National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum. Huggins, a consistent line drive hitter with a .493 lifetime batting average, earned numerous Golden Glove Awards for the defensive ability at first base. A Wisconsin native, Scherr is the USSSA All Time World Series leader in home runs (101), hits (166), and RBIs (202). While best known for is powerhouse mens major teams, he also sponsored teams in womens, mixed and masters play. A native of Bradenton, Florida, Meade led six teams to World Titles was named to the All-World team a record of eight times. She recorded a lifetime batting average of about .600 and shoed good power in amassing 300 career home runs. . Jerry Ellis, whose sound financial judgment and inclusive thinking were instrumental in the early success of the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Executive Category. In 1980, McNew was appointed USSSA Regional Vice-President in charge of the New England States. The first of two additions to the National Softball . By the end of the decade USSSA membership had surpassed 100,000 teams and USSSA toured the world to promote softball, sportsmanship, and good will. The Rochester native played in the very first USSSA tournament in 1968 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and his team stayed loyal to the USSSA program. Today the MVP award in the womens world cup series is call the Fred Schlueter, Jr. MVP Award in his honor. 12-Under Age Classification. After the vote for approving the reorganization of USSSA at the national meeting in 1997, at Myrtle Beach, he was appointed as one of the three Assistant Executive Directors of the association. The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) was founded as the United States Slow-pitch Softball Association in the spring 1968. NEW JUNIOR OLYMPIC (YOUTH) AGE QUALIFICATIONS BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 1, 2023. Rick, a 46 year old Dearborn, Michigan native, competed for twelve straight years at the top level of USSSA softball. Along with serving as manager, Whittleton recorded over 700 mound victories and compiled a .600 lifetime batting average. In 1970, he was named Pennsylvania State Director. Starting in the USSSA youth program Gendron played slo-pitch softball for over 20 years. Danielle Henderson, a three-time All-American student-athlete at Massachusetts, 2000 Olympic gold medalist and 2009 UMass Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, was named the head coach of the Massachusetts softball program in June of 2021. Scherr was named the USSSA All World Team six times; he led three teams to World Championships; and in a recent poll of major managers and sponsors, Rick Scherr was voted the Top Player of the Decade (80s) by his peers. A player whose 15th birthday is prior to September 1, 2023, is INELIGIBLE. Vitto later managed in the professional softball ranks before retiring. Softball, I love you.. As Chairman of the National Hall of Fame Fund Raising Committee, Ciaciaa was instrumental in making the Hall of Fame and National Headquarters building a reality. The National Softball Hall of Fame honors individuals for their accomplishments to the sport of softball. At that time there were a little over 500 teams in Michigan playing USSSA. Speller began his career with the USSSA in the early 1970s in North Carolina. Richard Howard, a man who truly loves softball and sponsored teams for more than 25 years, was indicted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in the Special Category. Hall Of Fame ; National Champions ; Real ID Act ; Sponsorship Options; Staff Directory; . In 1988 his Steeles Silver Bullets club won the World Series titles in Long Beach, CA. A veteran Massachusetts hurler compiled a 627-103 mound record over an 11-year period before his induction into the Hall of Fame. Despite testing umpires, Larson made a true impact on New England USSSA Softball. The L-shaped, bi-level building . Carl Drewicz, who served on the National Umpires Clinic Committee, Hall of Fame Committee, and National Playing Rules Committee, was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in the Umpire Category. Within the non player category, there are five different divisions one can be nominated in: Commissioner, Meritorious Service, Umpire, Managers and Sponsors. Over that last weekend of August 1968 the first USSSA World Softball Tournament was played in West Allis Wisconsin. Such viewpoints have been a great asset to the USSSA. His home run totals were cut short due to the short summers and cold weather in Rochester. He was named most valuable player in the 1970 World Series at Las Vegas, Nevada when his Accurate Welding Team of Milwaukee captured the World Championship. Fillipp was named to All-State Teams in Illinois and Michigan five times and was MVP at the 1985 Wisconsin Ladies Classic Softball League. In 1971, Rains assisted in directing and planning the first Mens USSSA World Series which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1979 he was appointed as a USSSA Area Director in his native sterling heights, Michigan. She posted the highest batting average at the 1982 World Tournament and was frequently recognized for her team play and attitude. He has conducted many umpire clinics and has attended every National Umpire Clinic held at the USSSA National Meeting since 1983. Bruce Meade, who made a career of winning