Softball History USA

1951 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1951 held at Portland, Oregon.

Champion – Orange Lionettes, Orange, California
Runner Up – Betsy Ross Rockets, Fresno, California

Pat Collins, Lionettes (with only one hit in 8 at bats in the game, she made it count as she drove in winning run with a hit in the 20th inning to win the Championship). The Lionettes scored their first run on an error in the second inning. Then in the 4th inning, Kay Rich smacked a double and then tied the score on Irene Huber’s hit. The score stayed that way until the 20th inning when Collins clutch hit scored Joann McLachlin with the winning run. Ruth Sears of the Lionettes was 3-8 in the final game

Jo Nelson (2-1) and Florence Root (2-1) pitched the Dieselettes to a 4-2 record and third place.

Hazel Lane, American Lithofolders (3-0, 22 IP, 17 Ks)

Bertha Ragan-Tickey of Orange Lionettes hurled 143 consecutive scoreless innings during the season. in the 12 years she has been pitching, she has 205 shutouts of which 96 have been no-hitters. Three of those were perfect games.  She also had accumulated 4320 Strikeouts. That is an average of 360 per year.

  • MVP – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes
  • HR Leader – 13 players tied with 1 HR
  • Batting Leader – Mary Gilpin, Schrader Company – .545

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes (5-0, including the 20 inning 2-1 championship game clincher, had 22 K in the game, total of 60 K in 48 IP)
P – Virginia “Ginny” Busick, Fresno Rockets (4-1, 51 IP, 55 K, started the final game, went 14 innings giving up only the one unearned run, before exiting the game.)
P – Margie Law, Phoenix Ramblers (3-1, 29 IP, 51 K)
C – Betty Schlegel, Fresno Rockets
1B – Ruth Sears, Orange Lionettes (7-20, .350)
2B – Shirley Coney, Caterpillar Dieselettes
3B – Dorothy Naples, Schrader Company
SS – Kay Rich, Fresno Rockets
OF – Carolyn Thome, Caterpillar Dieselettes
OF – Mary Gilpen, Schrader Company (6-11, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 Runs)
OF – JoAnn McLachlan, Orange Lionettes

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Orange Lionettes, Orange, CA (5-0) (Defending Champ)
2. Betsy Ross Rockets, Fresno, CA (4-2) (North Pacific Coast)
3. Caterpillar Dieselettes, Peoria, IL (4-2) (West Central)
4. PBSW Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (4-2) (Rocky Mountain)
5t. American Lithofolders, Detroit, MI (4-2) (Host)
5t. Wooten Motors Motorettes, Fort Worth, TX (2-2) (Texas)
7t. Hall-Maytag Girls, St. Petersburg, FL (2-2) (Southern)
7t. Schrader’s Company Lamos, Cleveland, OH (2-2) (East Central)
9t. Goetz Girls, St. Joseph’s, MO (2-2) (Western)
9t. Ace Bowlers, Toronto, ON (1-2) (Canada)
9t. Lynx, Buena Park, CA (1-2) (South Pacific Coast)
9t. Victor’s Market, Minneapolis, MN (1-2) (Northern)
13t. Building Trades Council, Baton Rouge, LA (0-2) (Southwestern)
13t. Cardinalettes, Pottstown, PA (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
13t. Holling Debs, Buffalo, NY (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
13t. Hartford Laurelettes, Hartford, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic)
17. Green Jackets, Bremerton, WA (0-2) (Northwestern)

1951 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1951 held at 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 52 Ks 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’s. 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.

By the way, 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 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
UTIL – 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 NSC Women’s Fast Pitch World Tournament

1950 held at Phoenix, Arizona.

