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
Shirley never played in high school, as Cooley Vocational HS did not have it for girls; her skill was just natural. Her story began at the age of 10 on a Sunday, on the way home from church. Shirley was walking across a park district field house and noticed men playing. She asked if she
My Dad was many things that I admired; an Air Force pilot that talked me through every intricate detail of how paper airplanes flew, an architect who I watched draw designs for structures made of steel and concrete, an athlete who played multi sports well, and a father with an afro and a dashiki that
Created in 1980 by a group of young men from the Dearborn Homes section of Chicago, they began their rise by playing in the tournaments around their neighborhood such Avalon, Ogden, Hamilton, and Washington Parks. The next year a few Gypsy Stars players were added and played in tougher tourneys and leagues including the 75th
Softball has been in Laura’s blood from birth, she started playing 12 inch at the age of 5 with her mom coaching her. She pitched 12 inch for Richards High School. At 18, she started playing 16 inch with her mom and friends in Chicago Ridge. She was picked up by the Misfits and her
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Cecilia was born on the west side of Chicago, IL in 1965. Her parents were Robert and Mattie Redditt. Cecilia started her 40- year career in 1979 at Franklin Park with a team called The Lady Strokes whose coach was Mattie Smith. She played with Lady Strokes from the years 1979-1984. She later played with
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Rick began his 16-inch umpiring career in college at Southern Illinois University in the spring of 1967. He graduated in 1971 and has worked for over 15 of the suburban leagues from 1971 until today. Rick has also umpired many tournaments including: the Westchester Classic-5 times, the Life Newspaper Classic-10 times, and the Chicagoland Classic
Ed was born in 1942 to Jim and Louise Walz on the Southside of Chicago in Bridgeport. He started his softball career at seven years old. He first played with the older boys in the neighborhood at Healy schoolyard across the street from his house. He would continue to play softball with a few of
Wildbunch! Wildbunch! Wildbunch! was the chant started by a group of young men who spent their youth playing basketball and 16-inch softball, on the courts and diamonds at the neighborhood playgrounds, practicing good sportsmanship, and cultivating friendships that have lasted a lifetime. They lived on the 2600, 2700, and 2800 blocks of West Jackson, Adams,
It did not take long for Tim to fall in love with the game when he started playing 16-inch softball in the Marshalltown, Iowa area with many of his high school friends. He played his first major National Tournament in 1987 with the Des Moines Merchants in Mt. Prospect. In order to compete at a
