Category: ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch

1954 held at Parade One in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 18-23.

Champion – Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, Florida
Runner Up – Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, Michigan

Clearwater’s Bombers, halted thrice at the very doorstep of the ASA World championship in the last six years, crashed the barrier for the second time as they gained revenge on defending champion Briggs Beautyware 4-0, before 6,100 fants on the magnificent one-hitter by southpaw-firing Johnny Hunter.

Bounced into the losers’ bracket when Hunter slammed the door shut on them with a ho-hitter, the Detroiters roared back by defeating State Farm Insurance of Bloomington, IL, 3-0, only to discover Hunter waiting for them again with the same diet of zero pitches in the finale.

The triumph was the fifth in a row without a loss for manager Eddie Moore’s Floridians and they won it like true championship since they twice KO’d Briggs Beautyware which had been aiming for its third consecutive title and fifth in ASA history.

En route to the championship, Clearwater defeated Naval Air Station 7-6, De Jur Amsco 1-0, Penridge Athletic Club, 3-2 and Briggs Beautyware by 1-0 and 4-0.

The Bombers previously won the ASA crown in 1950. In 1949 they dropped an 18-inning final to Tip Tailors of Toronto; in ’51 they lost a double final to Dow Athletic Club of Midland, Mich., with hunter sidelined by an arm injury, and last year Briggs Beautyware came out of the loser’s bracket to hand them a double defeat.

The Bombers were held in check for four innings before uncorking a four-run shower in the fifth against relievers Gerry Deerfield and Al Wierzbicki to bag the championship.

Until the fateful fifth the Bombers were handcuffed by Johnny Spring, hero of Brigg’s title march when he pitched three shutouts on the final day. Spring once against had sparked Briggs through the early rounds with some superb hurling and showed a 5-1 record going into the showdown game.

The umpire in chief for the tournament was George Dickstein who appointed Art Solz, Minneapolis umpire in chief, as the assistant umpire in chief.

• MVP – John Hunter, Clearwater Bombers
• Batting Leader – Al Martin, Denver NAS (5-11) – .455
• Home Run Leader – Tom Brown, Penridge AC (3-14, .215, 4 RBI) – 1
• Home Run Leader – Nolan Whitlock, Clearwater Bombers – 1
• Home Run Leader – Don Miles, State Farm Insurance- 1
• Home Run Leader – George Adams, Briggs Beautyware – 1
• Home Run Leader – Williams, Babbitt Realty – 1

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – John Hunter, Clearwater Bombers (3-0, 21 IP, 33 K, no-hitter and 1-hitter in last 2 games)
P – John Spring, Briggs Beautyware (5-1, 43 IP, 60 K)
P – Clarence “Buck” Miller, Standard Parts (3-1, 36 IP, 59 K).
C – Marion Cook, Standard Parts
1B – George Adam, Trenton Democratic Club
2B – Don Miles, State Farm Insurance
3B – Ed Antolini, Naval Air Station Denver
SS – Nolan Whitlock, Clearwater Bombers
LF – Thomas Brown, Penridge AC
CF – Ken Sommers, De Jur Amsco
RF – Al Martin, Naval Air Station Denver
UT – Frank Harvey, Penridge AC

OTHERS

Herb Dudley, Clearwater Bombers (2-0, 15 IP, 22 K)
Ollie Johnston, DeJur (3-0, 22 IP, 29 K)
Bill Gourley, Penridge AC (3-0, 21 IP, 22 K)
Paul Hoke Wilson, Bloomington Chiefs (2-0)
Wayne Ward, Bloomington Chiefs (2-1)
Howie Wieland, Raybestos Cardinals (1-1)  set a national softball record in the North Atlantic Regionals as he hurled 6 consecutive no-hitters to win the crown.

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL (5-0) (Southern)
2. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (5-2) (Defending Champ)
3. State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, IL (4-2) (West-Central)
4. Penridge AC, Cincinnati, OH (3-2) (East-Central)
5t. Standard Auto Parts, Memphis, TN (3-2) (Southwestern)
5t. De Jur Amsco, Long Island, NY (3-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
7t. Babbitt Realty, Houston, TX (2-2) (Texas)
7t. Trenton Democrats, Baltimore, MD (2-2) (Central-Atlantic)
9t. Naval Air Station, Denver, CO (2-2) (Rocky-Mountain)
9t. Renton Cowboys, Seattle, WA (1-2) (Northwestern)
9t. New Bar, St. Paul, MN (1-2) (Northern)
9t. Raybestos Cardinals, Stratford, CT (1-2) (North-Atlantic)
13t. Broekers Cigars, St. Louis, MO (1-2) (Western)
13t. Jersey Ice Cream, Minneapolis, MN (1-2) (Host)
13t. Casino Espanol, Havana (0-2) (Cuba)
13t. Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX (0-2) (US-Air-Force)
17t. Roughriders, Napa, CA (0-2) (North-Pacific-Coast)
17t. S-Site, Los Alamos, NM (0-2) (Cactus)

NOTES

South-Pacific-Coast Champ – Pepsi Cola Bottlers, San Diego, CA did not attend. East-Canada Champ – Steinberg’s, Montreal, Quebec did not attend. West-Canada Champ – McLean Motors, Vancouver, British Columbia did not attend. US-Navy Champ – US Navy Patrol Squadron 22, Kodiak, AK did not attend.