Champion – Funk Jewelry Gems, Phoenix, Arizona
Runner Up – A-1 Queens, Phoenix, Arizona (110-29)

Carolyn Morris of Funk Jewelry hurled a 1-0 shutout in the final championship game to defeat her former team, A-1 Queens for the NSC title. Morris was awarded the Outstanding Pitcher Award as she went 5-0 in the tournament, including three shutouts and only gave up two runs in the entire tournament. Morris beat her old friend and teammate Charlotte Armstrong of the A-1 Queens, who gave up only the only run of the game in the first inning on a Mildred Dixons single that scored Mearle Keagle from second.

Keagle had started off the game with an infield hit and stole second before scoring. She was the only runner to steal a base of Queens catcher and tournament MVP Lois Williams.

Williams had a brilliant tournament behind the plate and also delivered some big hits from her clean-up spot in the batting order.

Alma Wilson was the batting champ as she started off with a 2 for 3 effort in the first game, including a run scoring single and then later, a grand slam home run.

  • MVP Award – Lois Williams, A-1 Queens (Brilliant defensive play at the Catcher position clutch hits from clean-up spot)
  • Outstanding Pitcher – Carolyn Morris, Funk Gems (5-0, including 1-0 shutout in championship, she had 2 other shutouts as well)
  • Leading Hitter – Alma Wilson, Sooner Queens (3-2 pitching, not much info on batting, Grand Slam, single, 5 RBI)
  • Miss Softball Award – Dodie Nelson, A-1 Queens (Outfielder, played entire tournament with dislocated kneecap and still made all world)

1950 NSC ALL WORLD TEAM

P – Charlotte Armstrong, Phoenix A-1 Queens (4-2)
P – Carolyn Morris, Phoenix Funk Gems (5-0)
P – Annabelle ‘Mugsy’ Walker, Denver Industrial Bank (1-2)
C – Kay Rohrer, Phoenix Funk Gems
C – Lois Williams, Phoenix A-1 Queens
1B – Theda Tee Marshall, Phoenix Funk Gems
2B – Margie Yetman, Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens
3B – Mildred Dixon, Phoenix Funk Gems
SS – Nancy Ito, Denver Industrial Bank
OF – Merle Keagle, Phoenix Funk Gems
OF – Dottie Myers, Phoenix Funk Gems
OF – Dodie Nelson, Phoenix A-1 Queens
UTIL – Alice Jorgensen, Seattle Epicures (2-2)
UTIL – Alma Wilson, Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens (3-2)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Funk Jewelry Gems, Phoenix, AZ (5-0)
2. A-1 Queens, Phoenix, AZ (4-2)
3. Lorelei Ladies, Atlanta, GA (4-2) *
4. Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens, Oklahoma City, OK (3-2)
5t. Van Food Mart, West Allis, WI (2-2)
5t. Seattle Epicures, Seattle, WA (2-2)
7t. Texas Bells, Breckenridge, TX (1-2) *
7t. Industrial Bankers, Denver, CO (1-2)
9t. Sunshine Girls, Tucson, AZ (0-2)
9t. Agriculture Assoc. Hybrid Chicks, DeKalb, IL (0-2)
9t. Miller & Miller Freight, Wichita Falls, TX (0-2)
9t. Ringsby Truck Lines, Grand Junction, CO (0-2) (forfeit)

* includes 1 forfeit win

1950 ISC Men’s Fast Pitch World Tournament

1950 held at Greeley, Colorado on September 2-11.

Champion – Hoak Packers, Fresno, California
Runner Up – Kings, Hanford, California

This was the final NSC tournament held in Greeley (CO). The ISL was created in December, 1950 by Carrol Forbes and in 1951 the inaugural ISL tournament was held in
Greeley (CO).

At this 1950 NSC tournament, Hoak Packers were unbeaten, winning 5 games, allowing 7 runs while scoring 16 runs. Their first 3 wins were by one run and the lone shutout they recorded was in the 3-0 final over Hanford Kings.

The first woman manager of an NSC world tournament team made her debut in this tournament. Mrs. Ruth Mohr took control of the Marchese team at mid-season and
guided her club to the metro, district, and state championships to qualify for the world tournament. The team lost its final game on Red Denham’s (Crane) no-hitter.

