Bobbie Blackstone is truly one of the great players of one of softballs great eras. A shortstop, he began his 30 year 16″ softball career in 1951 while still a student at Tilden High School. He joined a team that won the Sun Times Chicago City Softball Championship in the junior division. The team was coached by Miss Sally, the person Blackstone credits with teaching him valuable lessons about softball in particular and sportsmanship in general. Bobbie’s career took off as he played with every top team on Chicago’s South and West sides. Although he played every position, his quick hands and accurate arm made him one of the top shortstops of his era. His all-around skills earned him MVP and batting championships with teams in the Southside Cocktail League. In 1962, Blackstone was playing in the Daddio Daily League with such legendary players as Tony Reibel, Paul Patterson, Sweetwater Clifton and fellow 2001 Inductee Henry Currie. Together they defeated the Monarchs for the league championship in a no hit, shutout pitched by Henry Currie. Blackstone’s long and distinguished career came to an abrupt halt when he ruptured his Achilles tendon. In 1982, he was nominated to the Chicago Black Athlete Hall of Fame.
