The Chicago Jets softball team was organized and launched in 1976 as a “B” League northside neighborhood saloon squad. Managed/Coached by player John Clausen, 1st basemen, the Jets went on to win 22 Chicago Park League championships, a half- dozen major tournaments, and hundreds of big games, including the 1985 USSSA State Tournament, all in a single decade. The Jets were sponsored by D’Agostino’s Pizza on Southport & Addison and Third Base Inn, a Lincoln Avenue bar known as “The Last Stop Before Home.” In 1976, this competitive Jets team excelled in the rugged Clarendon Park “B” League, which utilized the famed “juiced Clincher” ball, injected with water, milk, or syrup, to restrict the flight, and hold the scores down. Over the next decade, the Jets won four “B” League championships between 1976 and 1979, in addition to championships at Chase Park, Horner Park, Mather Park, Revere Park, and Athletic Field Park. By the 1980s, the Jets had ascended to the “A” bracket at Clarendon, Portage, and Hamlin parks, while also adding some youthful players to their powerful core. (Before the Mount Prospect “AA” leagues were launched, Clarendon Park and Portage Park were THE TOP competition in the city in the 1980s.) Triumphant, the Jets won three more Clarendon championships and eight additional championships at Portage and Hamlin parks. The Jets consistently beat all of the top North Side “A” teams, including Fusion, Rollers, Stones, Six-Pack, Playboys, Impalas, Lickers, and The Alley. During the 1985 season, the Jets won first place in the USSSA State 16-inch Glove Tournament in Orland Park, IL, beating the Coors Bombers for the championship. Jet’s center fielder, Keith Dickens, batted .600 in the 1985 tournament and won Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors. “The Jets were a great group of talented athletes, easy to coach and manage,” Clausen said. “When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way!!! YEAH YEAH!!” It would be difficult to mention all the players who may have contributed to the Jets over this decade, but a special shout-out to our batboy, Ben, at Clarendon Park, and to Jackie Clausen for keeping the score, and to all our fans in the stands. List of the most players through the decade Joey Alvinito, Ronnie Brash, Pat Carroll, Clarence “Boots” Cass, John Clausen, Tom Couch, Chris D’Agostino, Keith Dickens, Steve Dickens, Kenny Dower, Bobby Glover, Dale Hopkins, Bob Hopkins, Connie Jasczcor, Mark Keefer, Bill Kehoe, Timmy Kral, Ricky Lewis, Joey Lucido, Dickie Miller, Mark Naumiec, Gene O’Keefe, Ronnie O’Keefe. Robert Placek, Bradly Trychta, Randy Walsh, John Zullo
(1976 – 1985) TEAM TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS THE CHICAGO JETS WON 1ST FIRST-PLACE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT-HOSTED TOURNAMENTS IN THE FOLLOWING PARKS: 1. CHASE PARK TOURNAMENT (TWICE IN MID-1970s) 2. HORNER PARK TOURNAMENT (ONCE in the late 1970s) 3. CLARENDON MIDWEST TOURNAMENT (JETS WON THIS IMPORTANT TOURNAMENT TWICE IN 1981 AND 1982) 4. MARCIN KOSCIUSKO PARK TOURNAMENT (2nd place in 1981) JETS WON 1st PLACE IN 1982 THE CHICAGO JETS QUALIFIED TO PLAY IN ASA AND USSSA WORLD TOURNAMENTS EVERY YEAR during the team’s DECADE-LONG CAREER. 1984—THE JETS WON 2ND PLACE IN THE USSSA STATE TOURNAMENT IN ROCKFORD, IL. THEY LOST TO THE COORS BOMBERS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN THE EVENT SPONSORED BY MILLER LIGHT. 1985—THE JETS WON 1ST PLACE IN THE USSSA STATE TOURNAMENT IN ORLAND PARK, IL. THE JETS BEAT the COORS BOMBERS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. JETS’ CENTER FIELDER KEITH DICKENS BATTED .600 IN THE 1985 16-INCH GLOVE TOURNAMENT AND WON THE MVP AWARD. THE EVENT WAS SPONSORED BY BUD LIGHT.