Cicero:
The sixth annual Chicago 16" Hall Of Fame Banquette was held
on October 2oth at the Gold Room of the Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero
with 650 people in attendance. Co master of ceremonies George Bliss
and Mike North (AM radio 670 'The Score') kept the program flowing
through the evening as twenty-five individuals and three teams were
inducted.
The program began with a tribute to the New York City Firefighters.
All proceed from both the Silent auction and tee shirt sales were
donated (over $1800) to the NYC Firefighters.
The women were inducted first as Bev Dagenais, Roxanne Fox Gurra and
Pam Michalski-Vidovic took their place among the elite of the game
of softball.
North was amazed at Michalski-Vidovic career-pitching record of over
800 wins including 16 no-hitters and only 87 loses. North who sponsor's
a men's major team, 'Licorice' quipped, "Do you have any eligibility
left? "
Dagenais a shortstop played in the 70's played for the Pets and M&M.
She also managed and umpired. Fox-Gurra is from Oak Lawn and played
first base, with a powerful bat for the Angels.
Three Pioneer of the game of softball were honored next. Stan Szukala,
Eddie Leonard and Joe Brankis received their due.
Brankis compared today's player against his era and declared, "You
would give us a pretty good game."
It was noted that Szukala who once played on a basketball team that
beat the Harlem Globe Trotters in overtime as Szukala hit the winning
shot for the college all-stars.
 Leonard
played second base and was a feared line drive hitter in the 40's
and 50's.
Four honorees from 1950 through 1963 were inducted next as Bobbie
Blackstone, Henry Currie Ted 'Todge' Tomczak and Ed Zaitz took their
place among softball hall of honor.
Currie a member of the Kuppenheimer Senators noted that the Chicago
16" Hall Of Fame has honored three of his former teammates in
the past but because they had passed a way the never able to received
the honor. He paid them tribute by saying "This one is for you."
Tomczak a clutch hitting shortstop whose team, 1025 Club went 81-8
in 1945.
The Frank C. Holan Award was presented to Al MacFarlane from Splinters
Sports Club for his service to the game of softball. It was noted
that MacFarlane is the only person to sponsor both the ASA Major and
Class A National Champions in the same year.
MacFarlane accepted his award with an understanding of who it is that
really sponsors the game of softball by saying "To all the ma
and pa, shot and a beer gin joints, restaurants business and corporate
sponsors of this wonderful game, I accept this award."
Five individuals from the 1964 through 1979 era were the next to be
inducted as Ben Holt, Jack 'Whitey' Johnson, Bill Massuci, Lenny West
and Hank Zitnik, were introduced to the audience.
Johnson said, "To play as much as I did you had to be very blessed,
and I was, with my wife Joanne."
Massuci played shortstop for the Stompers, Rogues, Sobies and Otto's
with a lifetime batting average of .660 and he was named to four ASA
All-National teams.
West played both third base and pitched with a .770 lifetime batting
average, plus over 300 home runs to his credit and he was the MVP
of the 1974 ASA National Tournament.
Zitnik could play third base, shortstop or the outfield. He batted
over .550 for his career that included two ASA Nationals titles.
More Chicago 16" Hall of Fame info
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