1954 Clearwater Bombers

1953 held at Miami, Florida.

Champion – Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, Michigan
Runner Up – Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, Florida

John Spring, Briggs Beautyware (5-1, 41 IP, 47 K, 3 shutouts on final day, including 1-0 losers bracket final victory over State Farm and then; 2-0 and 1-0 shutouts over Clearwater in the finals, Spring only surrendered 5 hits total in the two championship games. He pitched 5 games in 24 hours). In the final 2 games, he defeated two of the greatest pitchers in the game, John Hunter and Herb Dudley.

Paul Hoke Wilson led State Farm Insurance to a third-place finish, lost a 1-0 losers bracket final to John Spring and the Briggs team.

• MVP – John Spring, Briggs Beautyware
• Batting Leader – Joe Morecraft, Trenton Democrats (6-16, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 Runs, the 6 RBI were in one game) – .375
• Home Run Leader – Joe Morecraft, Trenton Democrats – 2

FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – John Hunter, Clearwater Bombers (3-1, 35 K, lost 1-0 one-hitter in the final for first defeat in national play after 10 straight wins)
P – John Spring, Briggs Beautyware
P – Paul Hoke Wilson, State Farm Insurance (4-0, 27 IP, 24 K) – led them to a third-place finish, lost a 1-0 losers bracket final to John Spring and the Briggs team. Howie Wieland was 1-1 for State Farm with a no hitter.
C – Jack Sweeting, American Industrial Flyers
1B – George Adam, Trenton Democratic Club
2B – Joe Everett, Clearwater Bombers
3B – Knobby Rosa, American Industrial Flyers
SS – Otto Salzman, State Farm Insurance
OF – Al Linde, Dow Chemical (5-14, .357, 1 Run)
OF – Dave Sayyae, Briggs Beautyware
OF – Bobby Forbes, Clearwater Bombers
UT – Jerry Zarick, Briggs Beautyware

OTHERS

Howie Wieland, State Farm Insurance was 1-1 with a no hitter.
Arno Lamb, AIS Miami Flyers was 3-1.
Herb Dudley, Clearwater Bombers hurled a 3-0 no hitter and then lost a 2-0 game to finish 1-1.
Rocco Palmeri, Briggs Beautyware, solo HR in 4th inning of final championship was only hit off John Hunter to give Briggs a 1-0 win and the title.

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (6-1) (Defending Champs)
2. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL (4-2) (Southern)
3. State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, IL (5-2) (West Central)
4. American Industrial Sales (AIS), Miami, FL (4-2) (Host)
5t. Dow Chemical AC, Midland, MI (2-2) (East Central)
5t. Jersey Ice Cream, Minneapolis, MN (2-2) (Northern)
7t. Elmendorf AFB Rockets, Anchorage, AK (2-2) (US Air Force)
7t. Trenton Democrats, Baltimore, MD (2-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Kenny Poe Plumbers, Boise, ID (1-2) (Northwestern)
9t. Gators, Lake Jackson, TX (1-2) (Texas)
9t. Phillips 66 Oilers, Okmulgee, OK (1-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Kroszer’s Restaurant, Bridgeport, CT (1-2) (North Atlantic)
13t. Chapel-of-the-Oaks, Oakland, CA (0-2) (North Pacific Coast)
13t. Rochester Radio, Rochester, NY (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
13t. Heart-of-America Tobacco, Kansas City, MO (0-2) (Western)
13t. Naval Air Station, Denver, CO (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)

NOTES

Kenny Poe Plumbers, Boise, ID went in place of Northwestern Champ Tacoma, WA, who could not attend. Cactus Champ – Peterson Brothers, Mesa, AZ who could not attend. South Pacific Coast Champ, Palemar Foods, San Diego, CA did not attend. US Army Champ, Green Hornets, Fort Lee, VA could not attend. US Navy Champ – US Navy Patrol Squadron 42, Kodiak, AK could not attend. East Canada Champ – Northern Electric, Verdun, Quebec could not attend. West Canada Champ – Giorday Fruits, Vancouver, British Columbia could not attend. Casino Espanol, Havana, Cuba did not attend.

1952 held in Stratford, Connecticut.

Champion – Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, Michigan
Runner Up – American Industrial Sales Flyers, Miami, Florida (113-11)

John Spring of Briggs Beautyware was 5-0, 35 IP, 57 K, the 22 year old Spring pitched a perfect game in the winner’s bracket-finals to defeat Buck Miller and his Memphis squad and then came back with a 2-1 three-hitter in the finals.

Buck Miller of Memphis Corbitt Motors Independents went 3-2, 44 IP, 55 K.

Al Linde of Dow AC was 5-14, .357, 1 RBI, 4 Runs.

George Adam, Briggs went 7-17, .412, 3 RBI, 1 Run.

Miami Flyers Eddie Feigner went 3-1, 30 IP, 47 Ks, 3 shutouts and Arno Lamb 2-1, shutout, lost final game 2-1. Eddie King also pitched for the Flyers in relief.

