2005 USSSA Hall of Fame

(L) Ray Davis - Hall of Honor & (R) Charlie Baumgartner - Pioneer

Brenda Paulson said this about Porter, "Irv, we have been down many roads together and you are a friend, and you are so much a part of the Illinois USSSA and we welcome you into the Hall of Fame."
Brown introduce Ray Davis next the recipient of the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by explaining what the award requirements are by saying "This high honor is to be bestowed on an individual who service, dedication, commitment and selfless hours given to softball and the Illinois USSSA by those who made an indelible mark on game and the association with a minimum of twenty years of service to the Illinois USSSA." Brown than told the story of how Davis got into umpiring. "Back in 1957 Ray was working as a groundskeeper when an umpire failed to show up for their assigned game. A park district official, after much persuasion, convinced Ray to do this game and Ray's nearly fifty year umpiring career was born that night."
In accepting his award Davis said, "It's been a joy! … I want to thank all of the umpire's that I worked with for the time that they spent with me and I'd like to thank you for all the time that you let me spend with you." Davis concluded by saying, Bob Papich told me to come up here and blow my own horn. I'd like to take this opportunity to blow my own horn." Davis than reached into his suit coat pocket to produce a party horn which he gave one loud strong toot too, to honor his friend's advice and what to do on the podium.
Paulson said, "Thank you, Ray, for all the years. I can not remember softball in Rockford without you being part of it."
Brown introduced Ken Adams, Manager of, KA Softball, champions of the USSSA Men's Class B National Tournament. Adams said, "We are very proud and deeply honored that you are acknowledging us. In my memory there have only been two other Illinois teams that have national tournament's…and we hope to continue and join the ranks of the only Illinois team to have won a USSSA World Tournament, the 1976 Forest Hills team."
Each of the KA Softball club team members present were introduced and they received a plaque from the Illinois USSSA for winning the USSSA Men's Class B National Tournament by Paulson who said, "Ken you been working at this national championship for a long time. Starting with a Class C team and working your way up to the B ranks and doing a fine job of it."
Fisher introduced Chuck Baumgartner next in the Pioneer category by saying, "Charlie hit the ball where they ain't. … Having the ability to hit the ball to any field, Charlie would use that ability to place it where the defense would give him."
Hall of Famer (Class of 1997) and former teammate Rick Sweeny than said in a speech that was prepared by their former manager and Hall of Famer (Class of 1996), Doctor Ron Brown (who could not attend due to hip replacement surgery, "He started at the local levels and extended to ultimate level , The United States Slo-Pitch Professional Softball League. Chuck was standing in the on deck circle at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium, home the Phillies and the Philadelphia slow pitch professional team and the manager shouted the following encouragement to his pitcher. 'Come on get this guy, Baumgartner's up next.' It was appropriate and respectful because Chuck finished the series going 22-24. A typical performance. In fact the last time I saw Chuck was in Phoenix Arizona at the 50 and over Senior Softball World Tournament and he went unofficially 28-31, typical."
In accepting his place in the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame Baumgartner said, "My wife used to yell at me because I was gone five, six, seven nights a week playing ball and now after playing for forty years I 'm only playing maybe three nights a week and she said to me, 'Can't you find a couple of more nights to play?"
Brown introduced John Wood next by saying, "It was his love for competition that kept John playing for so long. He always wanted to play against the best teams and the best players and that is a normal trait of someone who is a great player them self. It was the USSSA that had the type of teams and the type of game that he wanted to play against."
Hall of Famer (Class of 2003) Brad Lindmark had this to say about Wood in his remarks about his former teammate. "I have never seen a better defensive pitcher in all the years I played softball than John Wood." He continued by saying, "The only thing I didn't like about playing with Johnny was that he robbed of out of three or four gold glove awards."
Wood said, "I met a lot of great people, still great friends today. A lot of great people I played with and played against that in my mind were this far from going a lot farther that they did meaning pro-ball, there was so much talent. To be able to be included with people like that in this ceremony is something that I never even dreamed of or thought of."

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