The Gillette sixteen-inch softball team played in the Grant Park Softball League in the 1950s through the 1960s. They became the Gillette Strokers in the early 1970s. Rumor has it that they won a few Grant Park championships in the ‘50s and ‘60s, but through the ‘70s and into the ‘90s they were a competitive team without a league title (although they did have quite a few second and third place finishes). This drought ended in 2005 when they won the Grant Park Plaza League championship and repeated as league champs in 2008.
In 1991, the Gillette Strokers and some “older” players from the other Grant Park teams – Com Ed, Peoples Gas, and Sears became the Old Strokes. They played in a 39–and –Older-League in La Grange. After their first season playing at La Grange where they won the league championship, the Old Strokes faced a problem – they had too many players. So they split into two teams – the Old Strokes and the Leftovers. As of 2016, both teams still compete in the 39–and-Over–League at Janura Park in Berwyn. In 1998 the La Grange Park District started at 50–and–Over–League that the Old Strokes and Leftovers competed in. The Old Strokes are still playing in a 50-and-over–league in Berwyn.
The Strokers still play in the Thursday night Plaza League at Grant Park. They played in other leagues and tournaments (they won the LaGrange Fall League in 1997), but have primarily played at Grant Park.
Most softball players played the game for two reasons – the competition on the field and the chance to socialize afterwards where lifelong friendships are formed. For that, the Strokers, Old Strokes, and Leftovers thank O’Callahans, Rossi’s, Pippen’s, Streator’s, Hogan’s, Queen’s Paradise, Melody Lane, Kenny’s Pub, Joes Saloon, Harrys Bar, Ryan’s Pub, Waterworks, Cordial Inn and many other “watering holes”. In the early 70s, the Strokers, after one of their Grant Park games, began what would become an annual after game picnic. Stroker Fest started out as a celebration for Stroker softball but evolved into a multi-team celebration every summer with the menu featuring a roasted pig stuffed with chickens to hot dogs and, of course, lots of cold beer.
Through the years, the Stroker softball roster included players from different backgrounds, neighborhoods, races, and ethnicities. Their roster changed slowly but eventually younger players were added to remain competitive with the core of players who had been together for ten-to-twenty years. Many of their more “experienced” players joined the Old Strokes or the Leftovers.
But with all the roster changes, one fact remained unchanged – it wasn’t dominance on the field but camaraderie and team loyalty that led to the longevity of the Strokers, Old Strokes, and Leftovers. The Strokers are already planning on playing into the next decade. They hope to add their sons and grandsons to the roster. The Old Strokes and Leftovers hope to avoid injury so they can play No Gloves Sixteen-inch softball for many more years.
Columbus James Jimmy Powell Dick Mrugacz
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