  • Cleo Goyette Memorial MVP Award – Red Denham, Gulf Oilers
  • Leroy Zimmerman Memorial Pitching Award – LeRoy Zimmerman, Hoak Packers
  • Leading Hitter – Bill Heard, Kings – .429
  • Most RBI – N/A

1950 ISC FIRST TEAM ALL WORLD

P – Bill Buckley, Kings, Hanford
P – Les Haney, Hoak Packers
C – Whitey Becknell, Kings
C – Hal Britton, Hoak Packers
IF – Leonard Francis, Hoak Packers
IF – Herman Hoff, Wells Motors
IF – Rusty Stewart, Gulf Oilers
IF – Bing Bingston, Hoak Packers
OF – Ray Maegher, Hoak Packers
OF – Bill Heard, Kings, Hanford
OF – Vance Adams, Deal Motors
UTIL – Jim Livingston, Grever Truck Lines
UTIL – Ray Curtiss, Wells Motors

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Hoak Packers, Fresno, CA
2. Kings, Hanford, CA
3. Grever Truck Lines, Tulsa, OK
4. Wells Motors, Greeley, CO
5t. Gulf Oilers, Crane, TX
5t. Deal Motors, El Paso, TX
7t. Eales, Bryan, OH
7t. Brandies, Rock Island, IL
9t. Fisher-Hess Pontiac, Ogden, UT
9t. Snow Jewelers, Clinton, OK
9t. Double Seven, Phoenix, AZ
9t. Hast Lumber, Denver, CO
13t. Juds, Johnstown, CO
13t. Marchese Bros., Milwaukee, WI
13t. Eagles, Cheyenne, WY
13t. Stoutamire Garage, Gainesville, FL
17t. Horton Mfg., Fort Wayne, IN
17t. Motors, Cochituate, MA

1950 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1950 held in San Antonio, Texas on September 18-22.

Champion – Orange Lionettes, Orange, California (67-9)
Runner Up – Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, Arizona

In the championship game, Margie Law went 5 innings for Ramblers, then Amy Peralta finished the game for the Ramblers, hurling the last 9 innings. Ragan had a big RBI single. She hurled 9 no-hitters during the season.

Jean Hull, Orange Lionettes (8-21, .381, 4 Runs). Sears was 4-7 in the championship game.

Virginia Dobson, Arizona (11-29, .378, 5 Runs)

Amy Peralta May, Arizona Ramblers (3-2, 20 K, beat Bertha Ragan 1-0 in 11 inning to force final)

Margie Law and Billie Harris (3-7) both had good games for the Ramblers. Pitcher Margie Law won the game in the 17th inning when her double drove in the games only run. The Ramblers had to play 44 innings of consecutive softball in the end of the tournament.

Diesellettes Lucille Eslinger was 2-0 for the Dieselettes. One of her wins was a combined no hitter with Marie Wadlow as Eslinger got the win.

  • MVP – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes
  • HR Leader – N/A
  • Batting Leader – Margaret Dobson, Erv Lind Florist – .615

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes (5-1, 76 K, 54 IP, 2 no hitters, perfect game; 4 shutouts, 38 consecutive scoreless innings, only gave up 2 runs, and won 3-1 in a 15 inning final.)
P – Marie Wadlow, Caterpillar Dieselettes (2-2, All America Team), retired after tournament and received a special award for the person that has contributed the most to women’s softball.
P – Margie Law, Phoenix Ramblers (2-0) beat Marie Wadlow, Peoria (2-2, 26 K); 1-0 in 17 innings, each had 10 K.
C – Dot Wilkinson, Phoenix Ramblers
1B – Ruth Sears, Orange Lionettes (11-28, .393, 6 Runs)
2B – Shirley Coney, Caterpillar Dieselettes
3B – Margaret Dobson, Erv Lind Florists (8-13, 6 runs scored)
SS – Beverly Connors, Orange Lionettes
OF – Carolyn Thome, Caterpillar Dieselettes (9-23, .391, 5 Runs)
OF – Thelma Paris, Erv Lind Florists
OF – Pat Collins, Orange Lionettes

