Oak Park Newspaper

Wm. B. Sullivan Realty & Co.
Estate Planning and General Law

RAVINIA
"A Great time in a
Wonderful Place" SJC

Adopt a Pet, Come for a Visit

CAGIS Archaeological
Consulting Services

Wm. B. Sullivan Realty & Co.
Estate Planning and General Law

RAVINIA
"A Great time in a
Wonderful Place" SJC

Adopt a Pet, Come for a Visit

CAGIS Archaeological
Consulting Services

Wm. B. Sullivan Realty & Co.
Estate Planning and General Law

RAVINIA
"A Great time in a
Wonderful Place" SJC

Adopt a Pet, Come for a Visit

CAGIS Archaeological
Consulting Services

Wm. B. Sullivan Realty & Co.
Estate Planning and General Law

RAVINIA
"A Great time in a
Wonderful Place" SJC

Adopt a Pet, Come for a Visit

CAGIS Archaeological
Consulting Services

July 19, 2009

Forest Park Mayor Anthony Calderone Presents Mr. Al Maag
with a Council Resolution Honoring the Efforts of the Volunteers.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

Forest Park is Home to the Best
Softball Hall of Fame in the World
Hundreds of Inductees of 16 inch Softball
choose sides and play ball!
review by Ed Vincent

Al Maag told us how some 13 years ago he had the idea of getting a 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame for the Chicago area. He began work on the idea and for the first three years made little progress but did get a lot of folks interested in the idea. Maag moved to Arizona some 10 years ago because of a job offer, but the dream and vision never failed him.

He had heard form many that the idea was nuts and that the teams would not agree on anything like this, like what is happening today in Forest Park.

The area by the future Hall of Fame building was filled with people, players, and fans and news people. It has been estimated that over a thousand people had come for the event, that might be high but the enthusiasm was beaming from many an eye.

This game, said to have started with a couple of guys taking a boxing glove and tying it up in a ball shape and using a broom stick for a bat is legend in the game, as is the smaller field required to play the game and not having to buy a glove or other special equipment. That's all nostalgic and fits well with the growth of the game in the city with kids that did not have
a lot of money and parents who might have been waiting in
bread lines.

When all is said and done, somethings still remain to be said......
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

Today the game has college kids playing; kids from all ages;
and even older, balding, belt-expanding hitters still having some fun.

Illinois State Senator Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) 5th District
Assistant Majority Leader Announces a $500,000.00 State Grant
to the Hall of Fame.
Illinois Senate News of Senator Rickey Hendon
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

Illinois State Senator Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago)
5th District Assistant Majority Leader

Today when Senator Rickey Hendon announced the half
million dollar gift from the State of Illinois to finish Forest Park Chicago area's 16 inch softball Hall of Fame, the folks were stunned with pride and happiness. They would have to do a lot less fund raising in the coming year, like none. The State of Illinois is currently about 11.2 million dollars in debt and is taking months to pay its current bills. Politicians will
tell you, though, that this is a construction project and it will help to stimulate the economy. It is also the human services area of the current budget that is taking the biggest financial hit (reported to be about 15% less than last year's).

Now back to the game. Bring on the talent.............

Jim Peterik, the world famous writer, singer, songwriter, sang
a rendition of "Eye of the Tiger" which he co-wrote with the
Band Survivor, this version having Forest Park and 16 inch
Softball placed in the right areas.
"Eye of the Tiger" Video with Survivor
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

Mr. Al Maag thanks many who helped with the
effort and gets ready for the ribbon cutting event.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

The external art and displays are opend to the public with the cutting of a green ribbon. There are two high speed photos to show the woman with
the baseball hat on who jumped the gun.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

The Hall of Fame inductees are all revealed, many seeing themselves, seeing friends, some no longer with us.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

Dr. Donald Offermann past Superintendant of OPRFHS
and President of West Suburban Hospital, is now the Senior
Vice President at the Forest Park National Bank and Trust
Company.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

When Donald Offerman and I spoke about the dangers of softball baseball we each recalled having fingers jammed in the
wrong direction or pushed too far. Mr. Offerman showed me
how two of his fingers came out of joint in his youth. I never
got hurt playing league ball or even motorcycle racing like I
did with 16 inch ball.

The Southside Team is getting ready with a bit of practice time before the start of the game.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

Both teams took to different areas of the park to do their warm ups and practice. The Northside team seemed a bit younger than the Southside team and that could make a difference in today's play.

