic high school sport in 1955, and Mike Coyne played it. In his senior year at St. Gregory’s, Mike was the captain of his 16” softball team. That …

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Henry “Hawk” Currie

Henry “Hawk” Currie, as he is affectionately called by friend and foe, began his softball career in the early 1950s at Madden Park, one of the most talent laden parks of that time. He won his first softball medal when the Aces took third place in the Chicago Park District Junior tournament. In 1961 he …

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Thomas “Durke” Curran

Thomas J. Curran was born and raised at 46th and Union in the Canaryville neighborhood of Chicago. He attended Tilden Technical High School where he was a member of the basketball team that captured the 1946 City championship. He got his start in 16″ softball playing with the Gaels Athletic Club, winning the 1944 and …

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Tom Cramsie

A 1939 graduate of De LaSalle High School where he played basketball and football, Tom Cramsie began his softball career at Horace Mann School at 80th and Jeffrey Avenue on Chicago’s Southeast Side. Like many neighborhood teams, they kept the same nucleus as they battled other Southeast and South Side teams. Sponsored by Aidner Paints, …

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Larry Coutre

Larry began his softball career as a young teenager playing with Durso’s at Green Briar Park on Chicago’s Northwest side, winning several championships including the prestigious Knights of Columbus City Championship. He then played for Hall of Fame member Doc Scavuzzo with Alderman Hoellen’s at Welles Park, Clarendon Park, and Thillens Stadium. His skills at …

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Nate “Sweetwater” Clifton

The 6’9 lefty power hitter and first baseman was one of the most famous players in the game. He was a star player around Washington Park before he went to DuSable High School, thanks to the guidance of Dan Dumas. His guidance was not always divine as he would sneak out from Sunday School for …

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Tony Canna

Tony Canna began his umpiring career after World War II in South Chicago and the East Side of Chicago with Jim Allen’s organization. Shortly after that he joined Jim Edgeworth and the “Official Empire’s Association” which he controlled later in his life. Tony worked with this organization until his retirement from officiating At the , …

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James Canna

Pioneer softball players and umpires remember Jim Canna as a knowledgeable, fair, and dependable umpire whose reputation was always above reproach. A 1938 graduate of Hirsch High School, he began his umpiring career with Jim Allen in the Southwest Umpires Association in 1944 at parks on the southeast side of Chicago, including Avalon, Grand Crossing, …

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