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Orange Lionettes, Orange, CA (5-1) (South Pacific Coast)
2. Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (5-2) (Defending Champ)
3. Caterpillar Dieselettes, Peoria, IL (4-2) (West Central)
4. Holling Debs, Buffalo, NY (2-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
5t. Hall-Maytag Girls, St. Petersburg, FL (3-2) (Southern)
5t. Capital Chevrolet, Denver, CO (3-2) (Rocky Mountain)
7t. Erv Lind Florists, Portland, OR (2-2) (Northwestern)
7t. Carano Construction, Springfield, OH (2-2) (East Central)
9t. Building Trades Council, Baton Rouge, LA (1-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Wooten Motors Motorettes, Fort Worth, TX (1-2) (Texas)
9t. Raybestos Brackettes, Stratford, CT (1-2) (North Atlantic)
9t. Thompson Motors, San Antonio, TX (0-2) (Host)
13t. Kansas City Dons, Kansas City, MO (0-2) (Western)
13t. Garvin’s Grill, Washington, DC (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
13t. Twinetees, Fargo, ND (0-2) (Northern)

NOTES

North Pacific Coast Champ – Betsy Ross Rockets, Fresno, CA (decided not to attend). Canada Champ – Clayton’s Department Store, Toronto, ON (could not attend).

1950 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1950 held at 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 dual 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 their 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 NSC Women’s Fast Pitch World Tournament

1949 held at Phoenix, Arizona.

Champion – A-1 Queens, Phoenix, Arizona (121-42)
Runner Up – Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Charlotte Armstrong’s 1-hit shutout won the 2nd and deciding game 6-0. Dot Myers had the big blow, a 3-run HR.

A-1 Queens win was so dominant, the numbers are mind boggling. They were 8-0, the runner-up was 7-6. The run differential was 41-3, 13 runs more than the closest team and 10 runs less than the closest team. Their two pitchers, Carolyn Morris and Charlotte Armstrong were both 4-0 with 3 shutouts each. Morris gave up 1 run and Armstrong 2.

The talk of the tournament was the MVP pitcher from Oklahoma City Sooner Queens, Alma Wilson, who pitched every single inning of the tournament for the Sooner girls, 88 consecutive innings and went 7-6 in the event.

Diane Holder won the Miss Softball Award as her team came from Los Angeles with just 9 players, causing her to pitch all 42 innings for the squad.

Alice Jorgensen was 2-2 on the mound for the Seattle Epicures and also won the batting title with a .412 average.

  • MVP Award – Alma Wilson, Sooner Queens (7-6, pitched all 13 games, 88 consecutive innings, had 4 shutouts)
  • Outstanding Pitcher – Carolyn Morris, A-1 Queens (4-0, 28 IP, 3 shutouts)
  • Leading Hitter – Alice Jorgensen, Seattle Epicures (7-17, also 2-2 pitching) – .412
  • Miss Softball Award – Diane Holder, Los Angeles Arden Farms (Pitcher, 1-3 record, team came with 9 players, she hurled all 42 innings)