Eddie Feigner and the Miami Flyers shutout Memphis 3-0 in the semi-finals. The win allowed Miami to play Briggs in the Championship game. Miami started the scoring as Mike Meilecke doubled into left center and scored when Joe Lewis ripped a sharp single to left field to lead 1-0. Raybestos came back as Dave Sayre (2 hits in the game) beat out an infield single. Roy Palmieri hit a sharp grounder that Miami’s second basemen let go off his leg into the outfield, allowing Sayre to score. Palmieri, who went to third on the error, then scored when Miami catcher Jack Sweeting let a pitch go through him for a passed ball in what proved to be the winning run in the 2-1 championship game. Johnny Spring struck out 6 and gave up 4 hits to get the win. Losing Pitcher Arno Lamb struck out 5 and surrendered only 3 hits.

• MVP – John Spring, Briggs Beautyware
• Batting Leader – Joe Overfield, Lackland AFB (6-11, 2 Runs) – .545
• Home Run Leader – Johnny Marsden, Lackland AFB – 2

FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – John Spring, Briggs Beautyware
P – Clarence “Buck” Miller, Independents
P – Harvey Sterkel, Denver Public Service
C – Ernie Bertolini, Trenton Democratic Club
1B – George Adam, Briggs Beautyware
2B – Whitey Campbell, American Industrial Flyers
3B – Dick Duzik, Dow Chemical
SS – Albert Gaub, Mt. Carmel Guild
OF – Dave Sayyae, Briggs Beautyware
OF – Loren Dinkle, Dow Chemical
OF – John “Buster” Ziegler, American Industrial Flyers
UT – John Marsden, Warhawks (5-13, 5 RBI, 5 Runs – also went 1-0 pitching 11 IP, 12 K)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (6-0) (East Central)
2. American Industrial Sales (AIS), Miami, FL (5-2) (Southern)
3. Corbett Motors Independents, Memphis, TN (3-2) (Southwestern)
4. Trenton Democrats, Baltimore, MD (4-2) (Central Atlantic)
5t. Dow Chemical AC, Midland, MI (4-2) (Defending Champ)
5t. Mt. Carmel Guild, Jersey City, NY (3-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
7t. Goss ON Ross, Dallas, TX (2-2) (Texas)
7t. Steinberg’s, Montreal, QC (2-2) (Canada)
9t. Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX (2-2) (US Air Force)
9t. Public Service, Denver, CO (1-2) (Rocky Mountain)
9t. Sterling Beer, Louisville, KY (1-2) (West Central)
9t. Jersey Ice Cream, Minneapolis, MN (1-2) (Northern)
13t. Napa Merchants, Napa, CA (1-2) (North Pacific Coast)
13t. Irwin-Jones Dodgers, Tacoma, WA (1-2) (Northwestern)
13t. Jones Ranchers, Eloy, AZ (0-2) (Cactus)
13t. Casino Espanol, Havana (0-2) (Cuba)
17t. Columbus Auto Body, New Haven, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic)
17t. Blue Bunny Ice Cream, Sioux City, IA (0-2) (Western)
17t. Raybestos Cardinals, Stratford, CT (0-2) (Host)

NOTES

South Pacific Coast Champ – Plymouth Mo-Parts, San Ysidro, CA did not attend.

1951 held in Detroit, Michigan.

Champion – Dow AC Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan
Runner Up – Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, Florida

John Hunter of the Clearwater Bombers was 5-0, 75 K, 39 IP, 2 shutouts, three 1-hitters, before hurting a nerve in his pitching arm. He struck out 16 in his first game, 4-2 win and then in a 3-1 victory, struck out 19 hurling a 1-hitter. He then threw another 1-hitter, shutting out Toronto and ace pitcher Percy McCrackin 6-0. Hunter struck 17 more. At this point, he had 5 K in the first 3 games. Hunter came back and defeated the Grumman Yankees with star hurler Roy Stephenson, 1-0 in 11 innings behind Buster Zeigler’s bases loaded walk off single. Once again, he tossed a 1-hitter and struck out 13 batters. In the winner’s bracket final, Hunter defeated Dow AC with Clyde Lefty Dexter on the mound, 3-1 with 10 K. He had hurt his arm against the Long Island Yankees and pitched through it, but after his 5th game, he could not continue any longer.

Dexter and the Dow AC team had just beat the Grumman Yankees 4-0 in 21 innings. Dexter pitched that whole game and in the top of the 21st inning, Jack Kett singles, Al Linde doubled, Jim Streiter was walked intentionally to get to Clyde Dexter and all he did was hit a grand slam to give Dow the 4-0 win and advancing them to the finals, where Dexter came back only to lose the 3-1 game.

Clyde Dexter of Dow AC went 3-0, 42 IP, 36 K, pitched a 21-inning shutout to beat Grumman’s star Roy Stephenson, Dexter hit a grand slam to win the game, moving Dow AC to the Championship.

John Skolnicki of Dow AC went 2-0, pitched 10-0 and 4-0 shutouts in the final two games, giving up only 5 hits total to win title). He also was 2-2 with a 2B and 2 RBI in the Championship game.

Don McDonald was 1-1 and pitched the other game for Dow, losing 3-1 in the winners bracket final.

Al Linde of Dow AC was 11-28, .393, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 8 Runs 5 2B and 3-4 in Championship, with a HR, 3B, 3 RBI and 2 Runs scored.

Jack Kett of Dow AC was 6-24, .250: 2-4 with a 2B and an RBI in the championship.

Roy Stephenson of Grumman Yankees was 4-2, 66 IP, 52 of those innings came in the last 29 hours of the tournament.

