Shelley’s passion for 16” softball began at a 1977 family gathering in LaGrange Park, where a “friendly” game was played with tournament-level intensity. Watching relatives dive, slide, and compete for bragging rights sparked her love for the game. Growing up on Chicago’s North Side in Jefferson Park, Shelley first played 16” softball at age 10 […]
More than just a team, Dago Park embodies the spirit of “Chicago’s Game.” Originating in the mid-1970s on the far southeast side of the city at what was initially known as Pietrowski Playground (later officially renamed Pietrowski Park to allow participation in city-wide Chicago Park District competitions), Dago Park softball rose from a group of
In 1969 a bunch of childhood friends thought it was time to stop watching the great softball games at Amundsen Park (Park9) at night and start playing ourselves. After all, as young teenagers, we thought we were pretty good after winning back to back City of Chicago Softball Championship Tournaments. After a few years of
Louis Watkins, the owner of Louis’s Lounge located on the southwest side, sponsored the Patio Players to play competitively in 1979. The guys were always at the Lounge in the back on the patio, hence the name (Patio Players). During the early years, they never had a particularly strong program. Then the team began a
Joseph started playing softball at the age of 17 at Harrison Park in Pilsen. He played in a tavern league and joined the company A.G Becker team for 9 years. On that team there were inductees Dick Cooper and Kenny Flaws. In the early 90’s he played for his nephew’s team called the Creators for
Mike is one of the true gentleman of the sport. He has coached both men and women’s baseball and softball teams at the youth, high school, college and adult levels for more than 30 years. He started the Saints softball team in 1986 with a group of neighborhood athletes from Hinsdale South High School that
Steve first played organized 16-inch in grade school league in 1970 for St. Hilary on the Northside. Steve was a pitcher but later played the outfield or infield depending on what the team needed. He developed into a solid pitcher and fielded his position very well. After high school, he played with friends at Mather
What started as a neighborhood group of friends playing ball together in Bridgeport, back in 1987, slowly evolved into something way bigger than any of us could have ever imagined. On the field, these friends quickly and easily formed a sisterhood and family known as, The Brat Pack. Through a lot of ups and downs,
James was born in 1961 in St. Louis Mo.,but after going to Concordia University in River Forest where he played baseball, football, and basketball and graduated with a BA in education. He started working for the Chicago Transit Authority in 1987 and worked until 2006 when he played 16 inch softball winning the Grant Park
Chances are, if you are in a room of former Northside softball players talking about the teams they were on, the guys they had played with, and the leagues and tournaments they played in, Portage Park would surely be mentioned. Portage Park is well represented in the 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame with numerous players,
