Softball History USA

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.

1948 NSC Women’s Fast Pitch World Tournament

1948 held at Phoenix, Arizona.

Champion – Jax Brewer Maids, New Orleans, Louisiana
Runner Up – A-1 Queens, Phoenix, Arizona

Queens beat Jax 2-1 in the winners bracket final to put them in the losers bracket. Then the Jax eliminated Phoenix Holsum Maids 6-1 on the pitching of Nina Korgan.

Once in the finals, Lottie Jackson took it over from there as she beat the best Phoenix had to offer. The first final was a 5-1 win over Carolyn Morris. Olympia Savona drove in 2 runs with a double and later scored. In the final championship, Jackson bested Charlotte Armstrong in a 2-1 9 inning game. Freda Savona scored Nina Korgan with a triple in the top of 9th and then scored on an error.

Phoenix made it interesting in the bottom of the 9th when Nonie Thomas drove in a run to make it 2-1, but Lottie Jackson had enough left to finish out the championship game win. Jackson was voted the Outstanding Pitcher award as she was 3-1 in the 4 games she pitched for a total of 30 innings, had 28 Ks, gave up 11 hits and only 4 runs. She also hurled a no hitter.

Her teammate Nina Korgan was 3-0 with a shutout. Jackson was equally devastating at the plate as she was 8-21 (.391 average), with 5 of her hits being extra base hits (2 doubles, a triple and 2 Home Runs).

Freda Savona led the Jax offense going 9-22 (.409) with 2 triples.

For the A-1 Queens, Charlotte Armstrong and Carolyn Morris were both 2-1. Armstrong hurled a no-hitter and had 20 Ks in 24 IP. Morris had 24 Ks in 21 IP and tossed a shutout.

In the Consolation Bracket, the Downtown Sooner Queens went 3-0 behind the pitching of Alma Wilson to reach the final to face the Holsum Maids and pitcher Marge Lang. The game was called in the 3rd inning due to incoming bad weather so the Finals could be completed.  The score was tied 0-0. So the Sooner Queens and the Holsum Maids were consolation bracket co-champs.

  • MVP Award – Dodie Nelson, A-1 Queens (12-21, .571)
  • Outstanding Pitcher – Lottie Jackson, Jax Maids (3-1, including both final games, 30 IP, 28 K, no hitter; 8-21, .381, 2 HR at bat)
  • Leading Hitter – Alma Wilson, Sooner Queens (9-12) – .750
  • Miss Softball Award – Lois Williams, A-1 Queens (Catcher, caught every inning of the A-1 Queens 6 games)

1948 NSC ALL WORLD TEAM

P – Charlotte Armstrong, Phoenix A-1 Queens (2-1)
P – Lottie Jackson, Jax Brewer Maids (3-1)
P – Nina Korgan, Jax Brewer Maids (3-0)
C – Lois Williams, Phoenix A-1 Queens
C – Olympia Savona, Jax Brewer Maids
1B – Flossie Ballard, Holsum Bakery Maids
2B – Hazel Gill, Jax Brewer Maids
3B – Ricki Caito, Phoenix A-1 Queens
SS – Freda Savona, Jax Brewer Maids
OF – Sis King, Holsum Bakery Maids
OF – Dottie Myers, Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens
OF – Dodie Nelson, Phoenix A-1 Queens
OF – Alma Wilson, Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens (4-2 Pitching)
UTIL – Kay Rohrer, Phoenix A-1 Queens

CONSOLATION TEAM

P – Marge Lang, Holsum Bakery Maids (3-2)
P – Marge Wood, Erin Brews (3-3)
P – Jerry Fiorello, Takoma Decorators (3-3)
P – Corolyn Morris, Phoenix A-1 Queens (2-1)
P – Bertha Dunn, Lorelei Ladies (3-2)
1B – Mary Pembo, Jax Brewer Maids
2B – Louise Curtis, Holsum Bakery Maids
3B – Meinecke, Jax Brewer Maids
3B – Chris Christopher, Takoma Decorators
SS – Naomi Henderson, Chevy Sooner Queens
CF – Irma Black, Takoma Decorators

