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HIGHLIGHTS

A few Hall of Fame players in Sunday's game following the noon ceremony at Forest Park :
Southside -
Lane Nieman, Jim Matlock, Jesse Mack, Norbert Lewandowski, Steve Kirby, Mary Kay Monaghan, Toni Panlini, Mary Pat McCurie, Ron Kubicki, Chery Mikolaitis, Popati Wing, Bev Dangenais, Willie Simpson, Bill Wadington, Jack Kelly, Larry Kelly, Wally Filkins, Odell Humphrey, Bob McCelland, Bill Devork, Mary Pat McGuire
Northside -
Fritz Zimmermann, Wally Pecs, Mike Coyne, Pat Caputo, Tom Czarnick, Mark Frighetto, Stan Bachusz, Ken Flaws, Tim Decker, Mike Ellerby, Bill Bransfield, Jerry Rhea, Pat Heraty, Mike Mareno, Frank Lentine, Art Lurie, Casey Larocco, Al Mc Farlane. Mary Kay Monoghan, Monica Skowronski, Cheryl Mikolaitis
Thanks to umpire crew lead by John Mitchell

On Sunday July, 25th Forest Park, IL at DesPlaines and Harrison will be the site of the 2nd annual Chicago 16 Inch Softball Hall of Fame Inductee Day. The noon Ceremony will be hosted by George Bliss and Ron Kubicki, president of the Hall of Fame with their HOF Board. Click here for more details

Next open meeting is July 20th at 7pm at Forest Park.

The 2010 inductee award dinner will be april 2nd at Drury Lane in Oakbrook, I'll. For details contact Donna Levy with Landon farrey, click here for more information

July 10, 2010 - Next Saturday at Kimball Hill in Rolling Meadows will be our 16th annual and possibly last edition of the event due to like many othly er traditions loss of sponsorship. We hope many of you who have played in the past will make a trip and join us. Over 500 mens, women and co-rec teams have played in the past 15 years honoring the memory of fellow 16-Inch hall of famer Terry Moran. Many others in the 16-Inch Hall of Fame have played or coached in the event and I can say with certainty many future hall of famers have played or coached as well. We have 22 men's teams signed up so far - hope you can come! Please contact Frank Fiarito at fiarito98@comcast.net for more information.

July 25, 2010 - At noon at Forest Park's Inductee park, the Chicago 16 Inch Softball Hall of Fame will unveil the current inductees plaques in their display cases of the players, umpires and teams that were announced at our awards dinner in January.

Following the program at approx 130pm we will have another North vs. South hall of fame players in a softball game. Please join the fun and excitement and see the greats of the game play one more time.

Hall of Fame Golf Outing announced at Glen Eagles on August 18th.

Very sad news, 1999 Chicago 16 Inch Softball Hall of Fame Inductee Gerald "Jerry" Kelleher, age 58 passes away. Jerry was one of the best shortstops of the 70-80's era. Our deepest sympathies to the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials to: The Gerald Kelleher Memorial Fund, c/o Lisle Savings Bank, 1450 Maple Ave., Lisle, IL 60532, (630) 852-3710. For info, (630) 355-0213 or www.friedrich-jones.com

Maple Street Wins 1st 16" tourney in 2010 in Arizona

Mr. Michael Hanas a Chicago Sixteen Inch Softball Hall of Fame umpire inductee in 2002 in the pioneer era has passed away at the age of 83. Mike will be waked at Blake and Lamb Funeral Home at 4727 W. 103 St., Oak Lawn, ILL. tomorrow, Wednesday March 3 from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. He was a great guy and a darn good umpire and old timers tell us in was excellent player as well.

The Next Open Meeting is March 18th, at 7:00 at the Forest Park Museum Site.
Click here for details

January 2010 - 14th Annual Chicago 16" Hall of Fame Banquet
January 2010 - Business Wire - Inductees to be Honored January 23rd

Sorry due to bad weather dinner program meeting tonight is delayed to Monday 1/11. Same time 7:00 at Hawthorne.

Next hof meeting is Jan 7. 7pm. Hawthorne Park

HOF DINNER SPONSORSHIP Opportunities !!

Ron Kubicki named president of the Chicago 16 Inch Softball Hall of Fame

Next OPEN meeting for everyone to attend is Dec 3rd at the Forest Park site, starting at 7:00 pm.
Please bring any ads, ticket purchases, silent auction merchandise for our 14th Annual Induction Dinner on Jan 23rd, 2010 at Hawthorne Race Course.
All are welcome to attend and bring a friend to help out the softball hall of fame.

