He competed in numerous USSSA State Tournaments, consistently earning honors. Slater has appeared at the World Series 15 times, ten as a player and five as a manager or coach. His 15 year career included All World Selections in 1979 while playing for Poindexters Lumber, 1984 and 1985 with Howards Western Steer and again in 1989 with World Champions Superior-Apollo Softball. A Native of Phenix, Arizona, Bushong was a member of the USSSA Mens Class A World Champion Campbells Carpets of Concord, California in 1980. Dottie Davis, an original member of the Little Caesars Softball Team that won four World Championships, was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in the Female Player Category. Taccone recorded over 200 wins as a pitcher in national play. Id also like to thank my sons James and John who spent countless hours chasing fly balls..to the wonderful sponsors I played for.. And to my teammates, from the start to finish. Lehmann was selected the 1990 Debeer Sportswoman of the Year. Santillo played in nine World Tournaments over a ten year span and was named to the All-World Team three times, in 1973, 1975, and 1978. Candelet, a 2007 graduate of Taconic, won a Western Mass. 8am games in Bridgewater are canceled, This is just another reason why we will have ZERO officials in 10 years. However, it would not be as a coach that Don would make his imprint on the USSSA. An old country boy from Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, Seymour won over 100 MVP and All Tournament awards during his distinguished career. Cole, a member of the Michigan USSSA State Hall of Fame, has been tabbed for more than 30 All-Tournament teams from various national invitational tournaments through her career. She played for a record 11 Virginia USSSA Womens State Championship Teams and takes pride in the fact she has missed only one USSSA Womens World Tournament during her career, when she skipped the 1975 season to have her son, Dennis. Linda Mueller, who made a habit of playing in USSSA Womens World Tournaments, was inducted in the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association Hall Of Fame in the Female Player Category. His outstanding performance in this capacity will always be remembered. Under his leadership, the number of registered umpires has grown steadily in Missouri and his division. First Id like to thank God for giving me the talent and allowing me to pick and choose my lifes desires, said guy. The online membership website for USA Softball. He attended national umpire clinics in Las Vegas, Nevada; Williamsburg, Virginia; Lake Tahoe, Nevada; and Orlando, Florida. Softball - Coast Guard at Mass.-Dartmouth. By the end of the nineties USSSA had grown to over 1.6 million participants, with 300,000 being non slow-pitch softball. He traveled throughout the central division conducting umpires clinics and promoting the program. The association continued to grow, however softball was decreasing in popularity. A big man who tipped the scales over 300 pounds, Taccone also played for Rogers Inn, Als Tavern, Pace, Mazzola Insurance, and the DuPont Industrial team. ASA Softball Hall of Fame - Softball History USA Bartel was always respected by his teammates and opponents alike, such respect was not confined to his ability to play softball, but included his great love for people and the game of softball. She was selected as a member of Team USSSA for the historic tour of the Soviet Union in 1990. A native of Novi, Michigan, Snyders team captured the USSSA World Series in 1975 at Rochester, New York and again in 1979 at Wyandotte, Michigan. Cole believes that the most exciting event in her softball career was during the summer of 1990 when she and several other USSSA all-stars traveled to the former Soviet Union for the USSSs Russian Tour. A native of Denver, North Carolina, Arndt gave new meaning to the term old pro by playing at the major level well past his 50th birthday. J. Larry Palmer, respected General Legal Counsel for the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association, was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Game in the Special Category. With a .575 career batting average, Gendron sprayed the batt to all fields, but also hit with power. Joe Seymour, who cracked several thousand home runs in a career that included five trips to the USSSA World Series, was inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Hall of Fame in the Male Category. Massachusetts Softball Travels To Fordham For Three-Game Weekend Series. A native of Rochester, New York, Ciaccia has given countless hours of work and devotion to assure the success of the USSSA. Don Webster, or Chatsworth, CA, has been inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association Hall of Fame in the Special Category. In addition, Wallick was elected in 1983 to serve a two-year term as President of the USSSA. A coach with over 40 years of softball experience, Hoover also coached third base for Kentucky Bourbons in the old professional league. A native to Rochester New York, Salter was appointed as USSSA National Umpire-In-Chief in 1970. Sixteen of those victories cam in the Mens Major World Series play. In 1980, Raines was appointed Division Vice-President where he served successfully for nine years. Hall of Fame / USSSA. A two-sport star in both basketball and softball, Sue Peters was a Co-SIDA Academic Hall of Fame nominee as well. He conducted over 150 USSSA umpire clinics and has attended every USSSA convention umpire clinic for the past 21 years. Buddy Slater, the sly little pitcher that all the big guys hated to face, has been inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in the Male Player Category. 