After graduating from Bowen High School in 1936, Tony Norka was recruited by Dust Motors to play in the Windy City League. He stayed with them for two years before moving on to play with the great LaPota Steelers. Once they disbanded Tony continued his softball career with Joe Higgins, Mel Turner, Baltimore Lumber, and […]
“I am grateful for having played with and against some of the greatest players of the 1940s.” This quote best summarizes the attitude Joe Neumann brought to the great game of softball. Joe Neumann began his career at Audubon Playground with the Vagabonds in 1936. In 1940 and 1942, they switched to Hillborn Stadium and
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The youngest of three softball playing brothers, Stan Norka was born in South Chicago in 1924. He began his playing career at 17, when he was added to the roster of the legendary Joe LaPota Steelers in the Windy City League. Like many players of his era, Stan Norka’s softball career was interrupted when he
A great defensive and strong hitting second baseman, Barney Nemec began his softball career from Cornell Park at the age of eighteen, Barney Nemec played with the Fuka Bullets until World War II interrupted his efforts. After his return from the war, Barney played with Stony Tires, Bill Rand’s, Shaw Jewelers (they once beat Fewer