Taft wins Public League 16" title

Our next open Hall of Fame meeting will be on November 11th, at the Forest Park site from 7:00pm-8:00pm. All are welcome and encouraged to come.

Chicago High Schools will be playing 16 INCH softball for city championships - Oct 23RD, at 3:30 and 5:30 - SEMI FINALS and Oct 24TH at 4:00 - CHAMPIONSHIP, all games at UIC Stadium off Halsted and 13TH. Chicago, IL

2009 Inductees Announced

September 2009 - NY Times - Gloveless Players Hold on to Softball Dreams

Flashback Softball led by MVP Randy Russ wins the 2009 Major ASA 16 Inch Championship in Marshalltown, Iowa. They did it by defeating JYNX 5-1 and 4-3. This marks the 2nd year in a row that Flashback has won the ASA Major title.

The Iowa staff led by Director Kevin Cartier were wonderful hosts for this Softball Extravaganza. The "A" Nationals were won by the legendary Traffic Team lead by Nick Gatta. 2nd place goes to OBI.

Click here to hear the Post Game comments from Marshalltown in MP3

Next open HOF meeting September 9, 2009 at Forest Park 7pm-8pm

Rich DelGiudice's softball career spans many memorable years as a player and later as a manager who was fortunate enough towards the end of his career to have managed three of his sons - George, Nick and Joe - as manager of the Flames. On July 18th he passed away.

Open Hall of Fame meetings at Forest Park Museum site at 7pm
Dates are: September 8 and November 11th 2009

July 2009 - Click here to see our Photos from Inductee Park Unveiling

July 2009 - Click here to see the Photos from Inductee Park Unveiling - from Illinois softball report website

July 2009 - Unveiling of HOF Inductee Park a Tremendous Success

July 2009 - Earlier this year I nominated Jerry Jess for induction into the 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame. Jerry, who has been in a nursing home for several months, passed away on June 28. Jerry will be greatly missed and remembered always by his teammates and friends in Chicago. Jerry was a terrific 16-inch softball player with great right-field power who starred as a first and third baseman with Beatle�s Bombers at Clarendon Park in the "juiced ball" era of the 1960s and 1970s. He also played for Mike Royko's Raiders, the Chicago Daily News, and Peoples Gas. Sincerely, Don DeBat

July 2009 - THE BEST SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF ALL TIME TO CELEBRATE "CHICAGO'S GAME" AT UNVEILING OF THE 16-INCH SOFTBALL HALL-OF-FAME INDUCTEE PARK

July 2009 - Softball Artifacts Needed

July 2009 - I would like to follow up on George Bliss' recent email on the big event on July 19th...Timing is short but if you would like to advertise in the program, honor a friend or relative...we need your response asap
Click Here to see Flyer
Click here for Ad Rates and Sizes

June 2009 - Hall of Fame Inductee Park Program

Sunday July 19, 2009
Ribbon cutting of our NEW outdoor Inductee Park
Forest Park, Des Plaines & Harrison, Forest Park , IL
Starts 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

You are invited to the opening of the Hall of Fame Inductee Park. After 14 years of dreaming, planning, and working, it is time to unveil the first of our two part plan. This park will recognize our inductees with biographical plaques and photos. Up next, a museum to share our history for generations to come. Join us for the ribbon cutting of the Inductee Park and also for extra fun and excitement in a NORTHSIDE VS THE SOUTHSIDE OF HOF INDUCTEES AND CELEBRITIES softball game at 12:30 on diamond # 2.

We expect hundreds of people to be there and expect to see the most Chicago 16" Softball Hall of Fame inductees ever together in one location, so don't miss this unique opportunity to meet our game's best and share this historic day. Refreshments will be sold during the event.
Click here for the full invitiation

Next Meeting is May 21, Thursday at 7:00 pm at Forest Park

May 2009 - 16" Softball Movie is in the Works, Seeking Investors

One of the great hitters in our game, Hall of Famer Bob Lamont passed away, he LOVED the game of softball and considered being inducted in the hall of fame one of his greatest achievements.

