Category: 1947

1947 NSC Women’s Fast Pitch World Tournament

1947 held at Phoenix, Arizona.

Champion – Phoenix A-1 Queens, Phoenix, Arizona (105-15)
Runner Up – Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The NSC was created by Larry Walker of Phoenix as an alternative place to play where the rules were a little more relaxed than the ASA was.  Some looked at it as a semi-pro league, and it was at first scorned by the ASA.

ASA teams came to play in the NSC Worlds. The Jax Brewer Maids of New Orleans who won 5 ASA Nationals in 7 years joined the NSC in 1948, after ASA accused them of professionalism.

The A-1 Queens from Phoenix was to the NSC as the Phoenix Ramblers were to the ASA. Both teams were great and engaged in many contests against each other.  They even billed an event in 1948 as the Women’s World Championship series between the 1947 ASA Champ Jax Maids and the 1947 NSC Champ A-1 Queens. They were very evenly matched.

Soon, more ASA teams came over to play like the Erin Brews of Cleveland, OH and the Lorelei Ladies of Atlanta.

As tensions between the ASA and NSC lessoned, even more teams came to play. Erv Lind Florists of Portland, OR and Shamrocks of Salt Lake City, UT played in the NSC Nationals. Even the Canadian Champs, Crowhurst Motors of Vancouver, British Columbia played. Many more played. And when the NSC had their last National Championship in 1954, all the NSC teams were welcomed back to ASA.

Eleanor Anderson collected 3 hits in the final game to lead the Queens. Charlotte Armstrong doubled in the Queens first run to start a big 3 run rally. she finished 2-0 in the tournament and 57-3 on the season. Margie Yetman of the Sooners led her team through the losers bracket to the finals, She was 11-22 (.500) and named MVP. With Armstrong and Morris hurling for the A-1 Queens, they were practically unbeatable. Both were 2-0 and together they allowed only 5 runs in the 4 games. For the Sooner Queens, Pitchers Eleanor ‘Big Red’ Purkey was 3-2 and Gladys Haywood was 2-0. Armstrong finished out the year 57-3.

  • MVP Award – Margie Yetman, Sooner Queens (11-22, .500, played flawless 2B)
  • Outstanding Pitcher – Charlotte Armstrong, A-1 Queens – (2-0, pitched a 6-1, 3-hitter with 11 K to win championship game)
  • Leading Hitter – Margie Yetman, Sooner Queens (11-22) – .500
  • Miss Softball Award – Carolyn Morris, A-1 Queens (Pitcher, 2-0, including 2-hit shutout with 13 K)

1947 NSC ALL WORLD TEAM

P – Charlotte Armstrong, Phoenix A-1 Queens (2-0)
P – Mary Hicks, Dallas Bell Comets (2-2)
P – Carolyn Morris, Phoenix A-1 Queens (2-0)
P – Lois Williams, Phoenix A-1 Queens
C – Jody Gebron, Dallas Bell Comets
1B – Babe Massa, Chicago Rival Dog Food
2B – Margie Yetman, Chevy Sooner Queens
3B – Mildred Dixon, Phoenix Holsum Bakery
SS – Eleanor Anderson, Phoenix A-1 Queens
LF – Dodie Nelson, Santa Monica Ramblers
CF – Merle Keagle, Phoenix A-1 Queens
RF – Jackie Anderson, Chevy Sooner Queens
UTIL – Louise Curtis, Phoenix Holsum Bakery
UTIL – Nonie Hoehn, Santa Monica Ramblers (1-2)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Phoenix A-1 Queens, Phoenix, AZ (4-0)
2. Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens, Oklahoma City, OK (5-2)
3. Bell Comets, Dallas, TX (2-2)
4. Holsum Bakery Maids, Phoenix, AZ (3-2)
5t. Santa Monica Ramblers, Santa Monica, CA (1-2)
5t. Lorelei Ladies, Atlanta, GA (1-2)
7t. Rival Dog Food, Chicago, IL (1-2)
7t. Dorst Sweethearts, Toronto, ON (1-2)
9t. Takoma Decorators, Washington DC (0-2)
9t. New Bridger Cafe, Billings, MT (0-2)

The 1947 ASA Champion New Orleans Jax Brewer Maids vs the 1947 NSC Champion Phoenix A-1 Queens Series

Over in the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) National Championships, The Jax Brewer Maids won their third straight National Championship and fifth in the last six years. The Jax were rumored to have “professional” players and were scrutinized a lot by the ASA, so they decided to leave and join the NSC for the 1948 season.