1949 NSC ALL WORLD TEAM

P – Charlotte Armstrong, Phoenix A-1 Queens (4-0)
P – Lottie Jackson, Jax Brewer Maids (3-2)
P – Carolyn Morris, Phoenix A-1 Queens (4-0)
C – Alice Jorgensen, Seattle Epicures
C – Lois Williams, Phoenix A-1 Queens
1B – Flossie Ballard, Phoenix A-1 Queens
2B – Margie Yetman, Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens
3B – Betty Giertz, Phoenix A-1 Queens
SS – Kay Rohrer, Jax Brewer Maids
OF – Jane Skeeter Eden, Erin Brews
OF – Dottie Myers, Phoenix A-1 Queens
OF – Dodie Nelson, Phoenix A-1 Queens
UTIL – Hazel Gill, Jax Brewer Maids
UTIL – Alma Wilson, Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens (7-6)
UTIL – Diane Holder, Los Angeles Arden Farms (1-3)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. A-1 Queens, Phoenix, AZ (8-0)
2. Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens, Oklahoma City, OK (7-6)
3. Jax Brewery Maids, New Orleans, LA (3-4)
4. Seattle Epicures, Seattle, WA (3-4)
5t. Erin Brews, Cleveland, OH (3-3)
5t. Arden Farms, Los Angeles, CA (1-3)
7t. Superettes, Rock Island, IL (1-3)
7t. Martin Maids, West Allis, WI (0-3)

* winners bracket games were all best of 3 series

1949 ISC Men’s Fast Pitch World Tournament

1949 held at Greeley, Colorado on September 3-11.

Champion – Kings, Hanford, California
Runner Up – Roundup Bar, Somerton, Arizona

A 20-inning game was played between Toronto’s Dalton Furs & El Paso’s Deal Motors. Cam Ecclestone (Toronto) set the strikeout mark (30) for a game but lost to Paul Lopez 1-0. Both records (longest game & strikeouts) would stand for 18 years until broken by Vern Mauch of Colorado in 1967.

In an earlier game between Taft (3rd) and runner-up Somerton, the game went 16 innings and ended with a steal of home by Somerton 3rd baseman Herman Frauenfelder
for a 1-0 final.

In a game between Gainesville and Taft, Les Haney (Taft) struck out 15 consecutive batters from the 2nd through 6th innings.

Jess Cornwell of Greeley no-hit the Churubusco team from Indiana.

The tournament director for this NSC event was Carrol Forbes who would break with the NSC in December, 1950 and form another organization, the ISL.

  • Cleo Goyette Memorial MVP Award – Paul Thomas, Streit’s Bicycle Shop
  • Leroy Zimmerman Memorial Pitching Award – Kenny Law, Roundup Bar
  • Leading Hitter – Dave Lott, Anderson Sporting Goods – .519
  • Most RBI – N/A

1949 ISC FIRST TEAM ALL WORLD

P – Kenny Law, Roundup Bar (5-2, 57 IP, 35 H, 5 ER, 83 K, 35 BB)
P – Bill Buckley, Kings (2-0, 14 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 18 K, 0 BB)
C – Wes Priest, Shamrocks (2-1, 31 IP, 10 H, 1 ER, 46 K, 3 BB)
C – Charles Morris, Shamrocks .190
IF – Whitey Becknell, Kings .000
IF – Jack Reid, Roundup Bar .310
IF – Jerry Cahoon, Roundup Bar .222
IF – Fred Viera, Kings .214
OF – Don Allen, Bluebonnet Laundry .455
OF – Dom Farruzzi, Kings .462
OF – Dave Lott, Roundup Bar .519
UTIL – Lou Ferrero, Kings .467
UTIL – Bud Manchester, Streit’s Bicycle Shop .200 (5 RBI)
UTIL – Jim Livingston, Tulsa .333

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Kings, Hanford, CA
2. Roundup Bar, Somerton, AZ
3. Shamrocks, Taft, CA
4. Grever Truck Lines, Tulsa, OK
5t. Streit’s Bicycle Shop, Gainesville, FL
5t. Rudy & Headland, Salt Lake City, UT
7t. Bluebonnet Laundry, Lubbock, TX
7t. Deal Motors, El Paso, TX
9t. Wells Motors, Greeley, CO
9t. Oilers, Madill, OK
9t. Fred Ward All-Stars, Denver, CO
9t. All-Stars, Stamford, TX
13t. Dalton Furs, Toronto, ON
13t. Leitch Hardware, Churubusco, IN
13t. Gulf Oilers, Crane, TX
13t. American Legion, Windsor, CO
17t. Western Floors, Cheyenne, WY

1949 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1949 held at Portland, Oregon.

