Hall of Fame Inductees
2000’s
Angelo Alesia / Inducted 2011

Angelo Alesia

Blue Island Park District / Inducted 2012

Blue Island Park District

B’ Athletes / Inducted 2015

B’ Athletes

Javon Austin | Freddie Hopkins | Michael McToy |
Dorian Bolton | Anthony Jackson | Michael Price |
Howard Bowling | Cody Jackson | James Rodgers |
Vernon Cade | Garland Jackson | Walter Rodgers |
Carl Carter | Renard Jackson | John Smith |
* Michael Coleman | * Clayton Jones | Cornelius Spencer |
Percy Coleman | Eric Jones | Keith Stallings |
Michael Colvan | Ernest Jones | Darren Stewart |
James Daniels | * Michael Lee | Pierre Walker |
Curtis Durns | * Randy Lee | * Austin Ware |
Nathaniel Earley | Westley Lee | Raymond Warren |
Randy Ellis | Ricardo Ligon | Tracy Watkins |
* Floyd Glover | Ron Mack | William Weatherspoon |
* Ken Hairston | Marvin Martin, Jr. | Michael Webb |
Michael Hamilton | Maurice Martin, Sr. | Leroy White |
Robbie Harris | * Sherman Martin, Jr. | Jeffrey Henry |
Gregory McGinnis |
Roger “Ozzie” Babilla / Inducted 2015

Roger “Ozzie” Babilla

Elvira “Babe” Sanfillipo / Inducted 2015

Elvira “Babe” Sanfillipo

Clarendon Park / Inducted 2009

Clarendon Park

Clyde Park District / Inducted 2013

Clyde Park District

Dan “Sheik” Carmody / Inducted 2014

Dan “Sheik” Carmody

Dan Carmody was born in October of 1955 in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago’s South Side. He graduated from St. Ignatius High School and played baseball his freshman year at Regis University in Denver, Colorado before transferring to the University of Alabama. There he was given the nickname Sheik and graduated with a degree in Public Relations in 1979.
While in college he started playing
softball, but his career really took off
after graduation playing for the Lot at
the Kennedy and Mount Greenwood
parks. He moved to the North Side in 1981, where he played and still plays in the Lincoln Park Leagues.
He also played with Clockwork at Oak Park, Kosciusko, and Riis parks. They won the Hamlin Park Tournament numerous times. In 1988 he joined the Raiders and manager Ted Sherman, playing at James and Mather Parks and in various tournaments. The Raiders have played in the Mount Prospect Classic League since 1998. They took third place twice (1995 and 1996) and second 1997 in the Grant Park Tournament. The Raiders also placed third in the “A “Nationals in 1997 and 2007.
In 1995 he pitched the Problems to a second place finish in the USSSA ‘A’ Nationals. He pitched
a perfect game for the Problems In ASA qualifier in Joliet. In 1997 he pitched the Franconellos to a third place finish at the A nationals in Brookfield Wisconsin. In 2005 he was the winning pitcher when the Chicagoland All Stars defeated the Iowa All Stars.
“Sheik” Carmody is best known for his ability to get a big drop off the mound, his excellent range and his great defensive skills. His favorite play
was being the pivot man on the double play. His 6”4 height also helped his defensive skills. He batted leadoff for many of his early playing years. Dan currently plays in the Mount Prospect Classic league with Traffic and coach Nick Gatta.
Dan always took pride in being a good teammate and respecting his opponents on and off the diamond.
He and his wife, Heather, and their three children, Katie, Callie, and Danny reside in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. He works as an options trader at the CME Exchange.
Eddie Chibe / Inducted 2015

