Mike Macenko

Mike Macenko is the greatest home run hitter of all-time, he has hit over 6179 in his storied career. He started out his career in Cleveland, OH playing for such teams as Hillcrest Tavern and Nationwide Advertising Services before going to the Pro League for a year and then onto Steele’s Sports. He played for Sunbelt for a year and Ritch’s-Superior for two years before coming back to Steele’s. Macenko retired in 1998, but decided to make a comeback in 1999 playing for R&D/Nike. He has to his credit, the two greatest single seasons in history (1987 and 1988). These records may never be approached again. He has been a 5-time national championship MVP award winner (2 ASA’s, 2 NSA’s and an ISA). To give you an example of how good this man was, here are some seasonal stats of his career. H was named to the All-World teams an incredible 32 times in his career. He is also a member of 4 of the softball association’s Hall of Fames. He was elected in the ISA Hall of Fame in 1997, the NSA Hall of Fame in 1998, the USSSA Hall of Fame in 1999 and the ASA Hall of Fame in 2006. He along with Don Arndt are the only two players in Softball History to hit over 6000 Home Runs.

Year	G	AB	Hits	HR	RBI	Avg	Ratio	Team 
1973								Brook Park Merchants
1974								Brook Park Merchants
1975								Pesano's Restaurant
1976		128	70	 14	 51	.546	9.14	Hillcrest Tavern (League Only)
1977		162	84	 16	 74	.519	9.95	Hillcrest Tavern (League Only, 15-20, 6 HR, 15 RBI ASA National)
1978		127	69	 21	 61	.543	6.05	Hillcrest Tavern (League Only, - 116 Total HR)
1979		105	56	 21	 62	.533	5.00	Hillcrest Tavern (League Only, 9-11, ASA National - 102 Total HR)
1980		 66	47	 29	 	.712	2.28	NSPC-Hillcrest Tavern (2 Tournaments)
1981	102	394	204	 87	179	.518	4.28	NSPC-Nationwide Advertising
1982	63	250	110	 63	140	.440	3.97	UPSL (PRO) Cleveland Competitors (Regular Season only)
1983	98	455	290	157	319	.637	2.89	Steele's Sports
1984	118	584	368	202	435	.652	2.79	Steele's Sports
1985	186	898	583	315	566	.649	2.85	Steele's Sports
1986	219	1121	798	410	739	.712	2.73	Steele's Sports
1987	350	1940	1444	844	1534	.744	2.30	Steele's Sports
1988	365	2012	1498	830	1667	.745	2.42	Steele's Silver Bullets
1989	230	1118	789	385	882	.706	2.90	Steele's Silver Bullets
1990	231	1044	760	408	899	.728	2.57	Steele's Silver Bullets
1990	 77	389	279	162	316	.717	2.40	Steele's Silver Bullets
1991		398	265	137	284	.666	2.91	Sunbelt/Worth
1992		495	320	168	318	.646	2.95	Steele's/Sunbelt
1993		434	302	147	315	.696	2.95	Steele's/Sunbelt
1994		298	198	114		.664	2.61	Ritch's-Superior
1995		345	218	97		.632	3.56	Ritch's-Superior
1996		296	205	101		.693	2.71	Steele's Hit Men
1997		328	236	109		.720	2.79	Steele's/Reda/Reebok
1998	RETIRED
1999		 65	 46	22		.708	2.95	R&D/Nike
2000								Craig's Hitmen and Budweiser
Total		12103	8850	5142		.725		

INCOMPLETE - Missing early tournament info. Estimated to have well over 6000 HR, most in softball history.