1981. al bianchi . With a .655 career batting average, he was fiercely competitive whether playing first base, catcher, or his main position, the outfield. / 35.5233376; -97.4631822. Along with Accurate Welding, Mortl played for Marascos, Transport Oil, Libbys, Thomas and Ashes; all Wisconsin teams. Ellerbrook passed away in 2013. Regarded as one of the most feared hitter in Womens Softball, Van Vilet has posted a .600 career batting average. Ellis served as Secretary-Treasurer until 1979 when growth of the association necessitated a division of the positions. He has served on numerous program committees including length longevity as a member of the executive committee. At that time there were a little over 500 teams in Michigan playing USSSA. He held the position of National President and Chairman of the Executive Board for eight consecutive years. Currently, USSSA nationally governs 13 amateur sports. He has also served in the capacity of Central Division Umpire-In-Chief. Within the non player category, there are five different divisions one can be nominated in: Commissioner, Meritorious Service, Umpire, Managers and Sponsors. Tom Raines, who has participated in the USSSA program as a player, manager, umpire, director and executive was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in the Executive Category. He worked full-time softball for 10 years and battled for the association until his final day, June 14, 1988, when he lost his last bout to cancer. The National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum is a permanent shrine to former and past players of the sport who have had exceptional careers and have been a major factor in growing the game of softball. Please email us and let us know who you are nominating and a little background on them . He later advanced to the position of Regional President and guided eight early states. In 1978, Salter earned the USSSA Executive Board Presidents Award, the same year he was elected into the Hall of Fame. All teams. This outstanding player was one of the toughest outs in the game. In 1998 USSSA suffers a tragic loss when its longtime CEO Edgar Al Ramsey III passes away. December 14, 2021. Joe Nucci, a colorful fighter from New York who always found a way to get the most out of his ball club, was inducted into the USSSA Hall Of Fame in the Manager Category. Bushong hits for power and average and always did a good job on defense, his main position was first base; however, during his career, he played every position but shortstop and pitcher. Hoover organized the first old timers game in St. Denis, Kentucky and promoted the USSSA in its infancy. Cellura batted over .600 at the World Series seven different times and is remembered for is line drive hits and homeruns. With the passing of Al Ramsey in 1998 he was selected to lead this organization into the next millennium. Linda McCoy, who led Pace to the Womens Class A World Title in 1977, was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in the Female Player Category. In 1979, Ciaccia was elected to serve a two-year term as President of the USSSA. He has taken his rightful place alongside three of his team members, Elby Bushong, Mike Cellura, and Ron Whittleton, in the USSSA Hall of Fame. Ramsey was named Executive Director of the Association in 1979. Know as Putter, she was named USSSA Sports Woman of the Year in 1980. In World Series play from 1992-1995, her batting averages were: .615, .590, .630 and .600. While best known for is powerhouse mens major teams, he also sponsored teams in womens, mixed and masters play. He is in the top 5 in the following all time series accumulative categories: most home runs, most at bats, most hits, most runs, most RBIs and most World Series appearances. The 70-year-old coach was a long-term fixture in Louisville coaching circles and carries 12 straight teams to USSSA World Tournament play between 1967 and 1980. Dave Neale, a veteran USSSA manager and sponsor in 1981, has been inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association Hall of Fame in the Team Manager Category. National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum is a softball museum located in Oklahoma City 's Adventure District. He was given clinics in eight states and received the National Umpires Chiefs Award in 1983. A native of North Carolina, Speller joined Snyders Softball Club in 1976 and was named to the All-World teams as they captured the World Series. He was named MVP in 33 USSSA tournaments, including being the MVP of the 1985 Mens Major World Series. She recorded a lifetime batting average of about .600 and shoed good power in amassing 300 career home runs. Mueller led the association through many hard times with little financial support. Please contact them if you have a team interested! The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) was founded as the United States Slow-pitch Softball Association in the spring 1968. Sharon Crackers Graham, a 13 year USSSA Womens Class A veteran performer, has been inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Association Hall of Fame in the Female Player Category. an assistant coach for the Bears softball team for three years (2018-2020), takes over for Donna Koczajowski, who led the Bears to 505 wins over the past . Just his appearance alone at the tournament seems to make his fellow teammates each their peak. She celebrated World Titles with the Taylor Sporting Goods Stingers