Eddie Chibe

Elvira “Babe” Sanfillipo / Inducted 2015

Elvira “Babe” Sanfillipo

Albert E. Fegan / Inducted 2015

Albert E. Fegan

Flamingoes / Inducted 2015

Flamingoes

* Willie "Sweet" Johnson | Andrew "Chin" Page, | Gene “Geno” Gerald | |||
* Sam "Gilbo" Taylor | Carl "Carlos" Hilliard, | Roy Culter | |||
* Drake "DJ" Jones | Vincent "Vince" Sterling, | Norman Gordon | |||
* Larry "Lala" Washington | Robert "Bobby" Crosby, | Jimmy Weatherspoon | |||
* Dennis "Punchy" Wallace | Cleophus "Big Juice" Davis, | Joe Jackson | |||
* Steve Kirby | Mitch McCullough, | Danny Jackson | |||
* Anthony "Tony" Ward | Randy Webb, | Angelo Mooring | |||
* Vada "Buddha" Primous | Roland "Rock" Kemp, | Brian Bennet | |||
* Jessie Mack | Robert "Lefty" Johnson, | Cody Jackson | |||
* Willis Miles | Alphonso "Puncho" Davis, | Leory "Whitey" White | |||
* Sylvester “Vesmo” McKinnon | Jonnie Hodges | Howard "Sco" Blakley | |||
* Willie "Wicked" Poole | Dwayne "Sonny Simms" Spivey | Vernon Cade | |||
* Tom Bonen - | Edward "Lil Juice" Douglas, | Richard Hopkins | |||
* Ricardo "Rick Monday" Ligon | Andrew "Rookie" Johnson | Wayne Jaskwerski - RIP | |||
* Raymond Johnson | Papa "Joe" Stratton | Al Skorupa - RIP | |||
* Donnie Gardner | John "Lil John" White | Chip Holmes - RIP | |||
Percy "Bobo" Coleman | Mike Brown | Jerry Jones | |||
Alvin "Doc" Robinzine | Michael "Dyke" Johnson | * Clayton Jones | |||
Ralph "Dirty Harry" Love, | Ike "Pike Screw" Stratton | Jessie "Shady Jake" - Rip | |||
Eddie "Tyke" Taylor, | James Earl, | Samuel "Bump" Woodson | |||
Stanley "Stan" Brown, | Leonard "Lenny" Woodson | James "Crow" -Rip | |||
Lionel "Fish" Tally, | James Earl | Ron "Dede" Pitts | |||
Rod "Carew" Johnson, | Monroe "Cosack" Banks | Donald Woods - RIP | |||
Alvin "Duke" Jones, | Michael "Dyke" Johnson | Robert "Blue Carter -RIP |
FORCE / Inducted 2015

FORCE

Allen Jenkins | Leo Richmond | Willie Harrington |
Juan Gayden | Henry Barber |
Jackie Anderson | Tracey Barber | Joanie Bass |
Tracy “TJ” Booker-Black | Donna Floyd | Vickie Ivory Harbin |
Johnnie Gains Hairston | Rosetta Henderson | Tara Huff |
*Christine Hurrins | Faye Lola Jenkins | Connie Johnson Jenkins |
Regina Towers King | Patty Lindsey | Sherry Lipscom |
Renette McCurry | Robin Moore | Bridgette Nesbitt |
*Margaret Olawoye | Gwendolyn Twig Polk | Jan Pope |
*Lisa Pugh | Rachelle Richmond | Janice Roberts |
Tamieka Roberts | Sherrick Robinson-Smith | Darnita Spragg |
Chiquita “ChiChi” Thomas | Earnestine Walker | Shirley Wilbourn |
Charlene Davis Williams | *Popati Wing | Francine |
Justin Fortuna / Inducted 2015

