2012 Joann Brickwedde. State Office. Martin initiated many softball programs, including National Softball Week in 1951 and the Mens and Womens Major Fast Pitch All-Star Series. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor those men and women from the State of Illinois who have played a major role in the development of the game of softball. The ISC Hall of Fame Breakfast and Induction Ceremony takes place on the opening Sunday of each ISC World Tournament. In 1954, he logged a 3-1 record with 59 strikeouts in 36 innings. Also an outstanding football player who gained All-Southeastern honors, Forbes died of cancer in 1975. Chambers said the greatest disappointment of his career was knowing that someday I would have to stop playing and not being able to see my old friends. Chambers was born November 27, 1922 in Aurora, IL and passed away on March 28, 2016. 2021 Men's Major Fast Pitch National Championship, August 6-8, 2021 | USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex. . Dobson was listed among the 50 Greatest Athletes of the Century for the state of Oregon in 1999 in Sports Illustrated magazine. Fournier Caron finished her outstanding Tufts career as arguably the best pitcher in the history of NCAA Division III softball. Nina Korgan, Omaha, Nebraska Womens Fast Pitch Pitcher. The first two years, 1954-1955, she played for the Wallingford Owlettes before joining the Brakettes in 1956. He was 43. His accomplishments have earned him various awards over the years, including the Merle. He managed the team from 1950-1953 and 1955-1961. Rich was named an ASA All-America eight times. Link to Video of the National Softball Hall of Fame. OKLAHOMA CITY The legendary roster of the National Softball Hall of Fame will increase by nine with the selection of the Class of 2023 inductees set to be enshrined at the 42ndAnnual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, October 28 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center. In national championship play, Stephenson was 23-18, 15-2 in state tourneys and 40-3 in regionals. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Hall of Fame were held December 19, 1970 in Oklahoma City. These players are amazing athletes, and we will bring them a new level of support to help them hone their craft," says . The first of two additions to the National Softball Hall of Fame/USA Softball Headquarters was started July 5, 1976 and completed July 13, 1977 for an additional 4,350 square feet of space. When Nina Tiger Korgan joined a local softball team after her high school graduation in Council Bluffs, IA, only one position was vacantpitcher, because she got the date mixed up and almost missed practice. The . Grumman finished third in the 17 team field and its star pitcher, Roy Stephenson, proved he was as good as anyone in the United States by hurling 66 innings in six games, 52 in the final 29 hours. The USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex will then host five consecutive events, beginning August 6-7 with the Men's Major Fast Pitch National Championship followed by the USA Softball All-American Games, a prestigious tournament intended to provide national exposure to elite athletes in the 12-Under Junior Olympic (JO) Fast Pitch division. Bob Sprentall, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mens Fast Pitch Outfield. In fact, in 10 of the 11 national championships she made 103 putouts, had 122 assists and made only only nine errors for a fielding percentage of .962. Within the player category, there are five categories: Mens/Womens Fast Pitch, Mens/Womens Slow Pitch and Modified Pitch. Of particular note for fastpitch fans is the inclusion of Valerie Arioto, one of this years honorees after starring at Cal where she was a 1st Team All-American in 2012 and then helping Team USA win championships at the WBSC World Championships and the Pan American Games. In 1947, he batted .285 to lead the league in batting as well as total bases (102), runs scored (42) and hits (67). Contel was as versatile a player as there was on the roster of the Fresno, CA Rockets, one of the sports all-time top teams. Two years later, he led the Sealmasters to another title and a 74-9 won-loss record. In 1950, he smashed 15 homers, the highest of his career, and followed with a .316 average in 1952 and a .323 average in 1954, the last year of the Pistons. An intense player, Johnston never struck out more than 10 times a season and was always putting stress on the opposition and would even often tag the base runners hard. She remained with the Rockets for 14 years and participated in 11 ASA national championships, earning first-team All-America honors in 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958 and 1963 and second-team laurels in 1956. Umpires. In 1959, he hit 12 homers to lead the Bombers. We are honored and excited to enshrine these nine individuals into the National Softball Hall of Fame in October.. Prolonged and meritorious performances while a member of Softball Canada at the national and international level will be recognized. Hunter died November 7, 2000 at age 75 in Clearwater, FL. West lost in the first round, 1-0 in 14 innings despite striking out 26 batters and allowing two hits. Miller retired from the Buckeyte Tellulose Corporation in 1977. Ruth was one of the original Lionettes when the team was formed in 1937 and batted .585 with the team in 1938. In 1949, he