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Jax Brewer Maids, New Orleans, LA (6-1)
2. Phoenix A-1 Queens, Phoenix, AZ (4-2)
3. Phoenix Holsum Bakery Maids, Phoenix, AZ (4-2) (4-2-1 overall)
4. Lorelei Ladies, Atlanta, GA (3-2)
5t. Takoma Decorators, Washington DC (3-2) (3-3 overall)
5t. Erin Brews, Cleveland, OH (3-2) (3-3 overall)
7t. Teagues Used Cars, Fort Worth, TX (1-2)
7t. Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens, Oklahoma City, OK (2-2) * (5-2-1 overall)
9t. Stamford Nutmeg’s, Stamford, CT 0-2 (0-3 overall)
9t. Seattle Skylarks, Seattle, WA (1-2) *
9t. Knight Insurance Company, Roxboro, NC (1-2) *
9t. Sal’s, West Allis, WI (1-2)
13t. Burbank Merchants, Burbank, CA (0-2)
13t. Del’s Sports, Syracuse, NY (0-2) forfeited second game
13t. Kansas City All Stars, Kansas City, MO (0-2) forfeited both games

* includes 1 forfeit win

CONSOLATION BRACKET

1. Downtown Chevy Sooner Queens, Oklahoma City, OK (3-0-1) *
1. Holsum Maids, Phoenix, AZ (0-0-1)
3. Takoma Decorators, Washington DC (0-1)
4. Erin Brews, Cleveland, OH (0-1)
5. Stamford Nutmeg’s, Stamford, CT (0-1)

* Consolation final halted after 3 innings with score tied at 0-0.

1948 ISC Men’s Fast Pitch World Tournament

1948 held at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Champion – Merchants, Taft, California
Runner Up – Clark Smith Autos, Phoenix, Arizona

Kenny Law struck out 27 batters in a 15-inning game. Wes Priest (Merchants) struck out 19 in a 7-inning game. Les Haney (Merchants) threw a no-hitter against Acme Glass.

Kenny Law and Don Westfall combined to do the same vs Cochituate Motors. In that game, Law went 4 innings & had one baserunner on his own error. Westfall also had a baserunner through an error in the 6th inning. But in the 7th with 2 outs, Westfall intentionally walked the next batter so that 15 year-old Rollie Welchel (relief pitcher) could get a chance to bat. He grounded out.

Wheeler Realty who finished with a 2-2 record had 1-hit losses to both Kenny Law and Wes Priest. Clyde Woods (Anderson Sporting Goods) also threw a 1-hitter against Greeley but lost, 1-0!

Goody Rosen of Levy Auto Parts (ex-Brooklyn Dodger) had 4 hits in one game and two triples in the same game.

  • Cleo Goyette Memorial MVP Award – Kenny Law, Clark Smith Autos
  • Leroy Zimmerman Memorial Pitching Award – Les Haney, Merchants
  • Leading Hitter – Delmar Wade, Anderson Sporting
  • Most RBI – N/A

1948 ALL WORLD TEAM

IF – Johnny Burkhart, Merchants
IF – Bob Adams, Clark Smith Autos
IF – Delmar Wade, Anderson Sporting Goods
IF – Norb Burkhardt, Acme Glass
OF – Roy Butler, Bluebonnet Laundry
OF – Lefty Bevington, Clark Smith Autos
OF – Goody Rosen, Levy Auto Parts
OF – Herman Hoff, Wheeler Realty
UTIL – Vance Adams, Clark Smith Autos
UTIL – Charles Morris, Merchants
C – Willis James, Bluebonnet Laundry
P – Les Haney, Merchants (2-0)
P – Kenny Law, Clark Smith Autos (5-2, 86K)
P – Pat Peeples, Merchants (2-0)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Merchants, Taft, CA
2. Clark Smith Autos, Phoenix, AZ
3. Bluebonnet Laundry, Lubbock, TX
4. Wheeler Realty, Greeley, CO
5t. Levy Auto Parts, Toronto, ON
5t. Anderson Sporting Goods, Oklahoma City, OK
7t. Cochituate Motors, Natick, MA
7t. Acme Glass, Cincinnati, OH
9t. Drugstore Cowboys, Pawhuska, OK
9t. All-Stars, Elmira, NY
9t. Grever Truck Lines, Tulsa, OK
9t. Scott’s Market, Oklahoma City, OK

1948 ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1948 held at Portland, Oregon.

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

Amy Peralta May came through big time in the finals as the Ramblers came from the losers bracket and had to defeat the Florists twice. Peralta twirled two straight shutouts, winning 2-0 and 3-0, defeating a tough and confident Portland squad who had just rolled over four good teams with Bullet Betty Evans on the mound. Margie Law went 1-0 and won the other game for the Ramblers. Peralta led Arizona to 85 wins this season as she pitched 55 of them. Virginia Dobson of the Ramblers had 3 hits in the final game. Margie Law and Amy Peralta had an RBI each.

