Gene Mozdzierz grew up in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago around Bloomingdale and Hermitage. He started his sixty-two year plus softball career when Father Jim Grzybowski from St. Mary’s of the Angels, who also played in the Windy City league, started teams for students in the seventh and eight grades. When is was time to …
Charles Miceli was known to his teammates and opponents as Mississippi, but that was too long for a nickname, so it was shortened to Missy. Over his five-decade softball career as a shortstop and pitcher, he was truly one of the great players of the Pioneer era. In the early 1940s, the Boston Red Sox …
Wally Meyers began his softball career in 1937 as manager and first baseman with Becker Coals at Hamlin Park in the Lincoln – Belmont Softball League. His superb fielding at first base and ability to get on base earned him All Star honors that year along with Hall of Famers Dick Triptow and Bud Gierke. …
In over 40 years in 16″ softball, Leonard “Sarge” McKinnon forged a legendary reputation as a player, manager, umpire and administrator. The Wendell Phillips High School graduate started playing softball in 1942 at the Wabash YMCA at 37th and Wabash when he founded the Nighthawks. He played first base and was their top hitter. The …
In nominating John McCallum for the Hall of Fame, Tommy Frangella, a 1998 Hall of Fame Umpire inductee, said that McCallum embodied three important characteristics of a great softball player; “His fielding was flawless, his hitting was tremendous and his sportsmanship was beyond reproach.” Born in 1919, John McCallum graduated from Mt. Carmel high school …
Great teams consist of many factors – great players, loyal fans, dedicated sponsors, and intelligent managers / coaches who weave often diverse personalities into a unified team capable of winning championships. Pete Mungo’s efforts represent the pinnacle of success as he played and later managed St. Albert the Great’s 16″ softball team from 1960 to …
He was the right hander who played for Witt Hanley Yankees, Fewer Boilers and became an Allstar 2nd sacker for Midland Motor’s- considered by many the best defensive player in the game at the position and always had a high batting average. Played on both Midland Motor’s and Witt Hanley Yankee title teams. The ’43 …
A graduate of McKinley High School in 1944, Sol Mosillami played with some of the great pioneers of 16″ softball. He began his career in 1942 with the Witt Hanley Yankees. A shortstop and occasional second baseman who batted leadoff most of his career, Mosillami was known for being a clutch single hitter who was …
