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Men's professional softball in the United States

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During the late 1970s and early 1980s, several men's professional slow-pitch softball leagues were formed in the United States to build on the growth and talent in the booming men's amateur game during this period.[1][2] The American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) was the first such league, launching in an era of experimentation in professional sports leagues.[3][4] The APSPL was formed in 1977 by former World Football League executive Bill Byrne, who would go on to found the Women's Professional Basketball League.[5] Former New York Yankees star Whitey Ford was the first APSPL commissioner.[6]

In 1980, three teams, the Milwaukee Schlitz, the Fort Wayne Huggie Bears and Cleveland Stepien's Competitors, broke away to form the North American Softball League (NASL), under the leadership of Cleveland owner Ted Stepien, who owned 6 of the 8 teams in the league (only Fort Wayne and Milwaukee had non-Stepien ownership in the new league), while the APSPL continued with just 6 teams.[7][8][9] Former Major League Baseball players Mudcat Grant and Joe Pepitone served as PR officials for the new league; Pepitone would also play for Chicago Nationwide Advertising, having played previously for the Trenton Statesmen franchise in the APSPL.[10][11][12] The owners of the APSPL Pittsburgh Hardhats unsuccessfully challenged Stepien in court in an attempt to prevent the new league from splitting the young professional sport.[13][14] The NASL only lasted the one season. Also in 1980, Stepien made the news when he held a promotional event for the league in Cleveland in which he dropped softballs from the 52nd floor of Terminal Tower to be caught by outfielders from his Cleveland Competitors team.[15] The balls were estimated to be traveling at 144 mph by the time they reached the street, damaging cars and injuring several spectators. One was caught by Cleveland outfielder Mike Zarefoss.[16]

In 1981 the APSPL merged with NASL to create the United Professional Softball League (UPSL), but only the Milwaukee franchise came from the NASL to the new league as the other NASL teams folded.[17][18] The merged league competed for two seasons, before disbanding after the 1982 season, ending the pro era of men's softball.[19][20][21]

Of note historically, the first sporting event to air on ESPN on September 7, 1979 was an APSPL championship game between the Milwaukee Schlitz and Kentucky Bourbons.[22]

A number of prominent athletes from other sports came to the professional softball leagues. Major League Baseball baseball veterans Jim Rivera, Curt Blefary, Johnny Callison and Milt Pappas managed teams.[23][20][24] Softball players included former National Football League stars Billy "White Shoes" Johnson and Bob Lurtsema, Rick Wilson from the NBA, and retired MLB players Ralph Garr, Norm Cash, Bruce Miller, Jim Price, Darrel Chaney, Jim Northrup, Gene Hiser, Mickey Stanley, Danny Napoleon, Dick McAuliffe, and Zoilo Versalles.[25][26] Few had much success in professional softball, playing part-time and promotional roles.[27][28][29][30][31] The notable exception was former New York Yankee and Chicago Cub Joe Pepitone who played for the Trenton Statesmen. Pepitone put up respectable numbers in 1978 (110–225, .489, 14 HRs, 61 RBIs) and 1979 (50-122, .410, 9 HRs, 30 RBIs). The Detroit Caesars would even offer $30,000 to the Statesmen to buy Pepitone's contract in 1978.[32] That offer was rejected.[33] After the New Jersey franchise disbanded in 1979, Pepitone went on to serve as the team president and played first base for Chicago Nationwide Advertising in the North American Softball League (NASL) in their 1980 season.[34][35]

The professional softball era showcased some of the all-time best in softball history with several pro era veterans represented in the American Softball Association Hall of Fame - Tex Collins (Detroit), Ron Ford (Detroit), Jim Galloway (New York, Trenton), Bill Gatti (Kentucky), Mike Gouin (Detroit), Dennis Graser (Milwaukee), Mike Nye (Detroit), Steve Loya (Cleveland), Mike Mancenko (Cleveland), Willie Simpson (Chicago), Bert Smith (Detroit), and manager Eddie Zolna (Chicago).[36] In addition, pro softball alumni Rick Weiterman (Milwaukee), Cal Carmen (Rochester, Detroit), Gary Vitto (Detroit), Chuck Drewicz (Detroit), Bill Gatti (Kentucky), Mike Mancenko (Cleveland), and Braxton Speller, Jr. (Detroit) are members of United States Slowpitch Softball Association (USSSA) Hall of Fame.[37][38]

