From batboy, to player, to coach, to sponsor to organizer for over 40 years. Matt’s love affair began in the late 70’s when he accompanied his father, Matt (HOF), to many of his games and eventually played with him on a very good Dago Park team. Then with ICE he won the Matt D1992 ASA […]
Tommy Thompson was a Local One Ironworker who combined both his love for work and his love for softball by founding in 1982 the Dollars for Diabetes Union Yes Softball Tournament, a tournament sponsored by the Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council. Unions affiliated with the Council had been collecting money to
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Marty’s softball career started in 1995 playing for the original Snappers from the Eastside, managed by his brother, Matt. In 1997, he got my first taste of major softball when he joined the Rizza Rockers. Two years later he was recruited to the Puglise/Bucks. They went on to have a great four-year run which included
Bob is a pioneer of 16 Inch No Glove Softball, playing in eight decades. Bob began playing softball in gravel lots, playing line ball in the late 1940s. Bob played on numerous teams during his career, including JJ Crispo, Bakers, and the early Sobies to name a few. And played with the likes of Bill
Edward “Juice” Douglas started his 4-decade career at 13 with his family team the Gypsy Stars in Englewood. He was an excellent athlete at Englewood High. After their break up he joined the Wild Bunch. He was the MVP of the Black World Series held at Comiskey Park witnessed by Mayor Washington. He went on
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The Dennis Donnelly Memorial 16-Inch Softball Tournament began in 1972 and has been held annually on Memorial Weekend since then. Dennis “Denny” Donnelly was a Superintendent with Yuma Parks & Recreation. Denny started his work in Yuma in 1975, a few years after the creation of what has become an annual event, but was instrumental
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The Ducks were created in the early 70’s by teacher and varsity baseball coach Skip Borkowski as a local Oak Lawn area team. Many of the original players were either Oak Lawn Community HS graduates or teachers. The Ducks won over 75% of their games over the years, but win or lose, could always be
“Timmy” grew up in Beverly / St Cajetan Parish, and like many city kids at the time, fell in love with 16-inch softball. From the early 1970’s through 2000, Tim was the face of 16-inch softball at Kennedy Park. He built a reputation as a pitcher who would pull out all the stops to build
In 1961, Jim Donato started playing 16” softball with the Emil Colts in Melrose Park for 2 years before being called to serve his country. After returning from 2 years in the Army and Vietnam, he played Outfield and Pitcher with The Relatives, Merchants, Sportmens Lounge, Nocturms, Originals, Bruins and Olympians for 10 years in
At the age of 10, a broken arm prevented Chicago born Ed Durica from playing baseball, setting in motion a new passion. He began to hang around nearby Harrison and Dvorak Parks watching softball, eventually taken in by the Gaffers men’s team, given a jersey and becoming their Batboy for two years. By the age
