A few years ago, the Chicago Public Schools made 16” softball a varsity high school sport. What many might not know, however, is that softball was a Catholic high school sport in 1955, and Mike Coyne played it. In his senior year at St. Gregory’s, Mike was the captain of his 16” softball team. That year they won the Catholic Parish League Championship. Mike Coyne was then picked to play with Alderman Hollen’s in the “A” league at Clarendon Park, the majors of softball during the 50s. From 1955 to 1967, Mike and his teams won championships at Clarendon and other parks with Hollen’s (1955 and 1956 at Clarendon and Wells), Kohler’s Jewelers (1959 at Clarendon and Wells), Ray-Lyn (1961 at Rogers Park), Eddy’s Bleachers (1962 North Loop champs), the Dwarfs (1963 at Wells and 1964 at Chase), and with S&N Jewelers and Joe Umana (1965 at Clarendon and Wells.) However, the most satisfying championship was winning the Midwest Tournament of Champions in 1962 when Eddy’s Bleachers played a team put together by Eddie Zolna. Eddy’s Bleachers beat Zolna’s team 25 to 23 in a game that saw six lead changes. Mike Coyne that night had five hits, including a three run homer and two doubles. The victory was especially sweet for Mike because Eddie Zolna had dropped him earlier in the season. From 1968 through 1990 Mike Coyne played with numerous teams including Flories, Ed Kelly’s, Tom Green’s and Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, Kolski’s Boosters (Mike also managed the team), and Hennessee’s. They won championships at parks ranging from Kelvyn Park to Hamlin Park. For ten years, he pitched 12” softball with Chicago FBI agents in the Nationwide FBI Tournament. He lead them to numerous championships with his pitching and hitting and was selected to the Columbus FBI Softball Hall of Fame. In 1991 at age 55, Mike Coyne pitched for Brothers at Oriole Park, leading them to championships in 1992 and 1993. From 1994 to 2003 he played with Chicago Hitmen (later Coyne Financial) at Indian Road. They won the title in 1996 and 2003. A Chicago police officer for 32 years, Mike Coyne also used his softball expertise from 1962 to 1989, leading various police districts to championships in the Chicago Police League and winning the Illinois Police Statewide Olympics in 1980 and 1989. Throughout his 48-year softball career, Mike Coyne played all infield positions and switched to pitching during the last fifteen years of his playing days. He was known as a gap hitter who could hit to all fields but who favored hitting to right center. Mike Coyne was a Chicago Police officer for 32 years. He now does public relations for Coyne Financial, family owned mortgage brokerage firm. He and his wife, Stephanie, have three children: Bridget, Mike, and Bill – and nine grandchildren.