Year-by-year awards and leaders

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American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL)
Year Winner Runner-up Score World Series MVP League MVP Batting Average Home Runs RBIs
1977 Detroit Caesars Baltimore Monuments 4–0 Mike Nye (Detroit) Benny Holt (Chicago) Benny Holt (Chicago), .690 Benny Holt (Chicago), 89 Benny Holt (Chicago), 187
1978 Detroit Caesars Minnesota Norsemen 4–0 Bert Smith (Detroit) Ron Ford (Detroit) Mike Nye (Detroit), 654 Ron Ford (Detroit), 80 Ron Ford (Detroit), 201
1979 Milwaukee Schlitz Kentucky Bourbons 5–4 Rick Weiterman (Milwaukee) Rick Weiterman (Milwaukee) Rick Weiterman (Milwaukee), 557 Ron Ford (Detroit), 43 Ron Ford (Detroit), 122
1980 Rochester Express Pittsburgh Hardhats 5–4 Don Brown (Rochester) Bill Gatti (Kentucky) Rich Brown (Rochester), .494 Bill Gatti (Kentucky), Bob Schuster, (Rochester), 21 Bill Gatti (Kentucky), 87
North American Softball League (NASL)
Year Winner Runner-up Score World Series MVP League MVP Batting Average Home Runs RBIs
1980 Milwaukee Schlitz Detroit Auto Kings 5–2 Ken Parker (Milwaukee) Ron Olesiak (Chicago) Ron Olesiak (Chicago), .556 Benny Holt (Cleveland), 42 Ron Olesiak (Chicago), 124
United Professional Softball League (UPSL)
Year Winner Runner-up Score World Series MVP League MVP Batting Average Home Runs RBIs
1981 Kentucky Bourbons New England Pilgrims 5–3 Greg Whitlock (Kentucky) Bill Gatti (Kentucky) Bill Gatti (Kentucky), .622 Bill Gatti (Kentucky), 38 Bill Gatti (Kentucky), 99
1982 Milwaukee Schlitz Detroit Softball City 5–1 Dick Laba (Milwaukee) Dana Andry (Cleveland) Dana Andry (Cleveland), .618 Dana Andry (Cleveland), 65 Mike Manceko (Cleveland), 140

Professional Softball All-Time Team

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Team chosen by Robert Brown, former NASL league commissioner[39]

Position First-Team
Selection 		Team(s) Runner-up Team(s)
Pitcher Rick Weiterman Milwaukee Copper Hearth, Milwaukee Schlitz Dana Andry Cleveland Competitors
Catcher Bill Gatti Kentucky Bourbons Benny Holt Chicago Storm, Cleveland Competitors
First Baseman Doug Gerdes Detroit Caesars, Detroit Softball City Dennis Graser Milwaukee Copper Hearth, Milwaukee Schlitz
Second Baseman Donnie Rardin Kentucky Bourbons, Cincinnati Suds, Lexington Stallions Doug Czaplewski Milwaukee Copper Hearth, Milwaukee Schlitz
Shortstop Rick Trudeau Detroit Caesars, Detroit Softball City Denny Brown Pittsburgh Hardhats
Third Baseman Buddy Haines Chicago Storm, Milwaukee Schlitz, Chicago Nationwide Advertising Gary Richter New York Clippers, Trenton Statesmen
Outfielder Ron Ford Detroit Caesars Gene Parrish Minnesota Goofy's, Minnesota Norsemen
Outfielder Mike Nye Detroit Caesars Ken Parker Milwaukee Copper Hearth, Milwaukee Schlitz, Kentucky Bourbons
Outfielder Phil Higgins Milwaukee Copper Hearth, Milwaukee Schlitz Fred Miller Kentucky Bourbons, Cleveland Competitors
Outfielder Mike Gouin Detroit Caesars, Detroit Auto Kings Ron Olesiak Chicago Storm, Chicago Nationwide Advertising
Utility Rick Petrunyak Cleveland Jaybirds, Cleveland Competitors Lawrence Hutcherson Baltimore Monuments, Philadelphia Athletics
Utility Jim Dillard Milwaukee Copper Hearth, Milwaukee Schlitz John Spadaccino New Jersey Statesmen, Philadelphia Athletics
Utility Bert Smith Detroit Caesars
Manager Gary Vitto Detroit Caesars, Detroit Softball City Mike Basile Milwaukee Schlitz