After John Hunter hurt his arm and could no longer pitch, Jess McWhorter took over for the Bombers in the first championship game, only to lose to Dow AC, as pitcher John Skolnicki hurled a 3-hit shutout, winning the game 4-0 for Dow. Skolnicki also had 2 RBI in that game.

In the final Championship game, it was not even close as the Midland squad exploded for a 10-0 win. Skolnicki pitched a 2-hit shutout and once again accounted for 2 RBI. The Legendary Al Linde went 3-4 with a double, a home run, 3 RBI and 2 Runs scored in the final.

The Bombers Jerry Curtis and Jess McWhorter could do nothing to stop the Dow bats. Dow finished the tournament with a 6-1 record.

• MVP – John Hunter, Clearwater Bombers
• Batting Leader – John Zula, Calumet City Chiefs – .535
• Home Run Leader – Bobby Forbes, Clearwater Bombers – 2
• Home Run Leader – Benefield, Denver Murphy Chevrolet (4-16, .266, 7 RBI, 4 Runs) – 2
• Home Run Leader – Seidel, Calumet City Chiefs (4-19, .210, 5 RBI, 4 Runs) – 2

FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – John Hunter, Clearwater Bombers
P – Roy Stephenson, Grumman Aircraft
P – Clyde Dexter, Dow Chemical
C – Ken Overcash, Clearwater Bombers
1B – John Zula, Chiefs (8-15, 2 RBI, 3 Runs)
2B – James Hooker, Buck Miller’s All-Stars
3B – G “Dutch” Hanel, Murphy-Mahoney
SS – Pat Campagna, Grumman Aircraft
OF – Al Linde, Dow Chemical
OF – Bobby Forbes, Clearwater Bombers (6-21, .285, 4 RBI, 5 Runs)
OF – Carroll Lee, Babbitt Realty
UT – Robert Crouch, Clearwater Bombers

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Dow Chemical AC, Midland, MI (6-1) (East Central)
2. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL (5-2) (Defending Champ)
3. Grumman Aircraft Yankees, Bethpage, NY (4-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
4. Buck Miller’s All Stars, Memphis, TN (4-2) (Southwestern)*
5t. Chiefs, Calumet City, IL (3-2) (West Central)
5t. Murphy Chevrolet, Denver, CO (3-2) (Rocky Mountain)
7t. Levi Auto, Toronto, ON (2-2) (Canada)
7t. Star-Kist Tunas, San Pedro, CA (2-2) (South Pacific Coast)
9t. Trenton Democrats, Baltimore, MD (2-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Babbitt Realty, Houston, TX (2-2) (Texas)
9t. Western Gravel, San Jose, CA (1-2) (North Pacific Coast)
9t. Union Wire Rope, Kansas City, MO (1-2) (Western)*
13t. Peerless Woolen, Rossville, GA (0-2) (Southern)
13t. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (0-2) (Host)
13t. Casino Espanol, Havana, Cuba (0-2) (Cuba)
13t. Cochituate Motors, Cochituate, MA (0-2) (North Atlantic)
17t. Copping Big Bricks, Eugene, OR (0-2) (Northwestern)
17t. Hickham Field Flyers, Honolulu, HI (0-2) (F) (US Air Force)

* Won a game by forfeit

NOTES

Northern Champ – 20th Century Signs, Bismarck, ND (Northern) did not attend.

1950 held in Austin, Texas.

Champion – Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, Florida
Runner Up – Tip Top Tailors, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Charles Justice, Tip Top Tailors (5-2, 40 K, 49 IP, won 3 straight on last day, including a 4-0 shutout over Houston, before losing the final 1-0 to the Bombers, Justice gave up a run in the first inning, then pitched shutout ball for the rest of the game. His team could not get anything going against Clearwater’s John Hunter as he pitched a 2-hitter and struck out 13 batters. Justice was one of the Toronto players to get a hit off Hunter, along with teammate, Roy Palmeri). The other loss Justice had was against the Bombers in one of the opening round games, 1-0.

Herb Dudley and John Hunter, Bombers (both 2-0, Combined for 4 shutouts, Hunter with a 1-0 two-hitter in final, 13 Ks). Dudley also batted .444 (he was 4 for 9 and played OF one game)

Herb Dudley (2-0, 19 IP, 25 Ks, gave up 0 ER, -no hitter) and John Hunter, Bombers (2-0, 14 IP, 29 Ks,0 ER/3 hits) won 4 of the Bombers 5 wins. The Bombers other win was a 7-0 forfeit win over Grumman Yankees.

Buster Zeigler drove in Eddie Moore with the eventual winning for Clearwater in the 1-0 Championship game. Both Zeigler and Moore were 2-3 in the game

Percy McConner (From Pontiac, MI), Tip Top Tailors – Pitched the other 2 victories for Toronto, one was a 1-0 perfect game over the Phillips 66 Oilers.

The Bombers were awarded a win via forfeit over the Grumman Yankees. Clearwater scored a run in the 5th inning on a close play and the Grumman catcher argued the call and was ejected by the umpire. The Grumman players left the field and when they did not return by a specified time, the game was awarded to Clearwater 7-0. Herb Dudley and Roy Stephenson were both engaged in a nice pitcher’s duel at the time of the forfeit. No stats counted for this game.

The 1950 Clearwater Bombers went through their local District, State, Regional and National tournament without allowing a single run to be scored on them.

