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 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Team chosen by Robert Brown, former NASL league commissioner [39]
(Note that teams are listed horizontally if the same franchise changed names) [40] [41] [42] [43]
The Detroit Caesars were a professional softball team played in the American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) from 1977 to 1979.
The Detroit Auto Kings were a professional softball team that played in the North American Softball League (NASL) in the 1980 season at Memorial Field in East Detroit, Michigan.
The Kentucky Bourbons were a professional softball team that played in two men's professional softball leagues between 1977 and 1982 at Bishop David Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. The Bourbons, Cincinnati Suds and Pittsburgh Hardhats were the only three teams to play all 6 seasons of professional softball.
The Pittsburgh Hardhats were a professional softball team that played in two men's professional softball leagues from 1977 through 1982. The Hardhats, Cincinnati Suds and the Kentucky Bourbons were the only franchises to play all 6 seasons of professional softball.
The Pittsburgh Champions were a professional softball team based in Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania that played in the North American Softball League (NASL) in 1980.
The Milwaukee Schlitz were a professional softball team that played in three men's professional softball leagues from 1977 through 1982 at Wilson Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Detroit Softball City was a professional softball team that played during the 1982 season in the United Professional Softball League (UPSPL). Detroit Softball City played at and was named for a large recreational softball complex on the grounds of the Michigan State Fair in Detroit.
The Rochester Express, originally named the Rochester Zeniths, were a professional softball team that played in two professional softball leagues from 1978 through 1982 at various locations in the Rochester, New York area.
The Cincinnati Suds were a professional softball team that played in two men's professional softball leagues at various stadiums in the Cincinnati, Ohio region from 1977 through 1982. The Suds, Pittsburgh Hardhats, Milwaukee, and Kentucky Bourbons were the only franchises to play all 6 seasons of professional softball.
The New England Pilgrims were a professional softball team in Connecticut that played in two different men's professional softball leagues between 1977 and 1981.
The Cleveland Jaybirds (1977–78), later named the Cleveland Stepien's Competitors (1979–80) and finally the Cleveland Competitors (1982), were a professional softball team that played in three professional softball leagues between 1978 and 1982 at two different locations in the Cleveland, Ohio area.
The Cincinnati Rivermen were a professional softball team who played at Newport Recreation Center in Newport, Kentucky in the North American Softball League (NASL) during the 1980 season.
The Chicago Storm were a professional 12-inch softball team that played in the American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) during the 1977 and 1978 seasons. They played their home games at the Windy City Softball Complex in Bridgeview, Illinois in 1977 and then at two different parks in 1978 - Lions Park in Mt. Prospect, Illinois and Community Park in Addison, Illinois.
Chicago Nationwide Advertising were a professional softball team that played in the North American Softball League (NASL) during the 1980 season. They played their home games at The team played at Lou Boudreau Field in Harvey, Illinois.
The Philadelphia Athletics, later named the South Jersey Athletics, were a professional softball team that played in two professional softball leagues at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia (1978), Dyer Field in Wilmington, Delaware (1979-1980) and finally the Cjonacki Sports Complex in Berlin, New Jersey (1981-1982).
The New Jersey Statesmen, sometimes seen as Trenton's New Jersey Statesmen, later named the Trenton Statesmen and the Trenton Champales, were a professional softball team that played in the American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) from 1977 through 1979 at Mercer County Park in West Windsor, New Jersey (1977–78) and Wetzel Field in Chambersburg, New Jersey (1979).
The Fort Wayne Scouts were a professional softball team that played in the American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) in the 1979 season at the Tah-Cum-Wah Recreation Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The Lexington Stallions were a professional softball team who played at Southland Park in Lexington, Kentucky in the North American Softball League (NASL) during the 1980 season.
Lima Steele's were a professional softball team based in Lima, Ohio. Lima Steele's played at the baseball diamond on the campus of the Ohio State University at Lima in the United Professional Softball League (UPSL) in 1982.
The Syracuse Salts were a professional softball team based in Syracuse, New York who played at Hopkins Road Field in Liverpool, New York in the United Professional Softball League (UPSL) in 1981.