Rich DelGiudice’s softball career spans many memorable years as a player and later as a manager who was fortunate enough towards the end of his career to have managed three of his sons – George, Nick and Joe – as manager of the Flames. He started playing softball with the Hawks at Garfield Park and Grant Park. As an outfielder who played mostly right or left field, he carried a .500 – plus batting average and was twice selected as the MVP at Grant Park in the 1960s and also earned MVP honors at Garfield Park during that same era. In 1974 he turned his skills to managing softball. During his twenty-six years managing, he accumulated a record of 1100 wins against 700 losses, numerous league and tournament titles, four Metro titles and made two appearances in major national competition. He managed the Hawks for 1974 to ‘79 at Garfield and Grant Parks in Chicago. He then started a twenty-year partnership with the Flames in 1979 at Villa Park and Addison and at all tournaments. They won the title at Villa Park four times – in 1983, ‘85, ‘93 and ‘96. In 2000 he led Flash as they played in the Pro League at Forest Park and in the Classic League at Mt. Prospect. In 2001 he and Rich Hennessey coached Nectar softball to a third place finish in the Classic League at Mt. Prospect. That same year they won the Metros at Mt. Prospect to qualify for the ASA “A” Nationals In 1983 the Flames took second place at the Forest Park “No Gloves” Nationals, losing to the Whips in the title game. In 1985 they took fourth place at the Forest Park tournament. They won two Metros at Woodridge and two at Mt. Prospect. His teams made appearances at the A Nationals for twelve years, taking fourth place in 1988 and 1993. He and his wife, Sandy are deceased, they have seven children, Lynne, Rick, Joe, Vicki, Jan, George and Nick, and fifteen grandchildren. Rich DelGiudice lived in Lombard, Illinois.