• MVP – Charles Justice, Tip Top Tailors
• Batting Leader – Eddie “Tyranski” Tyson, Briggs Beautyware – .615
• Sportsmanship Award – Roy Stephenson, Grumman Yankees (5-1, 34 K, 37 IP)

FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICANS

P – Charlie Justice, Tip Top Clothiers
P – Herb Dudley, Clearwater Bombers
P – Julian Kujawa, Downtown Chevrolet
C – Harry Hancock, Clearwater Bombers
1B – Pat Marotta, Grumman Aircraft
2B – George Fowler, Grumman Aircraft
3B – Eddie “Tyranski” Tyson, Briggs Beautyware (8-13, 3 Runs)
SS – John Chestnut, Clearwater Bombers
OF – Herman “Buddy” Weise, Nixon Clay
OF – Shelly Miley, Tip Top Clothiers

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL (5-0) * (Southern)
2. Tip Top Tailors, Toronto, ON 7-2 (Defending Champ)
3. Downtown Chevrolet, Houston, TX (3-2) (Texas)
4. Grumman Aircraft Yankees, Bethpage, NY (5-2) * (Mid-Atlantic)
5t. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (2-2) (East Central)
5t. Napa Merchants, Napa, CA (2-2) (North Pacific Coast)
7t. Friberg Electric, Portland, OR (2-2) (Northwestern)
7t. Phillips 66 Oilers, Okmulgee, OK (2-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Stephens-Adamson Sealmasters, Aurora, IL (2-2) (West Central)
9t. Trenton Democrats, Baltimore, MD (1-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Nixon Clay, Austin, TX (1-2) (Host)
9t. VFW Post #61, Pueblo, CO (1-2) (Rocky Mountain)
13t. Club Chapulyepec, Mexico, City, Mexico (1-2) (Mexico)
13t. Hickham Field Flyers, Honolulu, HI (0-2) (US Air Force)
13t. Raybestos Cardinals, Stratford, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic)
13t. Union Wire Rope, Kansas City, MO (0-2) (Western)
17t. Chicksan Club, Brea, CA (0-2) (South Pacific Coast)
17t. Rossevelt Grill, Bismarck, ND (0-2) (Northern)

* Clearwater was awarded a forfeit victory over Grumman leading 1-0 in the 5th inning. There was a close play at the plate when the Bombers scored a run and an argument ensued. The Grumman catcher was ejected. The Grumman players left the field and when they did not return by the specified time limit, a forfeit victory was awarded to Clearwater.

NOTES

Canada Champ – Peoples Credit Jewelers, Toronto, ON (Canada) could not attend. Chicksan Club, Brea, CA went in place of Crown Carpets, San Diego, CA, who could not attend.

1949 held in Portland, Oregon.

Champion – Tip Top Tailors, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Runner Up – Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, Florida

Herb Dudley, Clearwater Bombers (5-1, 5 Shutouts, no hitter, two 1-hitters, 130 K, 70 IP, allowed only 3 runs, all coming the last game – set record with 55 K in a 1-0, 21 inning win over Phillips 66 Oilers, He had 89 K in last 3 games – over span of 46 IP.

Gerald Overcash of Clearwater Bombers was 1-1, 17 IP, 13 K, 1 Shutout. He pitched the 2 Sunday games as Dudley could not pitch due to his religious beliefs.

Art Upper of Tip Top Tailors hit a 2-run double in 18th inning to give Charlie Justice and the Tailors a 3-1 victory in the final game. Upper finished the game 4-8 with a single, 2 doubles and a triple with 2 RBI.

Charlie Justice of Tip Top went 3-0, 26 IP, 34 K, 1 Shutout, 1 no hitter, 2 Runs, 3 hits.

Russ Johnston of Tip Top went 2-0, 20 IP, 14K, 2 shutouts, both 1-hitters. Together with Justice they surrendered 2 runs, 11 hits in 5 games over 46 innings. The third pitcher, Percy McCracken was not really used.

Arno Lamb of Phillips 66ers was 3-2, 2 Shutouts, 49 IP, 54 K.

After Dudley won the 1-0, 21 inning game against the Oklahoma Oilers, he came back 15 minutes later and pitched a 1-hitter, with 12 K over Mercedes, TX, the team that beat them 5-1 and sent them to the loser’s bracket. Dudley struck out 67 batters on the night. Then in the finals, Dudley had a 1-0 lead over Toronto and a no hitter going into the 7th inning. He walked Lew Gull. Art Upper broke up the no hitter with a double. Dudley walked Joe Spring to load the bases. Charlie Justice pinch hit for Ray Pulfer and delivered a clutch single to tie the score at 1 and move the game to extra innings.

Russ Johnson started the game pitching for Toronto, going 6 innings, then moved to CF in the 7th when Justice came in to pitch 12 scoreless innings for Toronto striking out 13 and surrendering only 1 hit. Dudley pitched all 18 innings for Clearwater and had 23 K. The Clearwater shortstop, John Chestnut, was 4-7 in the game.

In what many consider one of the greatest games ever played and one of the most incredible individual performances in ASA Softball History, Herb Dudley pitched all 21 innings against the Phillips 66ers and their star pitcher, Arno Lamb. Lamb also pitched every inning. Dudley surrendered only 3 hits in the game and registered an incredible 55 Strikeouts. Lamb had 26 K. Myron Guthrie (4-9 in the game) doubled in the bottom of the 21st inning. Catcher Harry Hancock who was 2-9 in the game knocked a base hit to score Guthrie to end the three-and-a-half-hour game. Buster Zeigler was 2-8 for the bombers in the game. For the 66ers, Pitcher Arno Lamb accounted for 1 of the hits Dudley allowed.

