Sixteen-inch softball has always been a part of Al Placek’s life. From the early days playing in the parks of Chicago to his days with the Bud 45’s, he always believed that to be the best you had to play against the best. He started his career playing CYO softball with a team from Our …
A 1969 graduate of Shurz High School and DPaul University, Steve Postran began his thirteen year softball career with the Road Runners in 1973. The following two seasons he played with Al Maag’s Baggers, then the Bakers and the Associates in 1976 before hitting it big with the Bobcats, Amalgamonsters, Runts and Stompers. The …
While attending St. Rita High School, southsider Brian Panick and some of his buddies joined the Aces, a neighborhood softball team. The Aces went on to become a southside powerhouse during the late 70’s and early 80’s, winning many Chicago Park District league titles. Panick moved on to play for a short time with the …
Ray Prost started playing 16-inch softball in 1953 at Riis Park on Chicago’s Northwest side. Ray and his brother started a team called the Ball Busters that played in the Forest Park Tournament in 1960. Although he doesn’t play there anymore, Ray still has a permanent place outside the right field fence for every No …
Like many Hall of Fame players who came before him, Gino Petramale started his softball career playing in the schoolyards and streets of Chicago. For Gino, these streets were Taylor and Roosevelt on Chicago’s West Side when he was in his early teens, but unlike many players, Gino also played a game that was foreign …
Although Joseph Pusateri was one of those kids who loved sports, he always knew from a young age that baseball was his passion. He was influenced by his stepfather who played baseball as a kid and passed his love for the game on to Joseph by taking him to the park to practice hitting …
Bobby Perna began playing 16″ softball when he was fourteen years old in park leagues at Sheridan, Garfield, and Riis. In 1954, after being noticed by some older players, Bobby was asked to play on one of Chicago’s great teams – Kool Vent Awnings. He played with Kool Vent off and on for three years. …
Bruno Pinkos began his athletic career at age ten playing 17″ softball inside the YMCA near Crane High School. At that time, back in 1926, they played the game with an “upshort” position, a position in front of the batter. He began his 16″ softball career playing with his close friends, the legendary Werderich brothers …
Considered the greatest hitter of the 40s and the Windy City League. This fast lefty punch hitter lead the Windy City League over 12 seasons on six separate occasions with the top batting average. First played for Hoffmans and then for Salerno Cookies, Fewer Boilers, the title teams of the Witt Hanley Yankees and Midland …
Vern was the “Joe DiMaggio” of the sport and a great consistent hitter.,. once hitting safely in 54 consecutive games. He played 2nd base for 5 champions of the Windy City League, including Kool Vent. He lea his employer the First National Bank to six industrial Chicago American titles. The right hander was an original …
