8th Annual Chicago Sixteen Inch Hall Of Fame

Hall Of President Gary Thorsen (C) with Cofounders Al Magg (L) & Tony Reibel

Cicero: After an outstanding meal the evenings festivities got under way as Master Of Ceremonies George Bliss opened the program with a video of the national anthem in which nearly all of the over 600 people in attendance joined in the singing of. Bliss hit a home run as the Master Of Ceremonies after local radio personality and softball advocate Mike North had call in sick and could not attend. Tony Reibel from the Hall Of Fame Executive Committee stepped in to assist Bliss with these additional duties. These two gentlemen kept the program, interesting, lively and flowing along on time all evening long. The 2003 Lane Tech, Indians, Chicago High School City Champions were introduced first by Reibel, a graduate of Lane Tech. A short video Highlighting Lane Tech’s 13-3 city championship game victory over Walter Payton High School was played for the audience before they were awarded the Sixteen Inch Clincher Trophy that is given to all the Hall Of Fame inductees for their schools trophy case.
Lane Tech’s, head coach Bradish said, “I’m so proud of my guys they never played down to the level of our competition, they always came out and played their best softball.”
The Pioneer Players were inducted next with the late Frank Dalesandro the line drive
hitting outfielder going first as Bliss said “This player learned to play softball by playing
line ball in the Chicago school yards. His career went from 1933 to 1956.” This award
was accepted by his grandson Mike Dalesandro who said, “Our family will cherish this
moment for the rest of our lives now knowing that our grandfather is among such an elite
group of athletes.”
Joe Newmann the scrappy middle infielder who like many of his era had his career
interrupted by World war II was inducted next said, “I want to thank the Hall Of Fame
for this honor , but I also want to thank my wife for all her support.”

Lane Tech 2003 Chicago High City Champions photo bt Jack Stout

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