Holt who
played for the Big Banjo Bruins, Bobcats, Dwarfs, Storm and American
Rivet was one of the all-time great power hitters in the game of 16"
softball. He once hit a 16" softball from second base at old
Comiskey Park into the upper deck during a homer run hitting contest
between games of a Sox double header.
The last individuals players to be honored were the 1980 to 1996 era
players as Ken Flaws, Rick Monday, Brian Panick and Ray Topps, Jr.
were presented with their 'Golden 16" Clincher' trophies.
North concluded while introducing Ray Topps Jr. "That during
his twenty-eight year career of playing softball he has won eight
ASA Major titles, six USSSA titles and one NSA title, ladies and gentleman,
Mr. Ray Topps."
Flaws played shortstop for the Bobcats and won four ASA National titles
with them plus three more ASA National titles playing for the Whips,
Splinters and Lettuce.
Monday played outfielder and first base for the Senators, Bandits,
Flamingos, Flash, Cal Gold, Windy City Bombers and B. Athletics.
Panick played both shortstop and short center field for Touch, Lettuce
and the Bud 45's winning 4 ASA National Championship along the way.
North asked Calvin Davis ---- who is the director of officials and
was representing the Chicago Public League that had fifty-two teams
participating this fall to stand. He received a standing ovation from
the more than six hundred people present. Unfortunately the play-off
were still going on at the time of this banquette so who the 2001
City Champion was not know and they could not be present at this affair
to be dually honored by those in attendance. The city champion will
be receive their plaque from the Chicago 16" Hall Of Fame at
a later date.
The Catholic league champion, St Rita was not present to accept their
plague from the Chicago 16" Hall Of Fame.
The Richard J. Daley "Friend of Softball" award was presented
to Pat Malone from McGaffers Pub in Forest Park. Malone has sponsored
over one hundred softball teams, including twelve team this year alone,
and his McGaffers Pub serves as the headquarters to the 'Forest Park
No-Glove Nationals.
 Pete
Schmidt was inducted in the umpire category and he said, "All
I want is to have all the softball players out there (in the audience)
to please stand and give an umpire an ovation."
Wally Pecs was inducted as a Player/Manager and was introduced by
his daughter Tracy Pecs who said, "The greatest experience I
ever had was to play on the same co-ed team with my brother and my
dad and we won that game!"
The Late Mike Royko was inducted in the Media category of the Chicago
16" Hall Of Fame and his two sons Dave and Robert Royko accepted
his award. Robert said, "What kind of person would break his
angle in the first inning of a game and than finish the entire game
and than brag about it? A sixteen inch softball player from Chicago."
His brother Dave added while holding the trophy aloft, "I saw
my father reaction when he won the Pulitzer Prize and I saw my fathers
reaction when he won championship softball games and I can tell you
all that the Pulitzer Prize ain't got nothing on this!"
More Chicago 16" Hall of Fame info |
|
