Howie Fagan has had a tremendous impact on the Hall of Fame from its inception. In fact, one could argue that it was his generosity that led to the first public display of softball memorabilia. Italian Sports Hall of Fame director, George Randazzo, suggested that Howie and Al Maag meet. From that first meeting, Howie …
Like most 16-inch softball players, Paul Frerking began his softball career playing in local park district games with his high school friends. He grew up in River Grove and attended East Leyden High School where he was named allconference in basketball and football. He moved into the major levels of softball when he played with …
Umpiring a minimum of 18 to 20 softball games per week in some of the top leagues in the Chicago area, Tom Frangella has the respect of many of the top players in 16-inch softball. According to Ed Zolna of the legendary Bobcats “ He’s the best umpire, and coming from me, that’s a compliment.” …
“No Gloves. Never Had ’em. Never Will.” This motto of the Forest Park No-Glove Nationals speaks volumes about the traditions surrounding this tournament. In July of 2011, they will sponsor their 43rd No-Gloves Nationals Tournament. It wasn’t always called the No-Glove Nationals, but softball players have always regarded it as one of the top tournaments …
From 1980 to 1994, Frank Fiarito coached the Panthers to twenty-nine league titles and six hundred wins. The teams finished second, third, and fourth in the ASA “A” Nationals and were runners-up in the eighty-two team USSSA 1989 state tournament. In 1995 he was the USSSA National Rookie Director of the Year for 16-inch softball. …
“Rocky” Fox’s powerful hitting first attracted attention when she was still a teenager. The talented first baseman would go on to post a career 550 plus batting average against the best competition around. Roxanne began her softball career as a youngster playing in the streets of Oak Lawn. As she got stronger, and her hits …
When Tim Flanagan was a kid, his father would take him to Kelly Park at night to watch softball games. He remembers the excitement of the crowd and the major-league atmosphere on those hot summer nights. Little did he know that some day he would be roaming the outfield at Kelly and other parks. During …
Randy attended George Washington High School where he played baseball and football. He was named to the all-state team in both sports. In 1976 he attended West Hills Junior College where he was named a baseball All-American. He played baseball for Cal State Stanislaus in 1979 and 1980. He was selected an All-American there and …
After completing a successful baseball career at the University of Illinois at Champaign, Mark started his softball career in 1976 with the Bakers at the behest of Danny Cocco. In the late ‘70s, the Bakers merged with Mike McGovern’s Dwarfs to form the Amalgamonsters. Even though the Amalgamonsters never clinched a national championship, with Hall …
A graduate of Maine South High School in Park Ridge, Illinois, Bill Finnegan played basketball and baseball, earning all-conference honors in baseball his senior year. He began his softball career in 1978 with the Magicians, a Park Ridge team made up of a group of young high school friends. During the summer of 1980, after …