World Series Championships, was inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Hall of Fame in the Male Player Category. A resident of Arcadia, California, Wallick managed a team in the first USSSA tournament, played in 1968 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Schlueter will long be remembered for is promotion and directorship of outstanding national invitational tournaments in Wisconsin. A true team player, Ridell-Mitchell compiled a .375 career batting average. When I joined the Class A Division of Womens USSSA Softball in 1985, I was very excited to be playing Class A Softball, but I had no idea of the tremendous rewards that would reveal. In 1998 USSSA suffers a tragic loss when its longtime CEO Edgar Al Ramsey III passes away. Neale has managed in the USSSA Mens Major World Series a total of 13 times. She celebrated World Titles with the Taylor Sporting Goods Stingers in 1980, with Little Caesars in 1983-84, and with Canton Softball Center in 1989. 1, that is still used today. A native of North Carolina, Speller joined Snyders Softball Club in 1976 and was named to the All-World teams as they captured the World Series. Bushong, who has been selected as a member of the Arizona All-State Team none times, was a member of the All-World team twice. A nominee needs 75 percent (nine votes) of the votes cast by the 12 member Hall of Fame Committee to be elected. Just his appearance alone at the tournament seems to make his fellow teammates each their peak. Guy compiled a lifetime average of .680 with more than 1,400 home runs. Joann, a Ceres, CA native, has played with Sunsets-Modesto, CA, Sequoia Market Bobcats-Cares, CA, California Hustle-Modesto, CA and Mr. As Express from Sacramento, CA. The nineties were the best and the worst of times for USSSA. Hall of Famers Harold (Shifty) Gears and Carolyn Thome Hart were among those attending the ceremonies. Her 131 free throws made also set a school record, as did her 493 field goals attempted. His teams in the West were considered on par with Howards/Western Steer in the South and Snyders in the Midwest. He held the position of National President and Chairman of the Executive Board for eight consecutive years. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Drewicz was Wisconsin Umpire-In-Chief from 1973-79 and held clinics in the state each year. In 1971, Gaetano was elevated to the position of Regional Vice-President and in 1989 was promoted to Northeastern Division Executive Vice-President. Counting the National Softball Hall of Fame/USA Softball Headquarters and the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex, there is 28,406 square feet of space. Over that last weekend of August 1968 the first USSSA World Softball Tournament was played in West Allis Wisconsin. Hoover organized the first old timers game in St. Denis, Kentucky and promoted the USSSA in its infancy. Don Webster, or Chatsworth, CA, has been inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association Hall of Fame in the Special Category. Deters started her career as an outfielder and later handled catching chores for Empress Chili. His lifetime managerial record in USSSA play exceeds 500 wins with fewer than 100 losses. Save The Date: RCSHF 50th Anniversary Dinner. 16-Under Age Classification. Burrell, a Chesterfield, Virginia native, has been an active member of the USSSA organization since the early 1970s. Gilbert started her long career with the Dinwiddie Diamonds, later moved to the green berets, before joining the Belles. 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. Search; How it works. She also led the Detroit, Michigan Powerhouse to World Titles in 1978, 1979, and 1983. He also coached for Sullivan Executives, Silver Heights, and Burger Queen before joining the Knights of St. John. A tricky pitcher who fired away from behind his back and between his legs, he led his teams to the Massachusetts Class C USSSA State Titles in 1983 and 1987. He received the National Umpire-In-Chief Award in 1985. Mortl played in eight national or world tournaments and was named All-State, All-Tournament, and All World numerous times. He worked with friend Chuck Fischer as Co-Kentucky State Directors and is the first pioneer selected for direct induction into the Hall of Fame with more than 20 years of service. He is one of the only three umpires to have worked both prestigious events. 1968. m. a. manning. The highlight of Nuccis career came in 1977 when his Mazzola-Castle team of Rochester, NY, pulled a stunning upset to capture the Mens Major World Series Championship. USSSAs first decade was a turbulent one. She was the driving force to go to the 11 ball in the womens and youth programs, and worked to put the re-entry rule into the womens program. James was known as a singles and doubles hitter who could go all the fields with accuracy. Massachusetts Softball Drops Contest Against RV Boston University, 3-1. Peters remains the all-time UMass career scoring . The Board of Directors, immediately named the Assistant Executive Director, Don DeDonatis, as the new CEO. A 46 year old Ruffin, North Carolina native, Guy was one of the all time great players in the USSSA history. She was selected as a member of Team USSSA for the historic tour of the Soviet Union in 1990. He has conducted umpire clinics throughout the New England States and on four difference occasions he conducted