Chicago 16" Hall of Fame

Class of 2009

Rich Wagner - Frank C. Holan Award

Rich Wagner played 16-inch softball with Sim's Bowl during the 1970s. Unfortunately, he suffered a serious knee injury while playing that forced him to switch to managing softball instead of playing it. He managed the Turtles from 1982 to 1990 before rejoining them for the '92 through the '95 seasons. During his time with the Turtles, he managed them to runner-up finishes in the ASA 'A' Nationals in 1985 and '86. He coached Splinters in 1991 and led them to the ASA National title in Kingman, Arizona. Rich managed March Manufacturing in 1994 and 2002 - 2005 until they became Flash. He managed the Diamond Dogs in 2000, Bats in 2001, Maxim Mortgage in 2006 and 2007, and Flashback in 2008-'09 winning two consecutive ASA Men's Major Sixteen Inch National titles.

Wagner managed March to a 2nd place finish at the ASA Nationals in 2004 and 2006. He coached Flashback to the 2005 Forest Park championship and to ASA Major titles in 2008 and 2009. He lives in Des Plaines, Illinois and works at O'Hare International Airport.

Rick Holan presented the award named after his father (Frank C. Holan; Chicago Sixteen Inch Hall of Fame Class of 1996) to this year recipient Rich Wagner by saying, "Both my brother Jim and I had Rich Wagner number one on our list as to who should be given the award."

Wagner said, "Frank actually got me started when I ran a local team called the Turtles. Frank called me over and over again to get us into the Classic League in Mt Prospect. It was hard to get in, you had to be voted in so I owe it to him when I moved up in class." Wagner had been coaching for twenty-nine years and his teams have won three ASA Major National titles. Wagner closed his remarks by saying. "I am honored to be here and thank you."

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