Rich is the perfect example of a Holan Award
winner due to his passion for the game as a
player, organizer, manager, umpire, sponsor,
HOF committee member, and ambassador of
the sport since 1977. He even was one of the
painters on Wally Filkins’s crew that painted
the interior of the HOF Museum. He has also
been cohost with HOF Inductees Tim Maher
and George Bliss on a variety of shows and
game productions. We think he has done it all
with a smile and enthusiasm.
After serving in the Marines he started as an
outfielder and has played most of the positions
on the infield and pitcher, but he is best known
as an outstanding hitter in A and Major ball. He
played and won numerous leagues including
tournaments for the Flames and HOF-honored
teams; Crush, Molex, Saints, Stooges, Rockers,
Thunder, and Magic. Rich has taken his bat
and probably played in almost every park in
the City and suburbs.
He also managed and played on the Terrorizers,
Nectar and taking the Naperville Can to a
second place finish in the 2003 Grant Park
Tournament, 5th in A ASA Nationals, and won
other titles locally. Rich earned a few 1st and
2nd team individual ASA, USSSA, and NSA
All-American honors and Life Classic honors
as well. With Irving’s, Red Hots won the 1990
USSSA Worlds. Also played on 4 second-place
finishes in Class A ASA Nationals. He has
traveled to Las Vegas and won in Phoenix in the
Maag Toy Foundation tournaments twice. He
won the over 50 SSA National championship
in 2018 with Crush. He is very proud to say he
played in 25 Forest Park tournaments.
He is still involved today, as an umpire and
playing in senior leagues. The game of 16-inch
softball is in his DNA and again a person who
loves the game and who has been a stellar
teammate and champion.