Men's professional softball teams

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(Note that teams are listed horizontally if the same franchise changed names)[40][41][42][43]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Feinstein, John (July 29, 1977). "Slow-Pitch Pros Fast Becoming Favorites" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  2. ^ Carter, Russell (May 26, 1977). "Pro Slo-Pitch Softball Debuts Sunday" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  3. ^ "Clipped From The Journal Times". The Journal Times. April 3, 1977. p. 47 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Ludington Daily News - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  5. ^ "Clipped From Valley News". Valley News. May 25, 1977. p. 42 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Clipped From Lansing State Journal". Lansing State Journal. July 21, 1977. p. 42 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Clipped From The Courier-Journal". The Courier-Journal. May 10, 1980. p. 21 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "With This Team, He'd Better Have a Sense of Humor". Los Angeles Times. October 2, 1994.
  9. ^ "1979 Fort Wayne Scouts • Fun While It Lasted". May 23, 2014.
  10. ^ "They Were There: The TGG Interview with Mudcat Grant". 10 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Clipped From Lexington Leader". Lexington Herald-Leader. May 16, 1980. p. 16 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Clipped From Lexington Leader". Lexington Herald-Leader. May 16, 1980. p. 20 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Clipped From The Pittsburgh Press". The Pittsburgh Press. March 9, 1980. p. 84 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Clipped From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 24, 1980. p. 11 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "The Hour - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  16. ^ Popelka, Greg (17 April 2014). "Reliving Yesteryear: Cleveland Softball, Ted Stepien, and More Balls off Terminal Tower (Plus, a Quiz!)".
  17. ^ "Clipped From The Courier-Journal". The Courier-Journal. June 3, 1981. p. 39 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Clipped From The Courier-Journal". The Courier-Journal. June 3, 1981. p. 41 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Softball History USA – This site is dedicated to collecting the history of the great sport of softball". www.softballhistoryusa.com.
  20. ^ a b "Professional Slow Pitch Softball History". Angelfire.
  21. ^ "Detroit Caesars". Detroit Caesars.
  22. ^ "History of ESPN, Inc.". International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 56. St. James Press. 2004. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  23. ^ "Clipped From Arlington Heights Herald". Arlington Heights Herald. June 6, 1977. p. 30 – via newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Clipped From Democrat and Chronicle". Democrat and Chronicle. May 5, 1979. p. 7 – via newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Clipped From The Minneapolis Star". The Minneapolis Star. May 18, 1979. p. 51 – via newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Other – Softball History USA". www.softballhistoryusa.com.
  27. ^ "Clipped From Star Tribune". Star Tribune. May 21, 1977. p. 17 – via newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Clipped From Detroit Free Press". Detroit Free Press. July 13, 1978. p. 12 – via newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Clipped From Detroit Free Press". Detroit Free Press. June 2, 1978. p. 14 – via newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Clipped From The Miami News". The Miami News. January 11, 1979. p. 59 – via newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Clipped From The Courier-Journal". The Courier-Journal. August 2, 1980. p. 6 – via newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Clipped From The Central New Jersey Home News". The Central New Jersey Home News. July 21, 1978. p. 13 – via newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Clipped From Detroit Free Press". Detroit Free Press. August 2, 1978. p. 52 – via newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Clipped From The Tampa Times". The Tampa Times. June 29, 1978. p. 27 – via newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Clipped From Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. May 14, 1980. p. 57 – via newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Members". Archived from the original on 2019-05-31.
  37. ^ "USSSA Hall of Fame and Museum". hof.usssa.com.
  38. ^ D'Orso, Mike. ""It's Around Here Someplace"". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com.
  39. ^ "Professional Slow Pitch Softball History – Softball History USA". www.softballhistoryusa.com. 9 November 2018.
  40. ^ https://www.statscrew.com/othersports/standings/l-APSOL/y-1977 [bare URL]
  41. ^ https://www.statscrew.com/othersports/standings/l-APSOL [bare URL]
  42. ^ https://www.statscrew.com/othersports/l-NASOL [bare URL]
  43. ^ https://www.statscrew.com/othersports/l-UPSOL [bare URL]
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