In 1979, a group of friends from Chicago’s northside Edgewater neighborhood formed a softball team named “On Waivers” at Pierce Park and over their 21 years of existence won 25 league championships and league tournaments in parks along the north shore of Chicago, and Evanston. Their core players included rick Clark (captain), Jim Stoner, Dennis
In Marshalltown, Iowa Rod Bailey’s establishment—the Old Timer Tavern—has become synonymous with 16-inch softball. During tournament weekends, it serves as the central gathering place where players, fans, and supporters come together to celebrate the sport, share stories, and enjoy the postgame fellowship that defines the softball community. The Old Timer Tavern teams have become one of
At 2 years old Jake started going to softball games in 1977. Between his father, Jack, who is a member of the Hall of Fame, and his mother, Sandy’s games, and fell in love with 16 inch softball. Jake started playing when his dad reunited with some old teammates to put the Scrappers back together. After getting
In 1987, Kathy who loved playing softball started a fun and networking women’s league St. Christina Fields. Soon enough there were 12 teams and 200 women playing every Tuesday night. Kathy organized it until 2004 and then passed the torch to Jolie Becker, who is still running the St. Christina Women’s Sodality Softball League today.
Bobby started playing softball in high school and would continue for 25 years on the Northwest side and suburbs. He was an outstanding center fielder and batted in most lineups 1st to 3rd because he hit to all fields. He played for the Scorpions, Wedge, Taggers, Youngbloods, March, Inmates, Dogs, Storm and Fusion. His teams
Bob O’Malley grew up in Oak Lawn and graduated from Harold L. Richards High School in 1971. He got his first taste of organized softball playing for Andy Frain in the Grant Park League from 1969 to ’72. After that, he joined a group of friends from high school and college and played several seasons
In1976 little was going on in the history of Black folk, but we know that at least three things happened. 1. Negro History week became Black History Month. 2. While accepting the Grammy for Album of the year, Paul Simon thanked Stevie Wonder for not releasing an album that year…Stevie had won it 1974, 1975
Growing up on the north side of Cicero, Sharen’s interest in sports began at a young age as she was always playing basketball, softball, hockey, football, and swimming. When she was nine years old, she asked her parents if she could join the boys little league – her mother, Camille Olmstead, said, “no, if they
It was the summer of ’84 when Ron and Rich Onesti opened a custom athletic uniform shop on West Irving Park Road inChicago. Thesilkscreenoperationthat started with simple t-shirts quickly grew into one of the largest sports specialty shopsintheMidwest. Astheybeganthe operation, schools, businesses and local teams purchased their athletic wear from thenewlyfoundedenterprise. Then,the 1985 Superbowl