batted .298 and hit nine homers and 16 doubles. The purpose of the Minnesota Softball Hall of Fame is to select and honor candidates who have been active as players, coaches, managers, umpires, administrators, organizers, volunteers, promoters, sponsors, volunteers, league director, media or who served in any other capacity related to the game of softball in Minnesota. What are the qualifications to be considered to be inducted into the Hall of Fame: 1. The person nominating the proposed inductee does not have to be a member of the Fast Pitch Legends. Check out the inductees through 2022. Wilmes, a centerfielder from Johnston, Iowa, earned 2021 NFCA Third Team All-American honors and led the Tigers at the dish in 2019 and 2022. The team won ASA national championships in 1955 and 1958. Crane Klemencic/Twi-Lite/KMON men's slow pitch team was inducted into the Montana Softball Hall of Fame. The National Softball Hall of Fame is the ultimate goal for any player, coach, umpire or administrator who aspire to greatness in the sport. Beginning his career in 1928, he hurled with the 14-inch ball before going to the 12-inch ball three years later. In 156 games, Hart batted 1,873 times, scored 460 runs (leading her team eight times), hit 171 doubles (leading the team five times), 31 triples, 68 homers (leading her team seven years) and stole 160 bases (leading her team six years). 2023 SportsEngine, Inc. . Ramage had one of the greatest thrills of his career in 1946, hitting three homers in a game in the national tourney. He also worked Mens Major Fast Pitch and Slow Pitch, Womens Masters Fast Pitch and Mens Modified Pitch while attaining elite status, gold level in the medals program and being a member of the National Indicator Fraternity. Each year thousands of visitors from all over the world visit the museum to pay homage to such softball immortals as Harold (Shifty) Gears, the first person inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame; Bertha Tickey, who won 757 games during her career; Don Rardin, one of two people to play on a championship team in both open slow pitch and industrial slow pitch divisions; Joan Joyce, who was named to 18 All-America teams, and Sam Elliott, who won 1,133 games and lost only 87 in 21 years. SUM Home > SUM Awards > MD FP Softball Association . The National Softball Hall of Fame Class of 2023 will increase the total number of inductees to 449 since its establishment in 1957. He also was an All-American in 1948, 1950, 1958 and 1959. His former manager, Eddie Moore, said, Forbes was one of the two greatest left-handed hitters in the game. A three-time ASA All-American (1951, 1953 and 1956), Forbes batted .325 during the 1951 regular season and .285 in the national tourney. The Central Virginia ASA Softball Hall of Fame will endeavor to The first of two additions to the National Softball. The National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1957. Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra University Department of Athletics is proud to announce the Hall of Fame Class of 2023. In 1954, she was named national tourney MVP after batting .316. As a player/manager in 1959, Hess led the Sealmasters to their first national title and a record of 74-10. Korgan passed away on July 19, 2009. From 1954-1957, he was named an All-American and batted .318 in the 1955 national and .333 in 1956. Then 14, he worked very hard in developing himself into a world-class pitcher. The team was sponsored by Meierhoffer Funeral Home from 1997-2000 and the St. Joseph Frontier Casino from 2001 . Sport Category Year Recipient Team City / State; Slowpitch Softball: Mens Major: 1981: Howards Western Steer: Denver, NC: Slowpitch Softball: Mens Major: 1982: Jerrys . Korgan continued to play for the Jax until retiring in 1949. In 1959, he was 48-8 with 784 strikeouts before going 3-2 in the national tourney. USA Softball National Office Certified . "We are excited to bring this prestigious National Championship to the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex," said USA Softball Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Craig Cress. Stephensons 4-2 record earned him his second of five All-America awards during his career of more than two decades. But no one else expected us too. There was a time when my right arm was one-third larger than my left arm. Stephenson retired from active play in 1960 and called his greatest thrills striking out 28 batters in a row in a 15 inning game in West Haven, CT and being elected to the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame. Billy Wojie, Stratford, Connecticut Mens Fast Pitch Third Base. The honorees will be formally inducted in a ceremony held at the Illinois Amateur Softball Association Hall of . She batted .444 in the 1949 national championship when the distance from home plate to the pitchers mound was 35 feet. The first time the Utes received votes in 2023 came after their 5-0 start to the season at the La Jolla Invitational, but with three weeks of softball in the books, Utah has compiled a record of 11-4 and won five of their last six. Ohio has had its share of outstanding fast pitch hurlers and among the best was Warren (Fireball) Gerber, who won 608 games and lost only 93 during a 17 year career. Empower Team USA athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence and well-being. A native of Kokomo, IN, Martin played football and basketball