The Greatest Home Run Hitter of ALL TIME – Mike Macenko

http://bigcat844.com

  • Voted into the NSA Hall of Fame in 1997 and Inducted on November 11, 1998 in Tunica, Mississippi.
  • Voted into the ISA Hall of Fame in 1997 and Inducted on December 4, 1998 in Clearwater, Florida (Charter Member).
  • Voted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in 1998 and inducted on November 1999 in Savannah, Georgia.
  • Voted into the ASA Hall of Fame in 2006 and inducted on November 8, 2007 in Louisville, Kentucky
  • Became only the second player in History to make all FOUR Association’s Hall of Fames.
  • Inducted into the State of Ohio ASA Hall Of Fame in 2007 in Columbus, Ohio
  • Inducted into the Greater Cleveland Softball Hall of Fame in 2000 in Cleveland, Ohio
  • Inducted into the Brunswick, Ohio Sports Hall Of Fame in 2002
  • Inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall Of Fame in 2010
  • Inducted into the State of Ohio USSSA Hall of Fame in 2012

  • Hammered almost 7000 Home Runs in 25 seasons (averages out to about 247 Home Runs per year). – MOST of All Time.
  • 1977 ASA Men’s Open National Batting Champion. – Was 15-20, for a .750 Batting Average.
  • 1981 National Slow Pitch Conference (NSPC) “HR and RBI King” – Had 46 HRs with 94 RBIs. Selected to First Team All-Conference as a Second Basemen.
  • 1986 Started NSA World Series with 21 Straight Hits – Selected as the World Series MVP.
  • 1986 Blasted 430 ft. Home Run in Denver’s Mile High Stadium.
  • 1987 Crushed a 508-foot Tape Measure Home Run in Las Vegas, NV.
  • 1987 Seattle Kingdome “Home Run Contest-King”.
  • 1987 Went 172 games in a row with at least one hit.
  • 1987 Launched 844 HRs (set NATIONAL RECORD). – Had 1534 RBIs and batted .744.
  • 1988 Pounded 830 more HRs in 1988 – Had 1667 RBIs with a .745 Batting Average.
  • 1988 ISA World Series “Home Run King” – Was 23-25, .920 Batting Average and 13 HRs.
  • 1988 Busted 10 Home Runs in one game (set NATIONAL RECORD).
  • 1988 Drove in 1687 runs (RBIs) in one year (set NATIONAL RECORD).
  • 1988 Cracked 16 Home Runs in a Doubleheader in West Palm Beach, FL.
  • 1988 Cranked 12 Home runs in consecutive at bats on the same tournament.
  • 1988 Hit 5 Homers in one game completely out of Jacksonville, FL Minor League Stadium.
  • 1989 Olympic Festival “Home Run King” – had 14 HRs in just six games.
  • 1990 NSA World Series “Home Run King” – Was 24-29, .828 Batting Average and 16 HRs.
  • 1993 ISA World Series “Home Run King” – Was 21-28, .750 Batting Average and 14 HRs.
  • 1993 Smoky Mountain Classic “Home Run King” – Had 17 HRs and 33 RBIs.
  • 1994 Rocketed two balls on top of the roof in right field at Detroit Tiger’s Stadium and actually hit one ball completely out of the stadium but it was just foul.

  • Smoky Mountain Classic Most Valuable Player 1986 – Maryville, Tennessee (22-31, .710, 11 HRs, 20 RBIs)
  • Smoky Mountain Classic Most Valuable Player 1987- Maryville, Tennessee (29-34, .853, 21 HRs, 39 RBIs)
  • Gateway Classic Most Valuable Player 1984 – St. Louis, Missouri (25-30, .833, 13 HRs, 35 RBIs)
  • Gateway Classic Most Valuable Player 1985 – St. Louis, Missouri (20-26, .769, 14 HRs, 32 RBIs)
  • Gateway Classic Most Valuable Player 1996 – St. Louis, Missouri (32-36, .889, 14 HRs, 35 RBIs)
  • Cleveland Stroh’s Tourney MVP 1979 – Cleveland, Ohio (15-24, .625, 12 HRs, 22 RBIs)
  • Coors/Steele’s Classic Most Valuable Player 1985 – Cleveland, Ohio (22-29, .759, 14 HRs, 36 RBIs)
  • Coors/Steele’s Classic Most Valuable Player 1990 – Cleveland, Ohio (20-27, .741, 12 HRs, 26 RBIs)
  • York, Pennsylvania NSPC Tourney MVP 1981- York, Pennsylvania (10-15, .667, 8 HRs)
  • East Detroit, Michigan NSPC Qualifier MVP 1981 – Detroit, Michigan (23-27, .852, 12 HRs, 27 RBIs)
  • Cleveland, Ohio NSPC Qualifier 1981 MVP – Willoughby, Ohio (8 HRs)
  • Dudley USSSA NIT Classic Most Valuable Player 1987 Petersburg, Virginia
  • Tullahoma, Tennessee USSSA NIT MVP 1991 – Tullahoma, Tennessee
  • Demarini Classic MVP ASA Qualifier 1995 – Portland, Oregon
  • Fort Wayne Classic MVP 1983 – Ft. Wayne, Indiana
  • Cincinnati Shootout USSSA NIT 1990 MVP – Cincinnati, Ohio
  • East Carolina Classic USSSA NIT MVP 1987 – Wilson, North Carolina