Sixth Ward Boosters of Newport, KY finished 5th with a 3-2 Record. Future Slow Pitch stars Myron Reinhardt (ASA HOF), Hal Wiggins (ASA HOF) and Bo Stuntebeck (KY ASA HOF) all played for the Boosters.

• MVP – Herb Dudley, Clearwater Bombers
• Batting Leader – N/A
• HR Leader – N/A

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Charlie Justice, Tip Top Clothiers
P – Arno Lamb, Phillips 66
P – Herb Dudley, Clearwater Bombers
C – Mack Phillips, Briggs Beautyware
1B – Myron Guthrie, Clearwater Bombers
2B – Sam Bova, Raybestos Cardinals
3B – Bobby Reed, O.E. Watson
SS – Woody Sweeney, Phillips 66
OF – Gene Faull, O.E. Watson
OF – Art Upper, Tip Top Clothiers
OF – Julius Caesar Schreiber, 6th Ward Boosters

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Tip Top Tailors, Toronto, ON (5-0) (Canada)
2. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL 6-2 (Southern)
3. Buddy Watson Vegetable Co., Mercedes, TX (3-2) (Texas)
4. Sixth Ward Boosters, Newport, KY (3-2) (West Central)
5t. Phillips 66 Oilers, Okmulgee, OK (3-2) (Southwestern)
5t. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (2-2) (Defending Champs)
7t. Rubenstein Furniture, Eugene, OR (2-2) (Northwestern)
7t. Crown Carpets, San Diego, CA (2-2) (South Pacific Coast)
9t. Harmon, Russell & Roush, Cincinnati, OH (1-2) (East Central)
9t. Smack’s Candy, St. Louis, MO (1-2) (Western)
9t. Murphy-Mahoney Chevrolet, Denver, CO (1-2) (Rocky Mountain)
9t. Raybestos Cardinals, Bridgeport, CT (1-2) (North Atlantic)
13t. Frankie’s Steak House, Wilmington, DE (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
13t. Gigantes (DF Giants), Mexico City, MX (0-2) (Mexico)
13t. Grumman Aircraft Yankees, Bethpage, NY (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
13t. Stork Club, Little Rock, AR (0-2) (Host)

* Won a game by forfeit.

NOTES

Manchester Biscuits, Fargo, ND (Northern) withdrew, could not attend. Western Gravel, San Jose, CA (North Pacific Coast) could not attend.

1948 held in Portland, Oregon.

Champion – Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, Michigan (41-1)
Runner Up – Standard Parts, Memphis, Tennessee

Clarence Miller shutout Briggs Beautyware 2-0 to force the final championship game, which Briggs won 1-0. He only surrendered 8 runs (7 of which came in the very first game). Miller threw 3 consecutive no-hitters in the Regional Tournament that Standard Parts won to gain the national berth. One was an 8-inning perfect game. He had 78 K in the 34 innings he pitched in the Regionals going 5-0. Combining the Nationals, he was 10-2 with 179 K in 93 IP.

Briggs had a trio of hurlers, Gil Weslowski started things off with a no hitter on the first day of play. He finished 2-1, with 35 K in 21 IP. Roger Maceroni was 1-0 with a shutout and a couple of relief appearances. He totaled 12 IP with 13 K. Ed Purroll pitched two games in relief and won both. He was 2-0 with 11 K in 7 IP. After Buck Miller had blanked Detroit 2-0 in the first final, he lost a heartbreaker in the final championship game. Miller had 19 perfect innings until Walt Butkowski doubled in Jerry Zarick with the winning run in a 1-0 finale. Buck Miller got one of the 2 hits that Standard Parts had in the game. The Detroit staff hurled 40 innings and struck out 59 batters. They also had the highest team batting average of any team (.225). Jerry Zarick led the Briggs squad with a .400 average (8-20, including 3 doubles and 4 RBI). Ed “Tyranski” Tyson batted .391 (9-23). Incidently, it was Roger Maceroni who hurled the final game for Detroit. He pitched a 1-0, two-hit shutout and struck out 10.

Grumman from Long Island, NY came into this tournament as the favorite with two of the best pitchers in the country, Roy Stephenson and Jim Chambers. But things didn’t go their way. The pitchers split many of their games. Stephenson (2-0, pitching in all 4 games, he totaled 21 IP, including a no 7-0 hitter with 19 K, and had 45 K total and gave up just 3 total hits and 3 runs), Chambers pitched in 3 games, totaling 22 IP, with 34 K, he only surrendered 4 hits and 4 runs, but was 0-2). Stephenson did however, hit a home Run for the Grumman Yankees.

