Chicago 16" Hall of Fame

Class of 2009

Flames - Team Induction

If you played any softball on the North side during the 1970s and into the 21st century, you probably played the Flames. They are still together and still winning. The team was formed in 1974 out of Fireside Bowl by Tom Nagy. In 1976 Mike Howard became the manager. He added his cousin Marty Sorger, the Lewandowski family and their cousins, the Tiberi family, and "Boots" Kass. All were members of the powerful Sting softball team. They matched up perfectly with Tommy Taylor, the Mazurek family, and star pitcher Dan "Ducky" Kosinski. The recruiting continued throughout the 80s and 90s when Norb "Ski" Lewandowski became the co-manager. The team also added the Wasco brothers, the Klimczak brothers, and the Felske brothers.
In 1997 Jerry "Juice" Pocztowski took over the management of the team. With his leadership and with excellent young players, they continued to win. They added young talent Abba Sorby, Sal "Gator" Larosa, Joel Herrera, Dominick Cicola, Bato Prostran, and the Leonard brothers to bolster an aging team. Under Pocztowski's leadership, the Flames won 123 games and nine championships.
Flames softball was not only about winning but it was also about keeping it a family affair and having fun. Throughout the years, the Flames were sponsored by neighborhood bars - Oinkers, Red Door, Bob's Inn, the Family Bar, Dugan's and Wee Willy's. They could always be found at one of these bars after a game to "replay" the action.
They are a Chicago Park District team that played only at Chicago's neighborhood
parks. On weekends, they entered various tournaments, mainly to win the award money. They played in tournaments at Hamlin, Revere, Blackhawk, Kelly, Brands, Grant, Kosciusko, Horner, and Merrimac parks. Over their thirty-five years, they have won more than 750 games and forty-five championships. Their records include: championships at Horner Park from 1977 - 1984 (six Friday league titles and two Sunday league titles); from 1978 to 1990 they won thirteen consecutive championships at Brand Park in the weekday leagues. They returned to Brand in 1994 to win their fourteenth title. From 1991 to 1993 the won the Monday/Wednesday league title at Kosciusko Park three years straight. From 1997 to 2009 they were the Merrimac Park Friday league champs for nine years.

Flames Players 1974 to present

Norb 'Ski' Lewandowski spoke on behalf of the Flames saying, "The Flames are a Northside team, Chicago Park District team, established in 1974 by Tom Nag. We have been together for thirty-five years, we have won over seven hundred fifty game and forty-five championships. The team is like a family to us. We stood up for each others weddings, been godfathers to the children and now some of those babies are playing for the Flames." Lewandowski went on to list the names of his Flame teammates that are no longer living and to also thank the Chicago Sixteen Inch Hall of Fame for this team honor.

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