Mark Schuller’s softball career started under the tutelage of Bob Faje and the Squire’s Softball Club. They won multiple league titles at LaGrange Park, in Bolingbrook, and Villa Park in the mid-1970s. He played center field four-to-five nights per week and was hooked on this great Chicago pastime called sixteen-inch softball. In 1979, the late Bill Spencer suggested that Mark tryout for Wally Pecs’ Register team. They played in highly competitive leagues at Clarendon, Schaumburg, and Evanston. With help from teammates Mark Frighetto (HOF), Gus Contos, and Tom Tuccori, Mark learned the tricks of playing outfield and of hitting the heavy Clincher at Clarendon, which was rumored to be “juiced” with water or milk to keep it from flying over the close fences in left field. In 1981, Hugh Carmichael assembled a powerhouse team of the Rollers/Runts, which included John O’Connor (HOF), and Danny Brichetto They dominated play in the newly formed Mt. Prospect League. They captured the league title and a qualifier to the nationals. They lost to Spats in the 2nd championship game in the Aberdeen, SD ASA Nationals in 1982. Under the sponsorship of Cooper’s Sporting Goods, Ken Cooper merged the Runts and a strong nucleus of Hall of Fame players Buddy Doroskin, Frank Mustari, and Paul Brezinski from Coopers into the powerhouse Bud North that dominated play in the Mt. Prospect Classic League. They won titles at Mt. Prospect and Berwyn, the Forest Park “No-Gloves” title in 1987, ’88, and ’89, and the USSSA State title. Unfortunately they lost to the Ducks in the 1986 ASA National finals in Mt. Prospect. That year Mark received the MVP team trophy from Hall of Fame manager Ken Cooper. In 1991, Mark played in the ASA Nationals in Kingman, Arizona with the Rabbits, a team comprised of players from the North and South sides. This was his last ASA appearance with the team coming up short for a national title. He currently plays for the Doctors (HOF) in Cicero and Berwyn, the Warhawks in North Riverside, and Still Cruisin in Glenview. Mark retired from Citibank and resides in Burbank, Illinois.
