Growing up in Chicago, Patrick O’Connor learned the game of 16″ softball in the schoolyards and parks of the city. He played in many Chicago Park District tournaments with a number of different teams during his school years. Since 1983, Alderman O’Connor has hosted his annual softball tournament to help keep alive the rich tradition […]
In August of 1970, Jack Olson started the Scrappers. They played their first game in the Ed Kelly Fall Classic Tournament held at Clarendon Park. They beat three “A” teams from Clarendon’s League and then lost 9-7 to the Dwarfs of Clarendon’s “A” League. Because of their success, they were asked to play in
Sal Oliver grew up in the Gailwood area on Chicago’s Northwest side. He graduated from Fenwick High School where he played football and basketball in the prestigious Catholic 5′-9″- and-Under League. He graduated from Loyola University with a degree in business administration. Sal had a twenty-one year softball career, and for those twenty-one years, he
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Tom O’Neill has distinguished himself as a softball organizer, and a major college referee. As director of the Blue Island Softball League for 22 years, O’Neill presided over many ASA major championships. In fact, from 1980 to 1989, all ASA major championships were won by Blue Island teams. In 2000, O’Neill had served as ASA
Margaret Olawoye’s journey from a rookie 16″ inch softball player to one of the greatest pitchers in women’s softball history began when she signed up to play with the Family Co-ed team in 1979 at Washington Park. That experience launched her career with a series of championship teams. She joined the Rookies in the early
Silent,Feared,Effective,Respected. These are four words that describe the career of one of softball’s greatest power hitters. With three National Championships, five second place finishes, seven First Team All-American selections and three home run championships on his resume, these words are obviously not exaggerations. Fans of 16” softball will always remember the home run that cleared
Tom O’Malley is one of those rare players whose talent and longevity helped him reap the rewards of fifty-five years of playing softball. Perhaps his greatest achievement was winning the Kennedy Park championship at 59 in 2000 (his last year of playing) with his two sons, Mike and Tom. Tom grew up playing softball with
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At 118 pounds, John O’Connor was never known as a power hitter, but his defensive skills spoke volumes during the 50’s and 60’s. He played football and basketball at St. Phillips’s High School, quitting football after scoring a touchdown because the coach didn’t play him enough. But football’s loss was softball’s gain when O’Connor was
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Ron played every field position with the highest degree of skill. He was an outstanding infielder, a swift outfielder, and punishing catcher. Ron batted right and threw right. He played with the Bobcats, Whips and Amalgamonsters where he was considered to be the top player in 16” softball during the 1970’s. His 100 home runs
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A 5′ 8″ centerfielder with good speed, Al Oziemkowski played for the Bonnets before playing for the legendary Bobcats in the 1950s and 60s. As a lead off hitter, he could bunt his way on base but could also hit a long ball. Players of his era showed their respect for his prowess by dubbing
