Spring early 1980’s…Russell Grande gets together a group of his High School buddies from Steinmetz to play 16” Softball, a Chicago specialty, this is when the High Lites began. The inspiration to play came when Russell and Geno Grande as teenagers would hangout at their brother-in laws games in the dugout and around the field …
Sylvester “Sly” Hoey started playing with The Family in 1989. He was considered one of best defensive 2nd baseman in the game. He was also an outstanding clutch hitter and base runner. That combination landed him 7 MVP’s and 8 All-American awards in different leagues and tournaments over his 26-year career. He played for excellent …
Rich is the perfect example of a Holan Award winner due to his passion for the game as a player, organizer, manager, umpire, sponsor, HOF committee member, and ambassador of the sport since 1977. He even was one of the painters on Wally Filkins’s crew that painted the interior of the HOF Museum. He has …
In the spring of 1982, Joe Umana Jr., the son of the late Joseph I. Umana (2004 HOF) organized a 16” softball team consisting of his wife Rose and a group of her Forest View High School and work friends. Being a longtime resident of the Mt. Prospect Park District, they joined the Mt. Prospect …
Steve Heinol has been playing big ball since the 1970’s. He played the game before he could drive and needed a ride from his dad Dennis to get to his games. He was known to play hard and loves the game with all his heart. Even a heart attack on the field never stopped him …
Like many other great players, Tim’s career started with playing ball in his Northwest side neighborhood with the Owls. During his 12 years in the majors, “House” played on some of the best teams in the 70s, contributing to numerous titles. Tim worked hard to be a team player on teams he represented, including the …
While the members of the Hangovers didn’t grow-up exclusively playing 16 – inch softball (they played t-ball for two years starting when they were six), they did play it for twenty- six plus years. They started at Lawler Park in the 70’s in the Pigtail, Ponytail and then Junior Miss leagues. From there they went …
Sixteen-inch softball has been an institution at the Hodgkins Park District since the 1970s. It started with church leagues playing on an old baseball field and quickly evolved into one of the finest homes for “A”, Major, and Pro League softball teams. With its legendary twenty-foot high and two hundred-fifty foot fence and its perfectly …
David Hardt started his fifty-year sixteen-inch softball career in the late forties and early fifties in the Father Jerry League. Top players like Eddie Earle (HOF), Orin Matson, Bill Hall, Geno Petramale (HOF), Jack Zeko, and Jack Lewis played in this league. After the Father Jerry League, David started playing with the Wolves at Portage …
Buddy started playing 16” softball in 1966 with Jeno’s Lounge before moving to Andy Ortolano’s Super Stars and then to the Dwarfs. He played second and third base with the Dwarfs and helped them win numerous tournament and league titles, helping them to a second place finish in the ASA Nationals and twice received ASA …
