Matt Dosen began what would become a 34 year softball career in 1964 when he was 22 years old playing with a neighborhood team at Russell Square and Cal Parks. It might have been a neighborhood team, but it had a legendary sponsor – Alderman Ed Vrdolyak. 1967 brought a change to Dosen’s career when […]
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Getting a penny for every ball he and his brother caught. Driving around the South and Southeast side of the city in the sponsor’s coal truck looking for games. Sewing softballs back together with a darning needle. Driving a nail into a broken bat. These are just a few of the Depression era memories of
This versatile lefty–known for his spray hitting ability, excellent speed and superior defensive skills–began his softball career playing at Chicago’s Hamlin and Welles Parks. “Ducky” played with many teams in the mid 1940s and 50s. In 1948 he was selected to the All-Star team, while playing with Splinter Finance at Northtown Stadium, later to become
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The 1948 Softball World Series program places Steve Donchez in the same class of pitchers as Eddie “Lefty” Sevick, Ralph D’Orio, and the legendary James “Sheik” Di Nardi and Lewa Yacilla. Along with Bob Werderich and Zeke Ireland, Donchez and the Angels of Broadway won the Windy City Softball Championship. Besides being one of the
Born on Chicago’s famous West side James DiNardi notched a reputation as one of the top two or three 16″ pitchers of his era He earned the nickname of “Sheik” while a student at the Thomas Jefferson School on the West side where he was always the best dressed and subsequently attracted all the girls.
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Dumas was a superb lefty pull hitter that made teams defense him with four infie1ders on the right side of second base.. leaving only the third basemen.. .he still would get hit to right. He had 3 straight batting titles in the Daddie O�Daylie League. He was MVP and batting champion in �62 and �63
One of the organizers of the Windy City League with Harry Hannin. While a terrific short center and outfielder, he was considered the best manager of the league with the champion Kool Vent, Fewer Boilers, and Witt Hanley Yankee teams. Especially proud of Kool Vent winning last season of both the Northtown League in 1949
Born on December 13, 1914 in Donaldsville, Louisiana, William Davis became one of the top softball pitchers and home run hitters of the Pioneer Era. William attended Douglas Elementary and Phillips High School in Chicago. Besides playing for the Gas House Gang, his softball career also found him as the pitcher on Dr. Goss’ Collegians,
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From 1933 to 1956, Frank Dalesandro was one of the best players in the top leagues in Chicago. A legend in his Taylor Street neighborhood, Daleasandro began his softball career with the White Eagles when he was only twelve years old. He then went on to win world titles with such legendary teams as Fewer
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