Jax pitcher Nina Korgan was one of the greatest pitchers in softball history. She had one of the most amazing streaks in Softball History. In ASA National Championship play from 1941 through and including the 1947 National, Her team won the Championship 6 of the 7 years. She pitched and won every final championship game victory – (6 final game victories, 4 of them being shutouts, one a no hitter).  In that span between 1941-1947, Korgan racked up a Championship Tournament record of 21-0 with 18 Shutouts, 5 No-Hitters, one being a perfect game. She had two shutout streaks of 7 from 1941-42 and then 8 from 1945-47. She twirled 168 innings in that span, striking out 254 batters and surrendering only 6 runs on 35 hits. Teammate Lottie Jackson was the “other” pitcher and she only went 8-2 in the same period of time with 4 being by shutout, including a no-hitter. The only two games she last were in relief and both by 1-0 scores. Both pitchers always played when they weren’t pitching as both were great hitters as well.  The last three years the Jax played ASA, their total record was 143-20, incredible, especially considering that 11 of the losses were to Men’s teams.

It was only natural that the best ASA team who became part of the NSC set up a season series with the Best NSC team. So, during the 1948 season, a 30-game schedule was set up between the two squads. The games were all close and in the end with Lottie Jackson doing much of the pitching for the Jax (Korgan did her share as well) and Charlotte Armstrong hurling for the Phoenix A-1 Queens along with Carolyn Morris. The teams played 30 games and from newspaper accounts, the final tallies were 16-13-1 in favor of the New Orleans Jax. But from all accounts, both teams were considered the two best teams in the country.

1947 ISC Men’s Fast Pitch World Tournament

1947 held at Phoenix, Arizona.

Champion – Farm Fresh Market, Phoenix, Arizona
Runner Up – Palomar Foods, San Diego, California

This was the inaugural softball tournament of the newly created National Softball Congress (NSC), preceding the International Softball League (ISL) and forerunner to the present International Softball Congress (ISC).

Much of the content herein from the NSC, ISL and even the earlier years of the ISC were painstakingly compiled by former ISC Historian, Art Cashion, Ft. Worth (TX).

Mr. Cashion spent countless hours reviewing outdated newspapers (thru his local library) from around the country in order to glean much of the information on this and other ISC tournaments. We are greatly indebted to Art Cashion for the tremendous task he undertook in compiling the early history of our organizations.

Arnold Trujillo (Farm Fresh) no-hit the Oklahoma City team.

One-hitters included future ISC Hall-of-Famer, Paul Lopez (Farm Fresh) and Eddie Feigner.

Eddie Feigner (Seattle) would later go on to world-wide acclaim with the handle, The King and His Court.

Wes Priest (Reno) threw a 1-hitter and lost (1-0) to Milwaukee.

Frank Parente (Seattle) was the only player to hit 2 homeruns.

Ted Oleo (Farm Fresh) was the only player to hit two triples and did it in the same game.

Johnny Taylor (Phalanx) hit the only grand-slam homer of the tournament. Dick Mitchell hit two of only four doubles in the entire tournament. Bob Adams, Phalanx had 4 hits in one game.

Of the 24 extra-base hits in the 16 team tournament, 13 were homers.

The above was edited on Sep 1, 2006 by Bret Baughman, Cedar Rapids Iowa ISC Historian. At this time I will also add full line scores as reported in the Arizona Republic in the time period of the NSC World Tournament.

The Championship game of this tournament went extra innings with Farm Fresh scoring 4 runs in the top of the 8th to claim the NSC World Championship.

  • Cleo Goyette Memorial MVP Award – Mickey Aguirre, Palomar Foods, San Diego, CA
  • Leroy Zimmerman Memorial Pitching Award – Bob Michaels, Palomar Foods, San Diego, CA
  • Leading Hitter – Bob Adams, Phalanx Fraternity (6-13) – .462
  • Most RBI – Ivan Crawford, Kings – 5
  • Most RBI – Dom Faruzzi, Kings – 5
  • Most RBI – Bud Manchester, Streit Bicycle Shop – 5
  • Most RBI – Tom Sewell, Grever Truck Line – 5