in 1980, with Little Caesars in 1983-84, and with Canton Softball Center in 1989. Brick & Lumber. He served as the first USSSA Kentucky State Director. During McCoys hay day, her famous fighting green and gold team was a consistent national contender, winning once and finishing second twice during a four year span. Additionally, Crackers has been a member of four All-World Teams and has a number of All-Tournament Team placing to her credit as well. In 1980, McNew was appointed USSSA Regional Vice-President in charge of the New England States. Gilbert started her long career with the Dinwiddie Diamonds, later moved to the green berets, before joining the Belles. Under Whittletons direction, Capitol was the dominate team on the west coast for more than a decade, winning four State Championships and four Western Division Crowns. Rick Pinto, part of the USSSA since its inception in 1968, has been inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in the Male Player Category. In 1997 Dons last year as the State Director of the state of Michigan registered over 9,500 teams with USSSA. She was selected to the All- World Teams in 1987, 1989, and again in 1990. A veteran Massachusetts hurler compiled a 627-103 mound record over an 11-year period before his induction into the Hall of Fame. A Staunch USSSA supporters, this unknown soldier drew praise for his third base coaching abilities during his span with the Knights, a loyal USSSA team from day one. Ciaccia, who spent as a Regional Vice-President from 1971 to 1984, was promoted to Eastern Division Executive Vice-President 1985. McCoy took a brief retirement from softball to have a child, but returned to collect her 1,000th hit. Voting is done at the Softball Division Congress, which is held every other year on the odd year. Save The Date: RCSHF 50th Anniversary Dinner. His recruiting efforts, training programs and interest in all aspects of the program have been felt by every state in the association. His lifetime managerial record in USSSA play exceeds 500 wins with fewer than 100 losses. The popular North Carolina native, who put Denver, North Carolina on the map, was a loyal supporter of USSSA. Slow-pitch softball, baseball, fast-pitch softball, and basketball athletes make up approximately 90% of USSSAs membership. Today the MVP award in the womens world cup series is call the Fred Schlueter, Jr. MVP Award in his honor. V.K. Sue Ridell-Mitchell, a standout shortstop who played her entire career with the Stingers of Detroit, Michigan, was inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association Hall of Fame in the Female Player Category. 1977. bernard (bunny) lee. In 1981 and 1982 Gaetano served as active State Director of Ohio and played a key told in getting the USSSA program started in Ohio. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mueller called a meeting in Covington, Kentucky in 1967 to form a new softball association. She started playing in the Womens A World Team at age 16. He served as National Industrial Director for 5 years taking the program from 900 to 5,700 teams. A teacher and coach, Fillipp participated in the historic USSSA softball tour to the Soviet Union in 1990. Titone becomes the seventh USSSA umpire to be elected into the Hall of Fame. At the time Burrells induction into the USSSA National Hall of Fame she had previously been enshrined into the USSSA Oklahoma State Hall of Fame, the USSSA South Carolina Hall of Fame, and the USSSA Virginia State Hall of Fame. Ciaccia has stood as a cornerstone in the success of the USSSA. For more information or to purchase tickets contact Charles Phoebus at 410-477-8674 or Mark Phoebus at 443-600-3846. Known as a stable force in the USSSA, Ciaccia was recognized for his unique ability to listen to teams, umpires and players and his efforts to improve the game of Slow-Pitch Softball. His willingness to serve has been outstanding. Raines played in the first USSSA World Tournament in 1968 and that same year was also names the Nevada State Director. Rick Wheeler, 1,600+ home run hitter, from Ontario, California, was inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association Hall of Fame in the Male Player Category. She displayed her best in pressure situations and always played to win, earning numerous All-Tournament Awards. As a pitcher, Slater posted a 32-9 record, the best winning percentage of any hurler in World Series history. Websters players remember his as a man who would pay the freight and still serve as the team bad boy if needed. Jan Deters, who led Empress Chili of Cincinnati, Ohio to a record three straight World Champions, was inducted in to the USSSA Hall of Fame in the Female Player Category. He played five USSSA World Series and five Divisional or World Tournaments, earning All-Tournament honors in six of the events and twice taking MVP. Henderson, the sixth head coach in program history, returns to her alma mater after spending the . This longtime USSSA pioneer was honored in 1980 when he was the recipient of the Presidents Award in the Executive Board Category. Mueller was elected President at the second meeting of the USSSA and held the position from 1967-71. Al Ciaccia, one of the early founders of the USSSA, was inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association in the Executive category. Davis has officiated in eight national or divisional tournaments. A 46 year old Ruffin, North Carolina native, Guy was one of the all time great players in the USSSA history. 2022 Inductees Pat Bonnell, Class of 1963 (Contributor) Craig Scott, Class .