Pictures from the April 4th Ground breaking for Chicago 16" softball hall of fame

April 4th - Ground breaking for Chicago 16" softball hall of fame inductee park 10:30am

Crush Wins in Maag Toy Foundation 16" Softball Tourney in Arizona

Next meeting is March 14th at 10am, HOF site in Forest park

Hall of Fame pays tribute to 16-inch softball enthusiasts

16" Softball Hall of Fame meeting minutes, February 14, 2009

Rounding third, looking for a home

Next meeting is at Forest Park HOF site at 9:00am on Feb 14th

February 2009 - Illinois Softball Report review of HOF Dinner

January 2009 - Chicago 16" Softball Hall of Fame - Inductees to be Honored January 24th

Next meeting Jan 12th, gold cup room at Hawthorne, open to everyone at 7pm. Send in your ads for dinner book !!!
Dinner is Jan 24th, you can still can get tickets at the door for $75.00.

Next meeting December 8, 2008 7:00pm in the Gold Cup Room at Hawthorne

December 2008 - Historical photos of the 2008 Chicago Public Schools Softball Championships at UIC Field. Click here for photos Lane Tech and Kelly High Schools

November 10, 2008 - Class of 2008 Hall of Fame Inductees announced

November 3, 2008 - Valley gets taste of "Chicago Ball"

And then there were 4..
On Friday Oct. 17 the Final Four of High School 16 Inch No Glove Softball will take place at UIC Field located at 14th and Halsted on the UIC campus.
Here are your final four teams:
Lane Tech vs Taft @ 3:30 PM
Corliss vs Kelly @ 4:30 PM
Finals at 5:30 PM.
Game will be re-broadcast on the Internet and the Softball Hotline Network at 9 pm Friday Night.
To hear the game, just click here on the Clincher at 9:00 PM Friday
9:00 PM Friday Night and replayed throughout the evening.
Good Luck Teams!

George Bliss - Softball Hotline Network - Direct Internet site - www.wjjgam1530.com

October 14, 2008 - WGN RADIO Interview with Bob Sirott

October 17, 2008 - It was a beautiful night for No Glove 16 Inch Softball. "Chicago's Game"
This year it was Lane Tech vs Kelly High School.
On behalf of Eddy Curry and Calvin Davis of the Chicago Public Schools, Enjoy the Game Played at UIC Field on Oct 17, 2008. Click here to listen. HOF Inductee Class of '08 will be announced this week

For the latest info on the Major and A ASA National Tournaments, Labor Day weekend go to chicagoball.com or ilsoftballreport.com or call the Bliss Hotline 708/366-8969

September 2008 - ASA Major Nationals Broadcast Part One and Part Two Flashback vs Stover of Iowa- from George Bliss Hotline

July 2008 - Vote Now for your 2008 Hall of Fame Inductees

July 2008 - Chicago 16" Softball Hall of Fame Selects New Managaement Company

July 2008 - Home for Chicago 16-Inch Softball Hall of Fame in Forest Park

July 2008 - Forest Park Selected as Location for Chicago 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame

July 2008 - 14th Annual Terry Moran Day!

June 2008 - Sprinkle the Infield, a 16" softball movie that is ready for the 1st pitch and looking for investors.
Here is a preview of a movie being made about Chicago's Game. Trailer

June 2008 - There is a fantastic "50 and over" and "60 and over", 16 inch league that is thriving in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

June 2008 - 16" Softball Introduced at the Advertising Softball World Series

May 2008 - Windy City Limo breaks the 3 year string of victories of the ASA champs Miller 45's at Westchester TOC

May 2008 - Next Hall of Fame Committee Meeting: May 21st, Hawthorne Race Track, Gold Room 7:00pm. All are welcome!

May 2008 - Date of the 2009 Hall of Fame dinner will be Saturday, January 24th. Details not finalized.

May 2008 - The Great Westchester Softball Tourney is the weekend of May 15th. Download the brackets for the tournament now!

April 2008 - Gary Thorsen, president of the Chicago 16" Softball Hall of Fame has announced the message board of our website is functional,

April 2008 - Read about the 2008 and previous Hall of Fame inductee’s

March 2008 - Best team in Phoenix - Rising from the Ashes

January 2008 - Chicago 16'' Softball Hall of Fame Induction Dinner to be Held Saturday, Jan. 26

5/25/2007 - 2016 Olympic Developments Could Change the Face of Chicago's Game

1/1/2007 - 2007 HOF Inductees and Honorees Announced