Chicago 16" Hall of Fame

Class of 2009

Bob Dinkelman - 1964 to 1970 Era

Bob Dinkelman started playing CYO ball for St. Pascal's in the 1960s with the '69ers. They played at North side, Shabbona, Dunham, Riis and Portage Parks. In 1970, they combined with Active Screw to form the Lyon 45s, playing at Portage, Evanston and Clarendon parks, becoming one of the North side powers in the game.

Dinkelman returned from the military in 1971 to play left field and to bat third for the 45s. Soon after learning to dump the ball, he became their leadoff hitter. Like many good players, other teams noticed his talent and asked him to play. In 1976 he played for American Rivet in the ASA Nationals in St. Louis. The team finished second, and Dinkelman was named to the All Tournament Team. When the 45s disbanded in 1977, Dinkelman, Rich Knorowski, Jim Fuller, Mike Levar, and Eddie Shaffer joined American Rivet. Dinkelman played left field and batted leadoff for them for three years.

In 1982, Dinkelman and Rich Knorowski got together to form the Bally 45s to compete in the newly formed Majors in Mt. Prospect, and at Portage Park. He played with them until 1986. During that time, they won a division title at Mt. Prospect, won the Chicago Metro title, and placed 4th in the USSSA Nationals. They also won the Early Bird Tournament in Trevor, Wisconsin. In 1986 he played for Tom Levar in the Ed Kelly Tournament at River Park where he batted twenty for twenty-one, and won Co-MVP honors.

Besides having a good softball career, Dinkelman had a distinguished football career at Schurz High School in Chicago. In 1965 and 1966, he was named as an Illinois All-State Halfback, and won the Knute Rockne Award in 1966 as the best Chicago high school football player. He also took second place in Chicago for wrestling and played baseball at Schurz. His accomplishments earned a scholarship to the University of Illinois, where he played football for two and a half years.

Dinkelman and his wife, Lori, have three children, Jacob Aaron, Sophie Ann, and Sarah Rose, and have one grandchild, Aiden Jacob. He is recently retired, after driving locally and over-the-road for over thirty years. Dinkelman and Lori currently reside on their 35-acre farm in Plymouth, Wisconsin with their two daughters, Sophie and Sarah, and grandson, Aiden.

Accepting his place into the Chicago Sixteen Inch Hall of Fame Dinkelman said, "I want to thank my wife. I want to thank all my teammates. I want to thank my coach Roy Kent who made me practice. I want to thank the people that I played against because without them I couldn't have been the player that I was. I want to thank everyone on the committee and thank you."

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