Veteran

Kurt Kiesel

Kurt was one of the premier shortstops in major softball through the 1980’s and 1990’s. His championships and honors are too many to note on this plaque. Kurt began his softball playing days with the Railbirds at Clarendon Park in 1978. In 1981 he was named the playoff tournament MVP in the prestigious Clarendon league. […]

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Joe Somodi

Joe grew up on the Southside in Burnside. Thanks to his Dad he played at an early age using sewer lids on the corners for bases and played till dark. In 1975 he graduated from high school, and started playing softball with the Burnside Bums. They played at Calumet, Palmer and Mt. Greenwood Parks. His

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Calvin Jackson

Calvin Jackson’s 16-inch softball career started at the age of twelve (1961). He was under the tutelage of Mr. Walton in the Madden Park-Darryl Home Park District softball league, located at 3813 South Rhodes. This league had two divisions: the Intermediate (12 to 15 years) and the Senior League (15 to 17 years). Calvin first

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Don Bianchi

Don (Donny) Bianchi threw his first 16-inch softball at Portage Park in the early 1960s. He used to watch his father played there, so he grabbed a yellow Clincher and brought it to the sandlot field in Niles. Donny and his buddies played 16-inch there because not everyone had a mitt, and the windows were

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