Justin Fortuna

Jim Giblin / Inducted 2015

Jim Giblin

Matt Gillen / Inducted 2015

Matt Gillen

Grant Park / Inducted 2015

Grant Park

- Metro Tournaments, 1960-70, teams played to advance to the National ASA tournament, very often held in Chicago.
- Chicago Classic, sponsored by the Beverage Companies like Old Style and Miller Lite, teams came from all over to play on the lake front. There’s nothing better than just needing a bat, ball, tape for your fingers and beer!
- World’s Largest No Gloves Tournament 1992 attracted over 200 teams playing for the trophy and prizes that included an all-expense trip to Cancun, Mexico!
- The City Wide Industrial Tournament, this was an intense competition that matched teams from all around the city of Chicago.
- LaSalle Street Tournament hosted local teams where “ringer teams” often entered to snatch up the prize money.
- Mike Royko Memorial tournament honoring Chicago's most respected newspaper columnist and softball aficionado, held each September, offered softball players one last summer swing.
- Chicago Sixteen – inch Softball Hall of Fame Tournament consisted of men, women, co rec and men over forty divisions. This coveted tournament held 2004-2007 brought out the best of the players.
- City Wide Youth Championships, culminated the season for thousands of kids from across the city parks. These kids continued to keep the game alive!
- Special Olympics Softball, Chicago Park District Special Recreation athletes perform skills tests and competition. The Special Olympics/Special Children’s Charities celebrated their 45th anniversary in July of 2013. In 2014, 481 athletes participated in softball activity in Grant Park.
- The Chicago Police League played in Grant Park 1950 – 2013. This brought police officers from all over the city to compete and build camaraderie amongst various division of the police force. The league continues to play within the Chicago Park District.
- The Illinois Bell/Metro Softball League ran in Grant Park from 1960-2005. The last league director, Jeff Wilkens (1990-2005) notes that back in 1974 every diamond in the pit, up top and over by Petrillo were full every day with teams. They had fond memories of practicing by the original band shell with many other teams waiting for the late game. They always had a contest about who could hit the Columbus statue. Wild Bunch won the league championship in 1991,1992, and 1995. When the league disbanded in 2005, the team joined the park district men’s league on Thursday nights and continues to play.
- The Chicago Design League continues the tradition 1999-2014. Nic Rotundo, league director, said that Grant Park gave the Chicago Design League its softball home… and in the grandest of Chicago sixteen – inch tradition on Upper and Lower Hutchinson fields. What makes their league unique is that they started out as a loosely organized squatter’s league in Lincoln Park’s South Field where they survived for twelve years but the late 90’s brought about the need to either formalize, or disband. It was at that point they started play in Grant Park. Over the past fifteen years, thirty-seven teams have competed for 15 Crowns determined at their annual Championship Tournament, the culmination of their season and a tradition known throughout Chicago’s design and construction communities. So the ride so far has been tremendous with no end in sight as far as they are concerned… the sixteen – inch tradition is alive and continuing to thrive in Grant Park.
Kenneth “Chicken” Hairston / Inducted 2012

Kenneth “Chicken” Hairston

David Hardt / Inducted 2015

David Hardt

Drake Jones / Inducted 2014

Drake Jones

Drake Jones started playing serious softball with the Mau Maus when he was eighteen years old and met Stanley Brown while working at the Post Office. They played in the Post Office League, at Washington Park, and in tournaments throughout
the city. During one of those
tournaments, they played against the
legendary Flamingos. Drake hit four
homeruns off their top pitcher, Percy
“Bobo” Coleman, and hunted down every ball they hit to him the outfield. Unfortunately, they lost that game but after the game, Percy Coleman asked him to join the Flamingos.
Coleman promised him that they would play the best teams in the best parks and would be the best-dressed team in any tournament. They played in Prescott, Arizona, Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Marshalltown, Iowa. Locally they played in the top parks in Chicago and the suburbs.
One of his favorite memories is playing in the first Black World Series at Comiskey Park.
The tournament featured over forty teams, was witnessed by 5,000 fans, and was reported by the Chicago Defender newspaper. Other memories include beating the hometown favorite in Marshalltown, Iowa and winning in South Dakota by hitting five back-to-back homeruns in the seventh inning to clinch the victory in front of hundreds of screaming fans.
During this period, Drake was working, raising a family and playing basketball, but softball was becoming
his passion. The Flamingos won so many local league championships that they were barred from the popular South Side Cocktail League.
Even though they were shutout in local competition, they gained a lot of attention in “major” softball and began playing more white teams. They started out against The Zolna Bobcats but were soon playing Coopers, the Dwarfs, the Sobies, Miller Taggers, and the Eastsiders. And white teams began playing more black teams, including the Unknown Wild Bunch, Outcasts, Safari Tigers,
and Mark Thompson’s Bobcats. In the late 1970s, Percy Coleman diversified the Flamingos when he recruited Tom Bonen (HOF), Wayne Jawerski, and Al Scroupa.
Drake played outfield, fist base, and catcher. He earned “super star” status because of his offensive and defensive talents. Drake consistently hit over .500 and could throw runners out at all bases from left field with his “rifle” arm. He was selected to ten major league all-star teams, received eight Golden Hands awards for his defense, and was named an MVP on ten teams. He was recognized
as the greatest Flamingo outfielder with no other player coming close to his talents. He often ate ice cream and drank pop while chasing balls down. Sometimes he even caught some behind his back.
For over fifteen years, Drake had a front row seat to sixteen-inch softball history. He witnessed super teams playing with great players and being managed by super managers. His memories go on-and-on, not just with the Flamingos, but also with the Mau Maus, Flashes, the Senators, L.A. Posse, the Gladiators, and Third Rail, his CTA team.
Drake and his wife, Bernice, live on Chicago’s South Side. They have seven children: Drake, Jr, Chernise, Joshua, Solomon, Jamal, Jemel, and Jessica.
Rick “Bundy” Lasky / Inducted 2011