the USSSA National Umpires Clinic. A 6-foot-5, 240 pound was a clutch performer who batted a record .846 at the 1983 World Series. Drewicz worked class A Mens World Tournaments in Southgate Michigan; Rochester, New York; Petersburg, Virginia; Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Mueller led Beaumont to the finals of the 1974 Womens World Tournament and was a member of the USSSA World Championship Little Caesars in 1984. A former professional baseball player and College All-American, Bushong has a .650 career batting average with over 1,500 home runs in USSSA tournaments. Story Links DARTMOUTH, Mass. Please email us and let us know who you are nominating and a little background on them . Titone becomes the seventh USSSA umpire to be elected into the Hall of Fame. Massachusetts Softball Drops Series Finale At Fordham, 10-2. My good friend, the late, Great George Paupp, Floyd Salter, Mark Linnemann, and for all the time Ive spent in softball I couldnt have done it without the fourth person, my 15 minutes of glory here tonight are actually hers as well, to my wife, I love you.. He earned the Presidents Award in 1976. Her class on and off the field earned the admiration of fellow players and coaches. Carmen played in the Detroit Tigers Baseball Organization as a pitcher before turning to softball. 2022 Inductees Pat Bonnell, Class of 1963 (Contributor) Craig Scott, Class . Bio. He attended national umpire clinics in Las Vegas, Nevada; Williamsburg, Virginia; Lake Tahoe, Nevada; and Orlando, Florida. During his career the tall Texan was selected Tournament MVP numerous times as well as being selected on All-Tournament teams. She was ranked as one of the best outfielders in the game for more that a dozen years and moved to first base later in her career. With a .571 career batting average, she is a singles hitter with sneaky power. Especially during the early years of the association. Share . A native of West Virginia, McNew established residence in Virginia in 1973 and became Tri-City Area Umpire-In-Chief, a position he held for three years. Leading all USSSA managers, Campbells teams have won USSSA Crowns in 1980, 1982, 1984,1989 and World Series Championships in 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994. One of the longest veterans in service to the USSSA, Ciaccia never looked for the headlines, but worked long hours promoting the goals of the USSSA. Due to his efforts, hundreds of young women have enjoyed the game of softball as it should be enjoyed. The building was opened to the public July 1, 1973. Ramsey began his career with USSSA as Virginias State Director in 1969. Under his leadership, the number of registered umpires has grown steadily in Missouri and his division. Schlueter was Northern Regional President at the time of his death. Dave has promoted softball all over the United States and is nest known for his Steeles Silver Bullets team that barnstormed the country in the late 80s. He has also guided Big Bills Sports Shop, Little Caesars, Taylor Stingers, Steeles Sports, Canyon Softball Center, Lady Blue, and Cannons Illusions. Among the high profile events Robertson has worked are:1985 Mens Class A World Tournament in Lafayette, LA, the 1988 Hispanic World Tournament in Las Cruces, NM, and the 1994 Mixed World Event in Euless, TC. championship as a member of the school's softball team and closed as finalists in the state tournament. Titone worked the 1976 Mens Major World Series and was twice picked for the Mens Class A World Series. She took great pride in advancing runners. He worked more than a dozen divisional and world events, numerous NITs and state tournaments. Follow on . In 1998, while a member of Empress, she successfully switched positions from third base to pitcher, when the team lost its previous pitcher to injury. Graham was recently singled out for distinction when she was named to the USSSA Team of the Decade for the 1980s. Tony Gaetano was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in the Executive Category, based on 20 yeas or more service to the association. Hall provided the association with sound direction and leadership. / 35.5233376; -97.4631822. He has taken his rightful place alongside three of his team members, Elby Bushong, Mike Cellura, and Ron Whittleton, in the USSSA Hall of Fame. Jim Davis, a veteran umpire and Missouri Umpire-In-Chief, was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in the Umpire Category. In November of 1985, Palmer was elected to serve a two- year term as a National President of the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association. Come check out our redesigned Hall of Fame plaques and the updated Olympic room! Softball Hall of Fame As of the most recent elections, there are now 249 members in the Softball Hall of Fame, representing 38 countries. Despite his years, Hoover continued his great hustle and confidence in the third base coaching box late in his career. Jim McCarron, Eastern Region Umpire-In-Chief, was inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Association in the Umpire Category. In World Series play from 1992-1995, her batting averages were: .615, .590, .630 and .600. DeDonatis initiated sweeping changes. Kaye Gilbert, who played her best softball during 18 trips to the USSSA Class A World, was inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association in the Female Player