Hall of Fame Player - Roy Ambrose

In the 1980’s Roy Ambrose played on a number of league teams in the western suburbs and was searching for the perfect tournament team. During this time, he played on numerous teams including the Shooters, X’s, Steamers and FCA. In the summer of 1993, he decided to put his own team together for the 1994 season and Aurora Thunder was founded the next year. He combined veteran players with new talent to formulate a winning combination.

Between 1994 and 2001 Aurora Thunder won three State Championships, and became one of the most successful teams of that era. After the Thunder reign had ended, he took his veteran expertise to play on two quality tournament teams, WWJD and the Barn. Ambrose has always been known as a smart precision hitter who always looks for the holes. With his ability to hit the ball to all fields he has frustrated pitchers and infielders for many years. As a life time .733 hitter, he usually found himself batting somewhere in the one through five slots.

During his playing career, he has won eight Illinois State Championships and one World Championship. He has been on seven All-State Tournament Teams, one Divisional All Tournament Team, and two All World Tournament Teams. Ambrose continues to play softball on local area teams and plays tournaments in the Senior Division. In three years of playing senior ball, Ambrose has won nine World Championships including the USSSA Men’s 50 & Over World title with the Chicago Classics and Windy City Softball Clubs.

Longtime teammate and close friend Keith Hudon introduced Ambrose by saying, “He is a career educator, the father of two wonderful daughters and obviously he has to be a wonderful father because he is never home and Chris still lets him live there” before adding, "Congratulations Roy.”

Ambrose while accepting his place in the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame said, “To my lovely wife, she supported me for thirty-five years playing softball. She is the greatest wife a softball player could ever ask for…this past season I had elbow surgery and right now she is pitching to me so I can make it back through rehab.”

Brenda Paulson said, “You are a great hitter and welcome to out Hall of Fame.” Paulson went on to present a crystal trophy to each inductee, and a certificate that reads as follows ‘The United States Slow-pitch Softball Association Illinois Hall of Fame," before adding her personal congratulations to Roy.

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