  • NSA World Series MVP 1986 – Houston, Texas (27-31, .871, 15 HRs, 24 RBIs) – also the Batting Leader
  • ASA Super National Championship MVP 1987- Parma, Ohio (27-36, .750, 12 HRs, 26 RBIs) – also the Batting Leader
  • ISA World Series MVP 1987- Greensboro, North Carolina (27-37, .730, 15 HRs, 24 RBIs)
  • ASA Super Nationals MVP 1990- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (27-31, .871, 18 HRs, 34 RBIs, 29 Runs)
  • NSA World Series MVP 1990 – Cleveland, Ohio (24-29, .828, 16 HRs, 23 RBIs, 21 Runs) – 8 HRs in final game

  • When Mike hit 844 HRs, he officially was put into the Guinness Book Of World Records.
  • Retired with a lifetime Batting Average of .721
  • Retired with over 6000 documented Home Runs. Estimated to be close to 7000.
  • Unanimous Selection to All-American/All-World Team 34 times
  • National/World Tournament 5 times
  • Member of 18 National/World Super/Major Championship teams.
  • Led Steele’s to 143 consecutive wins in 1990 season.
  • Member of 4 National Softball Hall of Fames.

MIKE MACENKO HALL OF FAME INFORMATION

The first former member of the Steele’s Silver Bullets elected to the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame, Mike Macenko had a slow pitch career that will be difficult to duplicate let alone surpass. During his 26 years, (starting in 1974) Mike (6-foot-3, in excess of 260 pounds) slammed more than 6,000 home runs, earning ASA All-America honors 11 times including two MVP Awards (1987 and 1990). He was an ASA All-American in 1977, 1984-1988, 1990, 1991, 1993-94. Born November 21, 1955 in Brook Park, Ohio, Mike started his career playing for the Brook Park Merchants in 1973 and caught the eye of Pesano’s manager, Dave Neale, in 1975, who saw Mike in a home-run derby in Lakewood, Ohio and asked him to play for a team he was managing in Cleveland. Mike played for Neale’s team, Hillcrest Tavern from 1976-1980, Nationwide Advertising in 1981 and the Cleveland Competitors in 1982 before joining Steele’s in 1983 through 1990. Mike was a member of five ASA national championship teams. In 1991 Mike joined Sunbelt-Worth before going back to Steele’s-Sunbelt in 1991 and playing another season. In 1994-1995 Mike played for Ritch’s-Superior before joining the Steele’s Hit Men in 1996 and 1997. Mike retired in 1998 but playing briefly in 1999 for R&D/Nike before deciding to retire for good after the 2000 season. Mike had some outstanding seasons for Steele’s and his back-to-back seasons in 1987 and 1988 may never be duplicated. In 1987, he smashed 844 homers and drove in 1,534 runs to go along with a .744 batting average. He followed that season with 830 homers and 1,667 RBIs with a .745 batting average. One of only two players (Don Arndt is the other) to hit more than 6,000 homers in a career and between 1983-1997 hit 4,411 and batted .702 (8,227 hits in 11,720 at-bats). In 1986-1987, he was named MVP of the Smoky Mountain Classic, annually the best men’s invitational slow pitch tournament in America. In 1989, when softball made its debut in the U.S. Olympic Festival (first and only time), Mike batted .568 (21-for-37) and led the festival in homers and total bases (69) in leading the East team. During the 1987-88 seasons, Mike put up some impressive numbers: 12 including nine homers in one game (1987); 16 homers in a doubleheader (1988); 4 homers in one inning (twice in 1987); he had 3 homers in an inning 11 times; five hits in one inning (1987); he had four hits in an inning four times; 17 RBI in one game (twice in 1987); 10 RBI in one inning (on a grand slam and two three-run shots in 1987); 5 home runs in one game out of a minor league baseball park; 12 consecutive homers in 1988; had 11 in a row in 1987; 172 games in a row with at least one hit (1987) and 29 hits in a row, including 14 homers (1987); he had 10 or more consecutive hits a total of 29 times. In 1987, Macenko hit a ball into the media parking lot outside the Las Vegas Softball Complex that was measured at 508 feet. During a 1993 exhibition, he hit 16 of 47 pitches over the fence at the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium, including a 430-foot blast into right-centerfield. Mike is the 31st slow pitch player elected to the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame.