Betty Evans, Lind & Pomeroy went 4-2, 3 shutouts, perfect game, 42 IP, 51 K, lost both final games to Amy Peralta. Evans defeated Peoria and Marie Wadlow 1-0 in a pitcher’s dual.

Ginny Busik, Fresno Rockets went 3-2, with shutouts.

Marie Wadlow, Caterpillar Dieselettes, went 2-2, 28 IP, 42 K, a shutout and only gave up 4 runs and 10 hits.

Ann Kmezich, Walker-Shay Realty went 3-2 pitching with 2 Triples and 2 RBI.

A young lady playing with Monrovia Day and Night Company Owls named Bertha Ragan-Tickey made her first all-America team as an outfielder. Louise Davis was 2-0 for the Monrovia squad, but when they put Bertha in to pitch, It was the start of something amazing that would last almost 30 years. She pitched 4 games for the Owls’ went 2-2 and struck out 37 batters in the 27 innings she pitched, She also had 2 shutouts and only gave up 4 runs and 10 hits in the 4 games she pitched. She beat Peoria and Marie Wadlow 2-0 to eliminate the Dieselette squad.

Amy Peralta-May of Arizona Ramblers went 5-1, 3 shutouts, gave up 6 runs in 6 games, 20 K, 48 IP. She also batted 7-23, .304, triple and 5 RBI batting and would have won the MVP.

Margaret Dobson of Lind & Pomeroy went 8-22, .364, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 hits in the final.

Joan Wallace of Raybestos Brakettes went 2-6, .333, 1 HR, 1 RBI.

Helen Yakabusin of Raybestos Brakettes had 1 HR and 1 RBI.

Imogine Pipes of Walker Shay Realtors went 6-18, .333, with an RBI.

  • MVP – N/A
  • HR Leader – Margaret Dobson, Lind & Pomeroy – 1
  • HR Leader – Dot Wilkinson, Phoenix Ramblers – 1
  • HR Leader – Joan Wallace, Raybestos Brakettes – 1
  • HR Leader – Helen Yakabusin, Raybestos Brakettes – 1
  • HR Leader – Imogine Pipes, Walker Shay Realtors – 1
  • Batting Leader – Mary Rider, Fresno Rockets – .429

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

P – Amy Peralta, Phoenix Ramblers
P – Betty Evans, Lind & Pomeroy
C – Dot Wilkinson, Phoenix Ramblers (3B, HR, and 5 RBI)
1B – Peggy Friends, Walker-Shay Realtors
2B – Jerry Burroughs, Lind & Pomeroy
3B – Jean Hull, Day and Night Company Owls
SS – Chris Meyer, Lind & Pomeroy
OF – Margie Law, Phoenix Ramblers
OF – Mary Rider, Betsy Ross Rockets (6-14, 3 RBI)
OF – Bertha Ragan-Tickey, Day & Night Company Owls
UTIL – Jessie Glassock, Phoenix Ramblers

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Arizona Ramblers, Phoenix, AZ (6-1) (Awarded Defending Champ Spot)
2. Erv Lind Florists, Portland, OR (4-2) (Host)
3. Day & Night Company Owls, Monrovia, CA (4-2) (South Pacific Coast)
4. Betsy Ross Rockets, Fresno, CA (3-2) (North Pacific Coast
5t. Walker-Shay Realtors, Des Moines, IA (3-2) (Western)
5t. Caterpillar Dieselettes, Peoria, IL (2-2) (West Central)
7t. Nehi Beverage Orphans, Dayton, OH (1-2) (East Central)
7t. Statesman Newsettes, Boise, ID (1-2) (Northwestern)
9t. Cardinalettes, Pottstown, PA (0-2) (Central Atlantic)
9t. Russer Girls, Rochester, NY (0-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
9t. Southern Chevrolet, Alexandria LA (1-2) (Southwestern)
9t. Shamrocks, Salt Lake City, UT (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)
13. Raybestos Brakettes, Stratford, CT (0-2) (North Atlantic)

NOTES

Jax Maids, New Orleans, LA – Defending Champs – Chose not to defend, played National Softball Congress instead. Northern Region did not send a team or did not hold a tournament. Raglan Ramblers, Nashville, TN (withdrew – could not attend). Sinny Lees, Toronto, Ontario (withdrew – could not attend).

1948 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals

1948 held at 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 in 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’s 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 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.