Al Young, White Front Caseys of Springfield (3-0 pitching with 23 K in 21 IP, leading the Missouri team to a 4th place finish)

• MVP – Clarence “Buck” Miller, Standard Parts
• Batting Leader – Ray Stewart, Chiksan Club – .417
• HR Leader – Roy Palmeri, Briggs Beautyware – 2
• HR Leader – Ashley ‘Monk’ Joyner, Memphis Standard Parts – 2

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Clarence “Buck” Miller, Standard Parts (5-2, 101 Ks in 59 IP – 5 consecutive shutouts-52 consecutive scoreless innings, including a no-hitter)
P – Roy Stephenson, Grumman Aircraft
P – Al Young, Casey’s
P – Roger Maceroni, Briggs Beautyware
C – Ray Stewart, Chicken Company (5-12, 1 RBI)
1B – Jerry Zarick, Briggs Beautyware
2B – Larry Savage, Casey’s
3B – Homer Durden, Grand Prize Beer
SS – Eddie “Tyranski” Tyson, Briggs Beautyware
OF – Roy Palmeri, Briggs Beautyware (6-20, .300, 6 RBI, grand slam, 2 triples)
OF – Ashley “Monk” Joyner, Standard Parts (9 RBI)
OF – Bob Moers, Grand Prize Beer

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Briggs Beautyware, Detroit, MI (5-1) (East Central)
2. Standard Parts, Memphis, TN 6-2 (Southern)
3. Grand Prize Brewery, Houston, TX (3-2) (Southwestern)
4. White Front Caseys, Springfield, MO (4-2) (Western)
5t. Chiksan Club, Brea, CA (2-2) (South Pacific Coast)
5t. Friberg Electric, Portland, OR (2-2) (Host)
7t. Grumman Yankees, Bethpage, NY (2-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
7t. Caribbean Dairy, San Juan, Puerto Rico (1-2) (Atlantic Ocean)
9t. Smithway Rippers, Seattle, WA (1-2) (Northwestern)
9t. Turner’s, Inc., Lafayette, CO (1-2) (Rocky Mountain)
9t. Stockton Eagles, Stockton, CA (1-2) (North Pacific Coast)
9t. Draper Dodgers, Marion, IN (1-2) (West Central)
13t. 20th Century Signs, Bismark, ND (0-2) (Northern)
13t. Vancouver Firemen, Vancouver, BC (0-2) (Canada)
13t. Raybestos Cardinals, Stratford, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic)

*  Won a game by forfeit.

NOTES

Thrifty Beverage, Washington DC (Central Atlantic) did not show up. Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, IN – Defending Champ – chose not to defend their title, they played in the National Softball League. 20th Century Signs, Bismarck, ND went in place of Manchester Biscuits, Fargo, ND, who could not attend. Thrifty Beverage, Washington DC (withdrew, could not attend). Mexico did not send a team to 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 home run and a single. He and Hughie Johnston both ended up with 2 home runs 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 then 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.

1945 held in Cleveland, Ohio.

Champion – Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, Indiana (93-7)
Runner Up – Chicago Match Corporation, Chicago, Illinois

Jim Chambers of Chicago Match was 6-2, 6 shutouts, 2 no hitters in a row, 117 K, 72 IP, gave up a total of 2 runs in 7 games), won first game 1-0, the team then lost to Zollner 6-0 to put them in the loser’s bracket. Chambers went back to the mound and then pitched a 19 inning 2-1 victory with 40 K in the next game, He then shutout his next 4 opponents, including 2 no-hitters, the second one over the Cowboys of Hollister, CA in semifinals 4-0, before losing to Zollner again 1-0 in the final). Chambers had a string of 55 consecutive scoreless innings. Jim Chambers was 50-7 record with 1026 Ks.

Zollner Pistons defeated Chicago Match 2-0 in 10 innings. Curley Armstrong of Zollner Pistons led off the top of the 10th with a HR. Ed Robitalle walked and later scored making the final 2-0, which held up with Bill West on the hill. West had 17 K in the final.

Curley Armstrong, Zollner Pistons had 3 HR.

Bill West, Zollner Pistons (2-0; hurled 10 inning 2-0 shutout in championship w/17 Ks) – total 17 IP, 30 Ks, 3 hits and 0 runs given up. West finished the year 32-0.

Leo Luken, Zollner Pistons (2-0; Won a game in relief 2-1 in the 11th inning and pitched a 7-0 2-hit shutout with 12 Ks). Diz Kirkendall was 1-0, hurling a shutout and striking out 23 total in 17 innings.

Zollner’s won 5 straight games going undefeated with a total run margin of 25-1 in 40 innings. Pistons outhit their rivals 41-12.

Chicago Match Corp. had a team in the men’s and women’s final where the Matchettes lost to the Jax Maids.

Larry Bollig of Denver Public Service was 3-2, 2 no hitters, collecting 32 Ks in the 2 games, he also had 19 more Ks in a 1-0 loss to Grumman.

Roy Stephenson, Grumman Yankees pitched a 13 inning 1-0 shutout and struck out 24 batters. He went 2-2

Future “King and his Court” Superstar Eddie Feigner was the hurler for the Longview, WA team and he went 1-2.

