John Wooden once said, “Success is peace of mind in knowing you did your best. “ This quote fits Jack “Stone” Kelly because he always did his best. He began his major league softball career in 1977 with Shoes. From 1979 to 1981 Kelly played with Shoes, Condors, and Mr. Luckies respectively. He hit the jackpot in 1982 when he joined his Hall of Fame brother, Larry Kelly; on what many people say was the best softball team of the 80’s and possibly of all time – the Budweiser Whips. They won four ASA National Titles in 1983, 84, 89, 90 and four USSSA world Titles in 1982, 83, 84, and 87. Kelly took a two-year hiatus to play with Sportstation in 1987 and 1988 before returning to the Whips for two years. He played with March Manufacturing in 1991 and finished his softball career with Lettuce. Kelly won two more ASA Nationals with Sportstation in 1987 and with Lettuce in 1992. Jack Kelly was selected to seven ASA 1st Team All-American Teams and won the Home Run Championship four times in 1983, 84, 88, and 1990; he was also selected as the ASA Nationals MVP in 1983, 1984, and 1990. He also won USSSA MVP honors in 1984, making him MVP in both tournaments that year. Jack Kelly was one of the fiercest home run hitters of all time who was also able to punch the ball in front of an outfielder in one inning and then power the ball over his head the next inning. He played his entire career with strength, guts, and courage. His teammates will always remember him as the guy who could keep the team loose with a joke or prank on another player. If Babe Ruth was know as the King of Swat for baseball, Jack Kelly was known as the King of Swat for softball who spoke softly but carried a big homerun stick.