1947 ALL WORLD TEAM

IF – Dick Mitchell, Palomar Foods
IF – Bob Adams, Phalanx Fraternity
IF – John Pinson, Andrews Motors
IF – Mickey Aguirre, Palomar Foods
OF – Bill Bletcher, Harold’s Club
OF – Harold McNeeley, Fire Department
OF – Jim Brawner, Farm Fresh Markets
UTIL – John Pompeo,  White Center Athletic Club
UTIL – Harley Taylor, Mount Dennis Athletic Association
C – Ralph Pelkowski, Royals
C – Hugo Pearson, United Tile

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Farm Fresh Markets, Phoenix, AZ (5-1)
2. Palomar Foods, San Diego, CA (7-2)
3. Andrews Motors, Rome, GA (3-2)
4. Anderson Sporting Goods, Oklahoma City, OK (3-2)
5t. United Tile, Waco, TX (3-2)
5t. Phalanx Fraternity, Phoenix, AZ (2-2)
7t. Royals, Milwaukee, WI (2-2)
7t. White Center Athletic Club, Seattle, WA (2-2)
9t. Platt-Rogers, Boulder, CO (1-2)
9t. Fire Department, Tulsa, OK (1-2)
9t. Harold’s Club, Reno, NV (1-2)
9t. Mount Dennis Athletic Association, Toronto, ON (1-2)
13t. Bonaldi Bros Post, Rochester, NY (0-2)
13t. New York Hatters, Gainesville, FL (0-2)
13t. Regalos Gaona, Ciudad, MX (0-2)
13t. Merchants, Bell, CA (0-2)

1947 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1947 held at Cleveland, Ohio.

Champion – Jax Maids, New Orleans, Louisiana
Runner Up – Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, Arizona

From 1945 through 1947, The New Orleans Jax record was 143-20. 11 of the losses came against men’s teams.

The ASA Executive Board was polled to take away the Jax Maids title away from them after the team announced its intentions to turn professional before the tournament started. The committee voted 6-4 to forfeit the Jax title and give it to the runner up, Arizona Ramblers. Eventually this was overturned as there was no proof that any Jax player signed a contract or played a professional. They simply said they were going to turn professional. They have won the title 5 of the last 6 years. This action led the Jax Maids to leave ASA and play in the rival NSC.

In October, the Jax Maids traveled to Phoenix to challenge the A-1 Queens, NSC Womens Champs in a 10 game series. The Queens defeated the Jax squad 6 games to 3.

Both Olympia and Freda Savona had 3 hits to lead the Jax. Lottie Jackson had 2 hits and Evelyn Stech’s 2-run single was the go ahead hit in the 5th inning. Lottie Jackson was 2-0 for the Jax Maids.

Amy Peralta May, Arizona Ramblers (4-2, with 2 shutouts, beaten 6-4 in final by Nina Korgan) – Peralta and Dot Wilkinson each had two hits for the Ramblers. Margie Law was 1-0 pitching the other game for the Ramblers.

Ruth Elston, Toronto Peoples Credit Jewelers (3-2, including a 1-0 perfect game)

A Special note on Nina Korgan as she had one of the more incredible streaks in ASA pitching history. From 1941 through and including this 1947 National, her team won the championship 6 of the 7 years. She pitched and won every final championship game victory and in that span racked up a record of 21-0 with 18 Shutouts, 5 No-Hitters, of which one was a perfect game. She had two shutout streaks of 7 from 1941-42 and then 8 from 1945 through 1947. She twirled 168 innings in that span, striking out 254 batters and surrendering only 6 runs on 35 hits. Teammate Lottie Jackson was the other Jax pitcher and all she has done in the same span is go 8-2 with 6 shutouts, including a 2 no hitters. The only two games she lost were in relief and both by 1-0 scores. Both hurlers always played as they were both great hitters as well.

Nina Korgan, Jax Maids, 9-0 since 1945 Nationals, pitched 8 straight shutouts before winning 6-4 final. As a team, they have not lost since the Fall of 1945. They have won 92 straight games since the 1945, finishing up on a winning streak, In 1946, they went 56-0 and then won in the beginning of this season until the streak reached 92 games, before losing . It had become very hard to find opposition beside men’s teams, that the team has played a series of intra squad games over the last three years.

Korgan went 3-0, pitched 2 shutouts, then won final game 6-4 with 8 K and would have won the MVP award.