• MVP – Jim Chambers, Chicago Match
• Batting Leader– N/A
• HR Leader – Jim Ramage, Zollner Pistons – 4

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, IN (5-0) (Defending Champs)
2. Chicago Match Corporation, Chicago, IL 6-2 (West Central)
3. Hollister Cowboys, Hollister, CA (3-2) (North Pacific Coast)
4. Grumman Yankees, Bethpage, NY (3-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
5t. Torrence Insurance, Longview, WA (2-2) (Northwestern)
5t. Denver Public Service, Denver, CO (3-2) (Rocky Mountain) *
7t. Slush Pumps, Houston, TX (2-2) (Southwestern
7t. Kavokas Grill, Washington DC (3-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Knights of Columbus, Springfield, MO (1-2) (Western)
9t. Nickel Plate Grill, Cleveland OH (2-2) (Host)
9t. Ferguson Auditors, Columbus, OH (1-2) (East Central)
9t. Jockey Club, Mexico City, MX (1-2) (Mexico) *
13t. Monowatt Electric AC, Providence, RI (0-2) (North Atlantic)
13t. Burtner Furniture, Greensboro, NC (0-2) (Southern)
13t. Funk Jewelers, Phoenix, AZ (0-2) (South Pacific Coast)
13t. Bell Thread, Hamilton, ON (0-2) (Canada)
17. Don Q Rums, San Juan, Puerto Rico (0-2) (Atlantic Ocean) did not show up

* -won a game by forfeit

NOTES

Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament.

1945 held at Lakewood Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio on September 12-17.

Champion – Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, Indiana (72-4)
Runner Up – M&S Orange Beverage Company, Flint, Michigan (50-7)

Charles Justice of M&S Orange was 7-2, 7 shutouts, 74 Ks, 69 IP; lost 1st game of tournament to Zollner’s 3-2, then pitched 7 consecutive shutouts, including the 1-0 victory in the first final. The winning run was scored by Justice himself. They went on to lose in the final championship game 1-0. All total, gave up 4 runs in 9 games and had a streak of 55 scoreless innings. He hurled 49 innings in the the last two days. Justice is listed as the MVP in some sources and Most Valuable Pitcher in other sources. One of Justice’s Shutouts was a combined effort as Percy McCracken started the game and Justice relieved him in the 4th inning, hurling 1-hit ball the rest of the way and Flint scored 4 runs in the top of the 10th to win, giving Justice the 4-0 victory. Justice also hurled a 19 inning 1-0 victory over Tip Top Tailors as Bill Pack hit a HR to win the game. Justice struck 27.

Hughie Johnston, Zollner (6-22, .273, 3 doubles, 3 Runs, 6 RBI). Some newspapers sources said he was the MVP, but the performance of Justice was just too incredible to ignore.

Leo Luken, Zollner Pistons (4-0, 33 K, 28 IP, 3 Shutouts; pitched 1-0 final, beating Charlie Justice). Charlie Justice beat Zollner’s Dizzy Kirkendale 1-0 in first final to force the championship showdown with the Pistons prevailing 1-0 as Chick Goldberg’s base hit scored Neal Barille (6 runs scored, 4 RBIs in the tournament) with the winning run. Detroit went 6-1 to win the event, outscoring their opponents 23-6. Dizzy Kirkendall, Zollner (2-1, 29 K, 24 IP, 1 Shutout).

The Zollner Pistons team won a record 50 straight games during the season in 1945. They finished the season 72-4 and the pitching staff threw 451 scoreless innings out of a possible 464 innings played.

Leo Luken was 35-0 on the year. Luken’s first victory of the tournament was a 1-0 shutout over Phelps-Dodge of New Jersey for the ASA National Industrial Championship. The final was part of the bracket as a play-in game. Kirkendall finished the season 29-3, including 17 straight wins at one point. The Pistons pitching staff of Luken, Kirkendall and Corgan threw 451 scoreless innings out of a total of 464 innings played during the season.

Some sources state that M&S players, Charlie Justice (pitcher), Bobby Wright (catcher) and Bill Hamilton (first base) were named to the All-World Fast Pitch Team by a local publication.

• MVP – Charles Justice, M&S Orange Beverage Company
• Batting Leader – N/A
• HR Leader – N/A

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Zollner Pistons, Fort Wayne, IN (6-1) (West Industrial Champ)
2. M&S Orange Beverage Company, Flint, MI (7-2) (West Central)
3. Stove Machinists, Tacoma, WA (3-2) (Northwestern)
4. O.S. Stapley Hardware, Phoenix, AZ (4-2) (South Pacific Coast)
5t. Tip Top Tailors, Toronto, ON (2-2) (Canada)
5t. Houston Slush Pumps, Houston, TX (2-2) (Southwestern)
7t. Coors Beer, Salt Lake City, UT (2-2) (Rocky Mountain)
7t. Westinghouse, Pittsburgh, PA (2-2) (East Central)
9t. Merced AFB, San Francisco, CA (1-2) (North Pacific Coast)
9t. Ritter’s Dental, Rochester, NY (1-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
9t. Phelps Dodge, Elizabeth, NJ (1-2) (East Industrial Champ)
9t. Monowat Electric, Cranston, RI (1-2) (North Atlantic)
13t. Kavokas Grill, Washington DC (1-2) (Central Atlantic)
13t. DF Giants (Gigantes), Mexico City, MX (0-2) (Mexico)
13t. Buck’s Bar, Omaha, NE (0-2) (Western)
13t. Coast Guard Repair Shop, Miami, FL (0-2) (Southern)
17. Quincy Club, Cleveland, OH (0-2) (Host)

NOTES

Hammer Field Raiders, Fresno, CA – Defending Champs – Disbanded. Westinghouse, Pittsburgh, PA went in place of Old Reliables, Columbus, OH, who could not attend. Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament. Puerto Rico did not attend due to World War II transportation restrictions.