A Power hitter, some young fielders, and some discussion on
the fate of the game, and the kids did not bet real money.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

Mr. Rich Melman from the Restaurant owner with many top rated venues in the city, to a pitcher looking for a perfect game.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

Now the GAME is about to start

Players line up for the start of the game, on the top in red are the Southsiders, below them are the Northsiders in blue, and right above
are the Umpires, all these folks are inductees into the Chicago 16 inch softball Hall of Fame.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

Mr. Bob Sirott, a good humored local media
personality, currently on WGN AM radio.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

Sirott has mostly been on local television in the Chicago area, with WFLD TV, CBS and NBC. He did not get the 10 pm anchor position that he wanted when it opened up earlier in
the year, and moved down to radio.

Some great hitting by both of the teams, and some great catches too.
Chicago Bear's Football Kicking star Robbie Gould was a good distance hitter with the bat and perhaps with a foot if they let him kick.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould has been signed to a
five year contract worth some $15.5 million, and extends
his current contract through 2013. With the humble beginnings of softball and how local youths who could not afford a glove
were allowed to play, the money does seem to contrast with the original vision if it were only economics.

There were women on both of the teams and they hit and ran well, better than some of the older gents.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

This middle aged runner is on his way to first base quickly,
while his bat is yet to reach the ground.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

A Southsider (born in Berwyn) and music legend, Jim Peterik makes
contact with the 16 inch demon and sends it in the right direction. I have
nothing to add, because he is a fine gentleman, but not a ball player.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

Great fielding on both sides let few balls hit the
ground, if folks were near the ball they caught the
ball.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

Illinois State Senator Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago in red) 5th District
Assistant Majority Leader slugs one deep in the field. He helped the Illinois Senate defeat the Illinois House this year in their annual event,
but today, even after a $500,000.00 State Grant to the Hall of Fame,
his team went down in a burning defeat 17-6 .
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

It was more than a game today, it was also history in the making a blue collar sports hall of fame, a team game with friends and rivals, and
honored together as one.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

Jim Peterik above takes time for a photo with a Forest Park
Park's Commisioner and his family, and above with the one
of the men of the hour Mr. Al Maag.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photoss

Jim Peterik Website with Showtimes
and Locations

Jim Peterik and Lifeforce Website

"Eye of the Tiger" Video

Jim Peterik 7 min Video

It was a beautiful day, a great day for 16 inch softball, its players, the fans, the town, the region...and hopefully some
signs for the expressway to let people know it's here.

THE BEST SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF ALL TIME TO CELEBRATE “CHICAGO’S GAME”
AT UNVEILING OF THE 16‐INCH SOFTBALL HALL‐OF‐FAME INDUCTEE PARK

Hundreds Will Converge on Forest Park for July 19th Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Celebrity Game

CHICAGO – July 19, 2009 – Chicago is known for its deep dish pizza, Chicago‐style hot dogs, skyscrapers, and our own
distinctive brand of politics. Yet, many don’t realize that it
is also known for one of the most beloved amateur sports of
all time – 16‐Inch Softball – which originated in the Windy City more than 120 years ago.

One organization is working to raise softball’s profile and provide a special place to honor the players, coaches, teams and supporters that have been instrumental in building 16‐inch softball into a worldwide game since it was first played in 1887.

The Chicago 16‐Inch Softball Hall of Fame, which was founded online in 1996, will unveil its new Inductee Park
on Sunday, July 19, 2009. Located in Station Park (at the corner of Des Plaines and Harrison) in Forest Park, IL, The 16‐Inch Softball Hall of Fame Inductee Park is situated on
a 50’ x 50’ piece of land. At its center is a large sculpture of a 16‐inch softball and interspersed throughout the Park is eight individual displays that feature 340 plaques that highlight the names and achievements of the Hall of Fame’s inductees.

The site is surrounded by four oversized bats on each
corner of the monument footprint.

“The unveiling of Inductee Park is a very important milestone toward our ultimate goal of opening a 16‐Inch Softball Hall of Fame Museum,” said Al Maag, co‐founder of the Chicago 16‐Inch Softball Hall of Fame. “We have been hoping and working for 10 years for this day. It’s a priceless moment that we now have a place to honor our inductees, past, present and future, as well as educate the public on their contributions to the game and highlighting its tremendous impact on our culture.”

A Rich History
Dating back to Thanksgiving Day 1887, the game of softball originated at the Farragut Boat Club in Chicago when
Yale and Harvard grads were killing time waiting for the tickertape results of the annual football game between the rivals.