Category. Dwight Hall, a true gentleman of the game and a man respected for his common sense and love of slow pitch softball was inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Association Hall of Fame in the Executive Category. A distinguished seminar speaker, this Virginian conducted or assisted in many national umpire clinics, divisional meetings, and the raining seminar at national headquarters. The late Buddy Secrist, who was selected four times to the Umpire at the USSSA World Series, was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in the Umpire Category. From the time the Greer, South Carolina native began playing USSSS softball in 1979, he distinguished himself suiting up with some of the greatest teams in slo-pitch, including: Dave Carroll Sports, Jerrys Caterers, Elite Coating, Smythe Sox, AJD-Russell, and Starpath. He umpired in World Industrial Tournaments in Milwaukee, Louisville and Niagara Falls. He conducted over 150 USSSA umpire clinics and has attended every USSSA convention umpire clinic for the past 21 years. This outstanding player was one of the toughest outs in the game. Sue Ridell-Mitchell, a standout shortstop who played her entire career with the Stingers of Detroit, Michigan, was inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association Hall of Fame in the Female Player Category. Jackie Huggins, who was selected five times to the USSSA Womens Class A All-World Team, was inducted into the he United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association Hall of Fame in the Female Player Category. In 1981 and 1982 Gaetano served as active State Director of Ohio and played a key told in getting the USSSA program started in Ohio. He has traveled to numerous states conducting umpires clinics and promoting the USSSA Umpire Program. He has also served in the capacity of Central Division Umpire-In-Chief. Twice a winner of the Presidents Award, in 1977 for Directors and in 1984 for executive board service. The Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet is to be held on Saturday April 1, 2023, at 6 p.m. at Paramount Country Club, 60 Zukor Road, New City, N.Y 10956. A Native of Phenix, Arizona, Bushong was a member of the USSSA Mens Class A World Champion Campbells Carpets of Concord, California in 1980. Ellis received the Presidents Award in 1977 for his outstanding work. The 70-year-old coach was a long-term fixture in Louisville coaching circles and carries 12 straight teams to USSSA World Tournament play between 1967 and 1980. Eichelberger was named the USSSA All-World team four different times. The present facility was officially dedicated May 26, 1973 and has since had two additions. She led the Virginia Belles of Chesterfield, Virginia to the Womens Class A National Title in 1989 and the World Championship in 1981. In 1971, Ellis was appointed to the Executive Board of the association. The directors at the national convention in New Orleans in 1990 awarded Williams the Presidents Award for distinguished service. Mueller guided the USSSA through what he called the Rocky Phase 1 period of the association. ASA lawsuit took over 3 1/2 years very concentrated legal time and a measure of personal devotion that took much time from Palmers private law practice. Get ready for the 2023 season of USA Softball by catching up on the USA Softball Bylaws and read the complete Code and Procedural Manual! Recognized as one of the early pioneers of big time softball on the west coast, it was Websters strong advocacy of the USSSA program over that of rival associations that out his team, Capitol/Broken Drum Insulation, into 13 USSSA Mens Major World Series, and other tournaments in 26 stats. Phase II renovations to the National Softball Hall of Fame & Museum are complete and open to the public. Although she has played every infield position, she is best known for her performance at third base and as pitcher. He traveled throughout the central division conducting umpires clinics and promoting the program. Peters set a UMass single-season record for points (587) and scoring average (23.4 ppg). He has served as Recording Secretary of the National Playing Rules Committee since 1978. Kathy was selected to the USSSA Womens All World Teams on six occasions and was the first female played to be inducted into the Texas USSSA Hall of Fame in 1997. Davidson, a Rocky River, Ohio native, has served as the Ohio State Umpire-In-Chief since 1980 and has attended and helped conduct 17 national umpire clinics. The four-time all world performer was named MVP in 12 NIT and was Cincinnatis Female player of the year in 1989. Seymour played for Southwestern Millrights, Williams Billiards, Candy Man Bombers, Lenior Tire, and Poundexter Lumber. Andy Santillo, a smooth fielding shortstop who led Mazzola-Castle to the World Championship in 1977, was inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association Hall of Fame in the Male Player Category. He was later inducted into both the Mass. Pam Patrus, a consistent hitter with a .535 batting average, and known to be tough in the clutch has been inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association Hall of Fame in the Female Player Category. Jenny Johnson, setting the standard for others to try to follow, was the first person inducted in the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association Hall of Fame in the Female player Category.