2nd Annual ASA
Hall of Fame Banquet
Sixteen Individuals
Awarded The States Highest Honor
Decatur: One of the changes that Don Brewer
has brought to the Illinois ASA program since taking over the
reins from the late Chuck McCord was to host an annual Hall Of
Fame Induction Ceremony. On Saturday March 27th at the Decatur
Holliday Inn Conference Center fifteen individuals joined the
selective company of the Illinois ASA Hall of Fame, the highest
honor attainable by the Illinois ASA.
The evening opened with a welcome from Don Brewer the ASA State
Commissioner followed by a few remarks from him before turning
over the festivities to Ken Hancock the ASA Regional Director,
who provided the invocation. After a sit down dinner the festivities
got under way with Jim Nicol (Chairman of the Illinois ASA Hall
of Fame Committee) setting a smooth but quickly paced induction
ceremony for the two hundred ten people in attendance.
Umpire Fred Barfield was introduced first to the audience first
by Bob Daniels who said, "He was willing to do what was needed
to make sure that the tournaments were everything that they could
be for the players and the umpires."
In accepting his award Barfield thanked those individuals who
gave him his first shot at umpiring and also those individuals
who believed in him and opened the door so that he could umpire
at the ASA National Tournament.
Leroy Emerick presented manager Jeff Davis next by saying, "His
team represented the state of Illinois with pride and honor as
they played in softball tournaments in thirteen other states over
the years."
Davis said while accepting his award remembered to thank not only
his players and sponsors but also the people who made the phone
calls, took care of plane tickets, rental cars and hotel arrangements.
He closed by saying, "I would like to thank my family for
allowing me to follow my dream and have a national power house
team."
Slugger Larry Davis was next to being formally inducted after
being presented to those in attendance by his good friend Pete
Salvo who got him started in fast-pitch softball. Salvo hit upon
many high spots in Davis career before Davis took the microphone
to thank the ASA and his teammates for giving him this honor.
Jim Fassero was introduced by Larry Ginger who said, "I got
to know Jim real well since I was a catcher and he kept crossing
home plate, so I talked him into playing for my team the next
season."
In accepting is award Fassero recalled a tournament that he played
in that was held in Nashville, TN. By the time he got home on
Monday morning the sun was up and he stopped by the house to make
sure his wife was up and did not have time to change his cloths
so he went straight to work in the coal mines with his ball uniform
on.
Buster Chumbley spoke next on behalf of his friend Hall Of Famer
Barry Freeman and said, "Barry said that I was the player
who played with him the most, and I only played with him for four
years. Barry was known as the gypsy of ASA softball."