Name Mike Macenko, Position Male Player, Year 1999

http://hof.usssa.com/images/fame/Macenko.jpg

Mike Macenko was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame in the Male Player Category. Mike started his career with the USSSA in 1982 with the legendary Steele’s team that crisscrossed the country barnstorming tours in an effort to promote the game of slow pitch softball. He was a feared power hitter with a lifetime batting average of over .600 while batting .541 in USSSA Men’s Major World Series play. In 1987 he set the single season record with an amazing 844 home runs and astounded thousands at Detroit’s Tiger Stadium by hitting a softball out of the stadium during a home run hitting contest. Participating in 17 USSSA Men’s Major World Series, he was a member of the All World Teams at the USSSA Men’s Major World Series in 1989 and again in 1994.

Mike Macenko Player Category, November 1998

Inducted in the NSA Hall of Fame in the Player Category. A native of Brookpark, OH, Mike Macenko is the greatest home run hitter in the history of slow pitch softball. In 27 years of softball, 25 of them in the country’s highest level, Mike hit 7,000 home runs. In 1987 alone, he hit 844 home runs and in 1988 he hit 830, the two greatest seasons by far that any softball player ever enjoyed. A six-foot, three-inch behemoth who tipped the scales at 285 pounds in his playing days, Macenko grew up in Brook Park where he began playing softball in 1973 at the age of 16 with Tom Coyne’s team in the Brook Park Men’s League. Mike joined Steele’s Sports at the age of 18 and continued a 20-year association with teams managed by John and Dave Neale. Steele Sports, a sporting goods firm in Grafton, Ohio, which traveled the country taking on all comers in the ancient tradition of “barnstorming” played more than 100 games a year. In 1986 Sports Illustrated featured them in a story headlined “Men of Steele,” which can be found on Macenko’s web site. He was the most valuable player of five different national tournaments. He was named

Mike Macenko

https://playisasports.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/mike-macenko.jpg

Mike Macenko was inducted into the ISA Hall of Fame in Player Category in 1998 in Clearwater, Florida. The Cleveland area native had a long and illustrious career at the top level of softball. He played with national softball powerhouses, Steele’s of Brook Park, OH, and Rithc’s-Superior/TPS from Windsor Locks, Connecticut. The “Big Cat” also played one season with Sunbelt of Centerville, Georgia in 1991 when Steele’s did not field a team. Macenko played on 3 ISA World Championship Teams, was named the MVP of the 1987 series and has been named to 6 All-World Teams. He also holds the record for highest batting average in the ISA World Series with a .920 percentage.

Mike Macenko, Induction Year: 2010, Sport: Softball

He is the greatest home run hitter in the history of slow pitch softball. In 27 years of softball, 25 of them in the country’s highest level, Mike Macenko hit 7,000 home runs. Only one other player in the world ever hit as many as 6,000. In 1987 alone, he hit 844 home runs and in 1988 he hit 830, the two greatest seasons by far that any softball player ever enjoyed.

A six-foot, three-inch behemoth who tipped the scales at 285 pounds in his playing days, Macenko grew up in Brook Park where he began playing softball in 1973 at the age of 16 with Tom Coyne’s team in the Brook Park Men’s League. “In my first game, my first four times up, I hit four home runs. As I rounded third base after the fourth home run, Tom Coyne said, ‘You’ve got to sign this.’ It was a contract,” Macenko recalled. Two years later Mike was recruited by John Neale, manager of Number One Lounge, one of the powerhouse teams in the PD-Major League.