at Indiana University, majoring in commerce and finance. She batted .363 between 1950-1955 with 41 hits in 149 at-bats in national championship play. Ticket information will be released in the coming weeks. Posted on February 6, 2017 by jovo23. Conveniently located at the crossroads of America just off I-35 and I-40 in Oklahoma City, the National Softball Hall of Fame is in the same area as the acclaimed Oklahoma City Zoo, the Firefighters Museum, Kirkpatrick Center, Omniplex and Planetarium, the Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Remington Park Racetrack. The 2021 Fargo Moorhead Softball Hall of Fame inductee's are Collette Folstad, Doug Millar, Charlie Johnson, Willie Brown, Rick . The present facility was officially dedicated May 26, 1973 and has since had two additions. Baker went 2-1 and was invited to go East. She, however, came back to play the 1967 season before retiring for good. Last Name, First: E-mail address Arntzen Paul Arntzen Paul C. Ball Wayne Beeg North American Fastpitch Association. The National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum has over 400 members with two categories of membership: players and non players. Here are this years inductees into the Hall of Fame. Welcome to Central Virginia ASA/USA Hall of Fame! With over 400 inductees, the National Softball Hall of Fame is among the most difficult sports halls in the nation in which to gain membership. Difficult to strike out, Johnston was named MVP of the 1945 ASA national championship as the Pistons won their first of three titles in a row. Born July 12, 1938 in Middlefield, CT, Stratton said her greatest thrill in softball was winning the 1958 national championship. In addition, the room includes a 60-inch screen TV and park benches for casual viewing of important Olympic-style events, including the 1994 World Championship in which the USA Softball Womens National Team captured the gold. He batted .120 in the 1956 national tourney, .211 in 1957, .222 in 1959 and .416 in the 1961 national tourney. USA Softball of Michigan Hall of Fame Members. In eight nationals, Wojie made 40 putouts, had 44 assists and made only two errors for a fielding percentage of .980. 3. National Hall of Fame YEAR NAME; MANAGERS : 1976: Willard "Bill" Fenton : 2002: Tom Wagner: UMPIRES : 2018: Wild Bill Silves: MEN'S FAST PITCH PLAYERS : 1996: Billy Stewart : 2002: Harold "Butch" Batt : 2003: Bill Boyer : 2003: Jimmy Moore : 2004: Jeff Borror: WOMEN'S FAST PITCH PLAYERS . In national championship play, West won five games and lost none, allowing six hits after joining the team in 1946 after serving a four-year hitch in the Army. After starting his career in 1940, Hunter led Nashville teams to city championships in 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946 and 1948 and to state championships in 1943-1944. 2001 Within the non player category, there are five different divisions one can be nominated in: Commissioner, Meritorious Service, Umpire, Managers and Sponsors. North Carolina Softball Hall of Fame Through their years of dedication to the games of fastpitch or slowpitch, these individuals have all made significant impact on high school softball in North Carolina as well as on the many players they have been involved with directly, or indirectly. He batted .309 in 1950, .326 in 1951, .340 in 1952 and .317 in 1954. He had a seven-season .281 average with the Cardinals, collecting 429 hits in 1,527 at-bats, scoring 239 runs, hitting 74 doubles, 29 triples and 28 homers. 311 Race Street Sunbury, PA 17801. Congratulations to the NY Gremlins, the 2021 Men's Major Fast Pitch National Champions! He was born in Paducah, KY and moved to Covington, KY when he was just a year old. FASTPITCH SOFTBALL. A must to see while visiting the museum is the newest exhibit at the National Softball Hall of Fame-the Olympic Gallery. 2016 John Dye Junker will join his father David "Choc" Junker, and uncle Joe "Dutz" Junker in the Hall of Fame, which will add 22 new inductees during a banquet on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Grand Casino in Hinckley. Massaro began umpiring in 1979, which saw a career that featured seven national championships and the Womens Major Fast Pitch championship game in 1996 and 2000. Jones' efforts to grow the sport of softball, particularly men's fast pitch, has left an impact on the organization that has earned him a Hall of Fame honor. Justins College Softball Week 3 Mid-Major Top 10, Breaking News: Ownership, Management, Roster & Head Coach Announced for New Pro Team the Texas Smoke. Castle also is a member of the NY state ASA Hall of Fame and the Monroe County sports Hall of Fame. Phase II renovations to the National Softball Hall of Fame & Museum are complete and open to the public. The banquet was held for the ninth consecutive year at the Holiday Inn College Park. Clarence Buck Miller Mens Fast Pitch Pitcher. Law hurled all of the Ramblers games in the 1955 national, winning four and losing two with 31 strikeouts and two walks allowed. Members included players Kate Allen, GB manager/player Mark Berman, the late umpire Dave Allen, and Natalie Fox. When John Baker hurled a pitch, the ball looked like it had been shot out of a cannon. One of fast pitchs all-time best shortstops, Nolan Whitlock came through in the clutch time and time again for the Clearwater, FL Bombers between 1953-1959. Who can forget the pair of homers he hit off Hall of Famer Harvey Sterkel in the 1954 national for a 7-6 victory. Meeting recently in Decatur, Illinois the USA Softball Association of Illinois Executive Committee voted to induct eleven individuals and three teams/organizations into their Softball Hall of Fame. Click Here to Enter the Iowa Men's HOF Site. Massaros contributions as an umpire also earned him selections into the ASA Union County Hall of Fame (2009) and the ASA New Jersey State Hall of Fame. "I am thrilled to join the world of women's professional fastpitch softball! Through our vast collection of artifacts, the National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum strives to educate the public about softballs rich history. 