  • MVP – N/A
  • HR Leader – N/A
  • Batting Leader – N/A

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Jax Brewery Maids, New Orleans, LA (5-0) (Defending Champ)
2. Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (5-2) (South Pacific Coast)
3. J&K Shoes, Columbus, OH (2-2) (East Central)
4. Peoples Credit, Toronto, ON (3-2) (Canada)
5t. Teagues Used Cars, Fort Worth, TX (3-2) * (Southwestern)
5t. Fresno Rockets, Fresno, CA (3-2) (North Pacific Coast)
7t. Caterpillar Dieselettes, Peoria, IL (1-2) (West Central)
7t. Garvin’s Grill, Washington DC (1-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Cardinalettes, Perth Amboy, NJ (0-2) (Mid-Atlantc)
9t. Walker Realty, Des Moines, IA (1-2) (Western)
9t. Raglan Ramblers, Nashville, TN (0-2) (Southern)
9t. Cleveland Rangers, Cleveland, OH (0-2) (Host)
DQ. Stamford Nutmegs, Stamford, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic) – disqualified after the first game

NOTES

Erv Lind Florist, Portland, OR withdrew – could not attend due to girls going back to school. Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament.

1947 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1947 held at Elks Field in Lakewood, Ohio on September 11-14.

Champion – Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, Indiana (113-19)
Runner Up – People’s Credit Jewelers, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Bill West, Zollner Pistons (3-0, no-hitter, 16 IP, 35 K, pitched 4-0 no-hitter in final with 17 K and 2 Intentional Walks to Toronto’s leading hitter, Doug Adams), the 4 runs were attributed to the 3 doubles by Chick Goldberg and Bernie Kampschmidt’s 2 RBI singles (He was 3-3 in the game).

Zollner Pistons – Elmer Rohrs (2-0, no hitter, 16 IP, 34 K), Diz Kirkendall (1-0, 1-hit shutout, 15 K) – Piston hurlers had 84 Strikeouts in 39 Innings – 5 games. The no-hitter that Rohrs threw was a 10-inning 2-0 victory in which he had 21 strikeouts.

Russ Johnston, People’s Credit (5-1, no-hitter, 3 shutouts, lost final to Zollner’s Bill West 4-0)

Jim Ramage, Zollner (had 5 RBI in one game with a HR and a single. Had a HR in another game as well. He and Hughie Johnston both ended up with 2 HR each in the tournament)

Herb Dudley, Blackburn Bombers (3-2, Had 60 K in first 3 starts, 75 K in his first 4 starts, hurling 2 shutouts, winning 3-1 and losing 1-0. Then Bombers were them eliminated by the eventual runner, People’s Credit of Toronto 6-0. He finished up with an incredible 77 K in 44 IP, giving up 8 runs, 6 in the last game. Dudley also hit a homer over the center field fence in the opening game)

Roy Stephenson of Grumman Yankees went 3-2, 3 shutouts, 2 1-hitters.

  • MVP – Hughie Johnston, Zollner Pistons (3-run homer to win winner’s bracket and then another HR in championship game)
  • Batting Leader– N/A
  • HR Leader – N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, IN (5-0) (Defending Champ)
2. People’s Credit Union, Toronto, ON (5-2) (Canada)
3. Hanford Kings, Hanford, CA (4-2) (North Pacific Coast)
4. Blackburn Bombers, Clearwater, FL (3-2) (Southern)
5t. Kovakos Grill, Washington DC (2-2) (Central Atlantic)
5t. Grumman Yankees, Bethpage, NY (3-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
7t. Hi-Way Inn, Harlinger, TX (2-2) (Southwestern)
7t. Stratford Roofers, Stratford, CT (2-2) (North Atlantic)
9t. Palmer Commerce Loan, St. Joseph, MO (1-2) (Western)
9t. Ralph Tires, Pittsburgh, PA (1-2) (East Central)
9t. Casa Biascoecha, San Fuerce, Puerto Rico (2-2) (Atlantic Ocean)
9t. Thomas Ice Cream, South Bend, IN (0-2) (West Central)
13t. Tucker Blue Grass, Cleveland, OH (1-2) (Host)
13t. Hudson House Grocery, Portland, OR (1-2) (Northwestern)
13t. San Pedro AC, Long Beach, CA (0-2) (South Pacific Coast)
13t. Thompson Foods, Denver, CO (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)
17. Farmers Supply Store, Fargo, ND (0-2) (Northern)

NOTE

Mexico did not send a team to nationals.