Champion – Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, Arizona
Runner Up – Erv Lind Florists, Portland, Oregon

Amy Peralta-May of the Arizona Ramblers went 3-0, 1 shutouts, pitched 2-1 one-hitter with a save from Margie Law in 7th to win championship. Virginia Dobson had 3 hits to lead the Ramblers. Peralta was 3-0 in the tournament and hurled a no hitter, gave up only 1 unearned run and 2 hits during the tournament in 20 innings pitched. She also had 2 hits, including a HR in the 7-0 no hitter game). Peralta beat Peoria and Marie Wadlow in a 1-0 pitchers dual. Wadlow Struck out 11 to no avail. In Peralta’s 2-1 one-hit game to win the title, Thelma Parrish was the losing pitcher and got the only hit of Peralta.

Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes (2-1, 42 K, 25 IP, Shutout, gave up 3 runs and 6 hits, She had 35 shutouts and 11 no hitters on the year).

Kay Rich, Fresno Rockets (8-18, .444, 2 HR, 3 RBI).

Margie Law, Arizona (2-0, 1 save, 2 shutouts, gave up no runs and 5 hits in 15 innings).

Fran Ford, Boise Chicks (3-2).

Erv Lind- Doris Barrett (1-1, no hitter), Bev Meissen (3-0), Thelma Parrish (1-1), Toots Shotwell – all pitched for The Florist as Betty Evans signed a contract in August to play pro ball with the Chicago Queens and became ineligible to play ASA.

  • MVP – Roberta Mulkey, Erv Lind Florists
  • HR Leader – Roberta “Robbie” Mulkey, Erv Lind Florist – 4
  • Batting Leader – Josie Buban, Goetz Girls (5-9) – .556

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Amy Peralta-May, Phoenix Ramblers
P – Margie Law, Phoenix Ramblers
P – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Orange Lionettes
C – Dot Wilkinson, Phoenix Ramblers
1B – Roberta “Robbie” Mulkey, Erv Lind Florists (9-27, .333, 4 HR, 7 RBI) also won 2 games with extra inning homers.
2B – Betty Harris, Phoenix Ramblers
3B – Margaret Dobson, Erv Lind Florists
SS – Kay Rich, Fresno Rockets
OF – Alberta “Blondie” Huber, Boise Chicks (7-13, .538, 3 3B, 2 RBI)
OF – Frances Ford, Boise Chicks
OF – Irene Huber, Fresno Rockets

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (5-0) (Defending Champ)
2. Erv Lind Florists, Portland, OR (5-2) (Host)
3. Betsy Ross Rockets, Fresno, CA (3-2) (North Pacific Coast)
4. Caterpillar Dieselettes, Peoria, IL (2-2) (West Central)
5t. Boise Chicks, Boise, ID (3-2) (Northwestern)
5t. Orange Lionettes, Orange, CA (3-2) (South Pacific Coast)
7t. Richey Grocerettes, Houston, TX (1-2) (Texas)
7t. Tivoli Brewer Girls, Denver, CO (2-2) (Rocky Mountain)
9t. Dayton Orphans, Dayton, OH (0-2) (East Central)
9t. Louisiana Concrete, Baton Rouge, LA (1-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Hamm’s Beer, Fargo, ND (0-2) (Northern)
9t. Goetz Girls, St. Joseph’s, MO (1-2) (Western)
13t. Pulaski Girls Club, Washington, DC (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
13t. Pat’s Plasterers, Orlando, FL (0-2) (Southern)

NOTES

Fairbanks Farms, Syracuse, NY (withdrew – could not attend). Canada Champ – Garten’s Furniture, Toronto – (could not attend).

1949 Orange Lionettes

1949 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1949 held at 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 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 losers 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 (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.