Rick “Bundy” Lasky

Michael Lopez / Inducted 2011

Michael Lopez

Mt. Prospect Park District / Inducted 2008

Mt. Prospect Park District

Magic / Inducted 2015

Magic

Hilde Diaz | Frank Batura | John “Sweet Daddy Wojtasik | |
Ron “Orca” Michaowicz” | Mike Stawski | Paul Zaitz | |
Pete Zaitz | Keith “Breeze” Rehr | Bob “Jaws” Jaworski | |
Joe Fabian | Gary Klonowski | Rick Regep | |
Tommy Tomlinson | Bob Bellany | Bob “Croc” Crokenower | |
Aleco Julius | Brad Kerzich | Eddie Zambo | |
Robert Wojtasik | Kerry Mecca | Scot “Wesco” Wesolowski | |
Lupe Diaz | Paul Volk | Chuck Bedlow | |
Ray Bedlow | Dan Telford | Jason “Lil Orca” Micvhalowicz | |
John Bagel | Rich “Pup” Bagel | Mark Scharlow | |
Jack Kamin | Tom Mazurski | Charles Richardson | |
Tony “Ozzie” Giglio | Tony Davis | Danny Athern | |
Jack Hogan | Larry Lenz | Nate “Dino” Brown | |
Kenny Menke | Bryan Fry | John Pelagrino | |
Tony Kabella | Bill “Rookie” Lang | Ron Risden | |
Dave Plesha | Tom Neputy | Darren Neputy | |
Brain “Coach” Udaykee | Eddie Chibe | Brad Moriaity | |
Kevin Salkeld | Paul Wetzig | Mike “Doc” Snell | |
Mark Munizzi | Jim Homa | Rolan Czik | |
Dennis Strzelczyk | “Big Dave” Sramek | Bobby Rehr | |
Gary Lewis | Mark Perecich | John Strxelczyk | |
Rich Hennessey | Bill Hickey | Mick Malmon | |
Chuck Gach | Buddy McFadden | Korky Wesolowski | |
Dean Folcar | Dan Gernatis | Don Schultz | |
Bobby Alquist | Louie Delfiacco | Allan Tomnitz | |
Mark Ksiondra | Pat Strossner | Nino Perovich | |
“Pappa Joe” Zaitz | Joe Winnek | John Svetich | |
Bob Barta | Jimmy Glorioso | Ed “Rocko” Rokosic | |
Bob Habel | Howard Habel |
Carl Maniscalco / Inducted 2015

Carl Maniscalco

Mike Marchinski / Inducted 2015

Mike Marchinski

Tom “Oscar” McClelland / Inducted 2015

Tom “Oscar” McClelland

- Thirty-six ASA Major Qualifiers
- the Grant Park Tournament (1993 to 1998)
- the Illinois State Tournament (1993-1998, 2000-2002, and 2004-2013)
- the winners’ final bracket and championship games on the Forest Park No- Glove Nationals (2000-2002 and 2004-2014)
- the Championship game of the Chicagoland Classic Tournament (2002, 2004- 2006, and 2009-2014), including ten championship games
- the Westchester Tournament of Champions (seven championship games)
- Major League softball at Mt Prospect Classic League (1993 – 1998 and 2000- 2014), the Forest Park “Pro” TV League (1996 -1998, and league in Bensenville, Lisle, LaGrange and Westchester /Hodgkins.
- the Forest Park Major League (2010-2014)
Sylvester “Vesmo” McKinnon / Inducted 2015