“Do you want to come to Pittsburgh with us this weekend to play softball?” Neale said to him. “I’ve got to ask my mother,” said Mike, who was 18 years old. Mike’s mother gave him the green light and Tom Coyne gave him his release and Mike began a 20-year association with teams managed by John and Dave Neale. Fourteen of those years were with Steele Sports, a sporting goods firm in Grafton, Ohio, which traveled the country taking on all comers in the ancient tradition of “barnstorming.” They played more than 100 games a year. In 1986 Sports Illustrated featured them in a story headlined “Men of Steele,” which can be found on Macenko’s web site.

He was the most valuable player of five different national tournaments. He was named to 34 different all-world teams and was inducted into five different softball halls of fame. He lives in Brunswick and sells sporting goods on line.

Inductee Bio

Pos: 2B

Bats: Left – Throws: Right

Years: 1973-2000′s

Teams:

Pesano’s Restaurant, Hillcrest Tavern, Nationwide Advertising,

Cleveland Competitiors (Pro), Steeles Sports

65 National Tournament

18 National Championships

34 All World Selections

All Decade Team 1980′s

2388_001

Cleveland was the “Softball Capital of the World,” according to Buddy Langdon, a legendary softball player in the 1950s and ’60s and also the man behind the construction of the Greater Cleveland Slow Pitch Softball Hall of Fame. Cleveland gained that reputation for a reason. “The competition around here was the best in the country,” Macenko said. Cleveland sent whichever team won the city tournament every year to the world tournament. In 1976, ’77, and ’78, Macenko was on what he believed was the best team in the city. But all three years his team failed to qualify for the world tournament. Why? At that time, there was parity in softball, and with all the talent in town, any team could win with a key hit or defensive play at the right time.

Ten Inducted to Inaugural Ohio USSSA Softball Hall of Fame

Columbus, Ohio.  Almost 200 family and friends of softball welcomed ten Ohio softball legends as the inaugural members to the newly established Ohio USSSA Softball Hall of Fame.

Ceremonies were held on Sunday, 9 December 2012, at the Embassy Suites – Columbus Airport and all who participated were thrilled to be on hand for the start of this new tradition in Ohio.

Mike Macenko started his career with the USSSA in 1982 with the legendary Steele’s team that crisscrossed the country barnstorming tours in an effort to promote the game of slow pitch softball. He was a feared power hitter who in 1987 he set the single season record with an amazing 844 home runs and astounded thousands at Detroit’s Tiger Stadium by hitting a softball out of the stadium during a home run hitting contest.

Speaking on Mike’s behalf, longtime friend, coach, and business partner, Dennis Helmig of Worth Sports, spoke of Mike’s early days with Steele’s Sports, both as possibly the greatest left-handed hitter he ever saw, but someone who really helped get Steele’s Sports on the softball merchandise map.

For his part, Mike gave many thanks to USSSA, to the many sponsors who have helped along the way, to his family which supported many softball dreams both on and off the field.  He admitted to being thankful for having the talent to get paid to play but also admitted that his love for the game outweighed any payments which may have come his way.  Although a member of multiple Softball Halls of Fame, he concluded by thanking Ohio USSSA for creating this new tradition right here in Ohio where it all started and where he spent so many years enjoying the game.

http://www.bigcat844.com/images/40-halloffame-504.jpg

Breaking Charles Wright’s record of 503 HRs in a Season. Being Congratulated by his long-time teammate and very close friend, Craig Elliott. The record he set in 1987 of 844 HRs still stands.

http://www.bigcat844.com/images/40-halloffame-competitors.jpg

Look at their smiles, these two legends felt joy for everything that the other one accomplished in this sport. They were each other’s greatest fan. Between the two of them, they may have won over 5000 games and had at least 10,000 Home Runs total. When they played together, the chances of winning were that good …. Is it any wonder they are smiling? They were VERY close friends.

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