Bob O’Malley grew up in Oak Lawn and graduated
from Harold L. Richards High School in 1971. He
got his first taste of organized softball playing for
Andy Frain in the Grant Park League from 1969 to
’72. After that, he joined a group of friends from
high school and college and played several seasons
in the Oak Lawn League.
In 1974 the team Phoenix was formed. They played
in the Mt. Greenwood Park and Chicago Ridge
Leagues. The team included future Hall Of Famer’s
Mike Clifford and Matt Gillen. Mid-way through the
’74 Season they were joined by future Hall member
Frank Mioni. Phoenix went on to win league titles in
Chicago Ridge, Mt. Greenwood Park, Palos, Tinley
Park and Bedford Park. Mike, Matt & Bob remained
together on various teams for the next 10+years.
Prior to the 1982 season Phoenix merged with the
Bucks. In ’82 the Bucks won the Tinley Park League
and the Tinley Park ASA Metro. They advanced to
the ASA Nationals in Aberdeen, South Dakota where
they finished 3-2.
In 1984 the Cougars were formed. The Cougars
won the 1984 Blue Island Metro and finished in 3rd
place in the ASA Nationals. Later that same year, the
Cougars won a tournament to qualify for the USSSA
Nationals. The Cougars finished in 3rd place again
and Bob received the USSSA Manager of the Year
award. The 1985 Cougars finished in 4th place in
the ASA Nationals.
After the Cougars disbanded Matt Gillen, Joe Somodi
and Bob headed north and joined Cooper Sporting
Goods. In 1986 Coopers won the Mt. Prospect
Classic League and finished in 2nd place in the
ASA Nationals. Later that same year, the team won
the NSA World Championship. In 1987, due to a
sponsorship change, the team became Bud North.
Bud North won the 1987 Mt. Prospect Classic League
and finished 4th in the ASA Nationals.
In 1988 Bob returned to the Southside and joined
Touch. From 1988 to 1990 the team reached the ASANationals all three times finishing in 3rd, 4th and 6th
place. In 1989 Touch won the Blue Island ASA Class
B 12-inch Metro and advanced to the Nationals in
Las Vegas where they finished in 6th place.
Bob also organized and ran ASA tournaments for
Tom O’Neil. He was tournament director for four
ASA Metro tournaments. Along with his partner,
Joe Hoffmann, they ran local tournaments at Mt.
Greenwood Park. The most popular of these were the
annual St. Patrick’s Day and 4th Of July tournaments.
After the 1990 season Bob was offered a partnership
with his firm so he retired from softball. In the end, he
is honored to have managed 35 current members of
the Hall Of Fame.
In 2007 Bob and his wife Joyce moved to Scottsdale,
Arizona. He was able to work remotely for the same
firm until he retired in September, 2019. Bob and
Joyce enjoy traveling and the Arizona weather!
