Little did Rick Burda and Paul Volk, two friends who met playing in a church league in LaGrange, know that the team they formed in 1973 would still be playing today. In 1973 they started playing in a league in Brookfield and over the next few years added leagues in Summit and Bedford Park. Made …
Starting in 1957 at Audubon Playground, near Addison and Damen, the Dwarfs began a softball legacy that would span four generations, and rank them as one of 16″ softballs most successful and historic teams. Few teams can boast their 1,322 wins against 333 losses for a .799 winning percentage. During their six decades the Dwarfs …
Rich DelGiudice’s softball career spans many memorable years as a player and later as a manager who was fortunate enough towards the end of his career to have managed three of his sons – George, Nick and Joe – as manager of the Flames. He started playing softball with the Hawks at Garfield Park and …
Jerry Duchen’s baseball career started in 1949 at age seven when he joined a little league program. His fifty-three year softball career began two years later when he joined his first team at Humboldt Park. In 1953 he was selected to the JYC All Star Softball Team, but his big break occurred in 1957 when …
As a kid growing up in Mt. Prospect, Ken would ride his bike to Meadows Park and became hooked on 16″ softball when he would spend the day watching teams like the Bobcats, the Sobies, the Strikers, the Bruins, Flamingos, Lyons 45s and the Scrappers play in Winston sponsored tournaments. In 1972, at eighteen, he …
He started out starring on the basketball team at Morgan Park High School and briefly enjoyed a short career with the Harlem Globetrotters, but to many Chicagoans he was known as one of the top radio personalities in the city. He was well known and loved for the great jazz music he played on his …
While Ron Dunlap never played softball, he did go on to become one of the top umpires of the late 70s through the early 90s. That doesn’t mean that Dunlap doesn’t have a background in sports. In fact, he is a former second round draft pick of the Chicago Bulls who also played for the …
Pete Dawkins began his softball career in 1955, playing at Washington Park, Avelon Park, and Rosenblum Parks. Pete played for eighteen years with such teams as the Huns, Ripplers, Hardaway’s and Royal Sportsmans. Once his playing days were over, Dawkins contributed to softball in 1971 by becoming one of the best umpires of his time. …
The Leo and Loyola U. basketball standout was a Southside umpire who excelled during the 1970s and early 1980s. Over 30 year career and very noteworthy prep basketball official as well. Chico was known for his flashy style on the bases and his ability to always be well positioned for the call. He was selected …