Instead of sitting around, they wrapped up a boxing glove, making a “soft” ball and then played baseball in the gym with a broom. They enjoyed the activity so much they began to formalize rules and the game became an indoor sport for
years.

In the early 1900’s, 16‐inch softball was a perfect game for Chicago's small neighborhood ball fields and cinder‐covered
school playgrounds since the ball didn't travel as far as the smaller balls. Also, the absence of gloves benefited everyone
in the tough economic times of the 1930s. Teams had only
to chip in ten cents per man for a new ball, and women
took to the sport because it was less dangerous than baseball. The sport was also appealing due to its being organized by family, community and ethnic background at first, then sponsored by the companies its players worked for, a tradition that is still largely followed today.

“Chicago softball is played barehanded with gnarled fingers and knuckles that tell stories of errors and victories in games
long past,” continued Maag. “Over the years, most Chicagoans have played the game in school, at a picnic, or in an organized league. As thousands of Chicagoans migrated to other parts of the country, so too has the game and tradition of 16‐inch softball.”

The Vision of Inductee Park

Inductee Park will be formally dedicated during a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on July 19th, 2009. The
ceremony will be attended by more than 100 members of
the Chicago 16‐inch Softball Hall of Fame including Fritz
Zimmermann, Art Lurie, Ray Topps, Tony Reibel, Mary
Pat McGuire, Bob Ancona, Ron Kubicki and Wally Filkins.

Immediately following the ribbon cutting ceremony,
at 12:30 p.m., Chicago 16‐Inch Softball Hall of Famer and wellknown Chicago restaurateur Richard Melman will host
a Northside vs. Southside Hall of Fame game that will feature both Hall inductees and celebrities to commemorate the opening of Inductee Park.

Scheduled to participate in the game are several prominent celebrities and personalities including sports commentator Mike North, news personality Bob Sirott, Chicago Blackhawks president John McDonough and Chicago Bear Robbie Gould and former Bear Dennis McKinnon, among others.

These historic events will bring together and honor more than 300 of the greatest 16‐Inch Softball players, supporters
and teams of all time. The event will also serve as the formal launch of a fundraising campaign to renovate the building
immediately adjacent to the Inductee Park to become the official Chicago 16‐Inch Softball Hall of Fame Museum.

The 16‐Inch Softball Hall of Fame Inductee Park cost approximately $150,000 to design and build, and was
funded through individual donations and the sale of bricks that make up the footprint of the monument park. A significant donation was from March Manufacturing, the pump designer from the Northwest suburbs.

Additional supporters of the park and the ribbon cutting ceremony include great Chicago brands such as Vienna,
Affy Tapple, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (Richard Melman), and the world famous Kodak.

“Our strategy is to align the Hall of Fame with great brands like these with various sponsorship opportunities and to
encourage softball fans to also make donations, which should raise the $400,000 in funds needed to finalize the
museum,” noted Maag.

Forest Park was selected as the ideal location for Inductee Park and the future Chicago 16‐Inch Softball Hall of Fame
Museum as it is in many ways the center of the game.

Each year the Park District of Forest Park plays host to
the No‐Glove National Tournament which is attended by thousands of fans to crown the national champion in 16‐Inch Softball each year.

"It's an honor for our village to be an integral part of this tribute to the greatest players of Chicago's great game,"
said Anthony Calderone, Mayor of Forest Park. "This is
so wonderful because it represents an upgrade to our park program.

Once the old building is renovated it will be a jewel in our park complex and is sure to become a must‐see destination of 16‐Inch softball enthusiasts across the country and for Chicagoland residents as well.”

About the Chicago 16‐Inch Softball Hall of Fame
The Chicago 16‐Inch Softball Hall of Fame (HOF) was formed in 1996 to promote the great Chicago game that
was born in Windy City by honoring and recognizing the sport's best players, coaches, umpires, teams and
supporters.

16in Chicago Softball Hall of Fame Website

No Glove Baseball in Forest Park

Chicago Style Softball: www.16inchGame.com

ASA National Office: www.softball.org

ASA Metro Chicago Office: www.chicagometroasa.com

ASA Illinois State Office: www.playsoftballillinois.org

NSA National Office: www.playnsa.com

NSA Illinois State Office: www.illinoisnsa.com

NSA Northern Zone: www.nsanorth.com

Softball Season: www.softballseason.com

Softball Today Magazine: www.softballtoday.com

Steve Dimitry's Slow Pitch Softball History Page: www.angelfire.com/sd/slopitch

USSSA National Office: www.usssa.com

USSSA Illinois State Office: www.ilusssa.com