Sylvester “Vesmo” McKinnon

Molex / Inducted 2015

Molex

Stan Patek / Inducted 2015

Stan Patek

Anthony Portincaso / Inducted 2012

Anthony Portincaso

Vada K. Primous / Inducted 2015

Vada K. Primous

Lisa Pugh / Inducted 2015

Lisa Pugh

- 1981 NSA State MVP / All Tournament
- 1982 NSA National MVP / All Tournament
- 1983 NSA State MVP / All Tournament
- 1987 Mixed Company MVP
- 1988 NSA State MVP / All Tournament
- 2001 ASA National MVP / All Tournament
- 2004 Great Lakes National MVP
- 2004 Supreme Challenge State MVP
- 2005 ASA National MVP / All Tournament
- 2005 All-World ASA / All Tournament
- 2005 Queen City Classic MVP
- 2006 All-World NSA MVP
- 2007 Showdown Naptown NSA MVP
Ray’s / Inducted 2000

Ray’s

Ringers / Inducted 2015

Ringers

Elvira “Babe” Sanfillipo / Inducted 2015

Elvira “Babe” Sanfillipo

Mark “Schu” Schuller / Inducted 2011

Mark “Schu” Schuller

Shooters / Inducted 2015

Shooters

John “Beaver” Smith / Inducted 2012

John “Beaver” Smith

John Stock / Inducted 2014

John Stock

John Stock played softball for twenty- five years with some of the top
teams of his time. He started playing neighborhood softball when he was fifteen in the schoolyard at Chopin Grammar School. He later played in the league at Smith Park.
As his skills grew, better teams
noticed him and he soon found
himself playing “Major” softball with
the Playboys. In 1978, the Playboys were an exceptional team. They won league championships at Portage, Indian Road, Clarendon, and Kelly Parks. They also won the championships of the Windy City League and the Blue Island League. The highlight of that year was winning the Andy Frain Tournament.
In 1984 he played for the Lords, but was told by their coach that he wouldn’t pitch for them in 1985 because they were going to play with their neighborhood guys. He gave John
his blessing to look for another team. John did and joined the Hometown Touch. That year he pitched the Hometown Touch to the ASA Major National Title, beating the Safari Tigers. After the championship game, that coach told John that letting him go was the biggest mistake he made.
John credits the high honor of being inducted into the Hall of Fame to his great teammates and all of the people who believed in him along the way.
John lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Don Stramaglia / Inducted 2015

Don Stramaglia

LeRoy “Bobcat Lee” Sutter / Inducted 2015

LeRoy “Bobcat Lee” Sutter

James “J.T.” Tencza / Inducted 2015

James “J.T.” Tencza

Traffic / Inducted 2014

Traffic

Traffic is a classic neighborhood softball team from the Riis Park area that evolved into a consistent top- fifteen team. They started playing in a Sunday league at Riis Park in 1986. In 2011, they took second in the Westchester Tournament of Champions and finished fifth in the Forest Park No Gloves Nationals in 2013, proof that twenty-seven years later, Traffic is still competitive.
Led by two different managers – Dean Pritt and Nick Gatta – Traffic has always had a strong core of dedicated and loyal players. Eight of the players on the 1992 team that won the televised 150-team Old Style Tournament grew-up within four blocks of each other. Throughout the years, players have come-and-gone, but the team has always competed at the top level while still maintaining that neighborhood feel.
In its twenty-seven year history, Traffic recorded many victories and made countless memories.
• Won over 900 games
• Won thirty league and tournament titles
• Rank second all-time in Classic League victories
• Played in twenty of the last twenty-one Forest Park Tournaments
• Played in seventeen ASA National Tournaments
• Won six USSSA / ASA Qualifier championships
• Won two ASA Metro championships
• Went 67-17 in neighborhood league and tournament competition in 1989
• Won the Old Style Classic in 1992 and took second in 1993
• Took second in the ASA State Tournament (2005) and third (2001)
• Won the ASA “A” Championship in 2009 and took second in 1999
Washington Park / Inducted 2011

Washington Park

Westchester Park District / Inducted 2015

Westchester Park District

Anthony “Tony” Ward / Inducted 2015

Anthony “Tony” Ward

Austin “Spider” Ware / Inducted 2010

Austin “Spider” Ware

Ray “Doc” Warren / Inducted 2015

Ray “Doc” Warren

Paul “Paulie” Wukach / Inducted 2015

Paul “Paulie” Wukach