2023 Season Coaches ACE/BG & SafeSport Follows Youth Season 9/1-8/31- We now have Venmo. In the national tourney, he recorded five shutouts between an opening 7-0 loss and a 1-0 defeat in the finals to champion Briggs Beautyware of Detroit, MI. In 1942, Johnston joined the famed Fort Wayne, IN Zollner Pistons and remained with them until they disbanded in 1954. In his first two years with the Cardinals Wojie led in batting with .312 and .290 averages and in RBI in 1956, 1958 and 1959. In a 1937 charity game, Baker fanned the legendary baseball slugger Babe Ruth. One of the finest fielding left-handed first baseman in womens fast pitch, Ruth Lefty Sears fast pitch career spanned 1936-1955 with all part one season, 1948, spent with the renowned Orange, CA Lionettes. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. The Great Falls team captured four state championships in five years in the Open Division. The building was opened to the public July 1, 1973. Story Links. Wares also spent seven years as girls softball coach at NESCO High School in Zearing, posting a 214-94 record. 2012 John Remmell. When asked why, Johnston said, I once tagged a runner in the usual way and the umpire called him safe. He started his career in 1938 with Koelkel Norge of Covington before playing for Ken-Mac of Louisville, KY in the 1941 ASA national championship. He also was a good hitter and averaged 20 homers per year with a total of more than 300 for his career. Led by Hall of Fame member Ken Clark, Sikorsky Aircraft had over 50 players earn All-American honors totaling over 200 selections. Hall of Fame Members. The lower level includes dynamic displays highlighting the NCAA WCWS, the Big 12 Conference and the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Awards. Following the meeting a staff member will contact you regarding the next steps. Stratton batted .272 (61 x 224) in 10 national championships and also played first base and the outfield. Originally from Ann Arbor, MI, where he played baseball in the Detroit and Boston farm systems, Sprentall made his mark playing softball for the renowned Clearwater, FL Bombers. In fact, Hunter, then 14, got beat 22-1 pitching at Fort Negley Diamonds in Nashville, TN. Sprentall played for the Bombers from 1954-1965 and was a member of national championship teams in 1954, 1956, 1957 and 1963. Whitlock played in six national championships and was a member of three national championship teams, all with Clearwater, in 1954, 1956 and 1957. In 1952, the distance from home plate to the pitchers mound was increased from 35 to 38 feet and Kay again batted .400, with six of her eight hits for extra bases and a tourney-leading 17 total bases. With the Cardinals, he had one of his best nationals in 1956, batting .353 (6-fort-17) and driving in a then record 10 runs, but wasnt named an All-American. The National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum is a permanent shrine to former and past players of the sport who have had exceptional careers and have been a major factor in growing the game of softball. He competed in six state tourneys (1935, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1943), 11 Mid-Atlantic regionals and 10 national championships. Annual inductions are held at the USA Softball Annual Meeting. Roy Stephenson, Hicksville, New York Mens Fast Pitch Pitcher. The National Softball Hall of Fame was officially dedicated May 26, 1973 in Oklahoma City. This marked the 7th annual HOF Banquet that honored worthy Hall of Fame inductees but also Players of the Year, Teams of the Year, Umpire of the year for Slow Pitch, Fast Pitch, and Baseball and special awards. Iowa Men's Fast Pitch Hall of Fame (https://sites.google.com/site/iowamensfastpitchhof) Click Here to Email HOF The Iowa Softball Association Hall of Fame was established in February 1972 by then Softball Commissioner, Ron Findley, to honor those outstanding softball players Men's Major FP | August 8 | 12 p.m. OGE Energy Field | Championship Game, Men's Major FP | August 8 | 10 a.m. OGE Energy Field | Semi-Finals, Men's Major FP | August 8 | 8 a.m. HOF INTEGRIS Field, Men's Major FP | August 7 | 8 p.m. HOF INTEGRIS Field. The Hall of Fame Class of 2023 is a prime example of the greatness of our game across all levels and categories. Korgan fanned 67 batters in 30 innings and hurled four shutouts and had a perfect game with 20 strikeouts in another game. In 1934, Baker received and accepted an invitation to play for Westport, CT in the ASA national tournament in Chicago. He was born July 25, 1923. The room features four-color murals depicting softballs road to the Olympics along with action pictures of outstanding USA Softball National Team players.