Chicago Storm (softball)

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, several men's professional slow-pitch softball leagues were formed in the United States to build on the growth and talent in the booming men's amateur game during this period.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1977/07/29/slow-pitch-pros-fast-becoming-favorites/2dff2748-c53f-4fd6-9a20-b08f18cd2a5c/|title=Slow-Pitch Pros Fast Becoming Favorites|first=John|last=Feinstein|date=July 29, 1977|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1977/05/26/pro-slo-pitch-softball-debuts-sunday/cca52509-c3c2-4116-a1d7-323d2e1b6bc3/|title=Pro Slo-Pitch Softball Debuts Sunday|first=Russell|last=Carter|date=May 26, 1977|via=www.washingtonpost.com}} The American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) was the first such league, launching in an era of experimentation in professional sports leagues.{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vBUeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o1cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7245,5272863&dq=softball+new-york-clippers&hl=en|title=Ludington Daily News - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}} The APSPL was formed in 1977 by former World Football League executive Bill Byrne who would go on to form the Women's Professional Basketball League.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64705618/valley-news/|title=Clipped From Valley News|newspaper=Valley News|date=May 25, 1977|pages=42|via=newspapers.com}} Former New York Yankees star Whitey Ford was the first league commissioner.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64783650/the-courier-journal/|title=Clipped From The Courier-Journal|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|date=September 3, 1978|pages=8|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/showthread.php?t=288804|title=Softball challenge - OOTP Developments Forums|website=forums.ootpdevelopments.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64561607/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=March 29, 1977|pages=51|via=newspapers.com}}

The Chicago Storm began play in the inaugural APSPL season in 1977,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64560098/southend-reporter/|title=Clipped From Southend Reporter|newspaper=Southend Reporter|date=June 30, 1977|pages=22|via=newspapers.com}} finishing with a record of 22–34 (.393), in 4th place in the Midwestern Division, 20 games behind division-winners Detroit Caesars.{{Cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1977/06/13/its-easy-come-easy-go|title=It's easy come, easy go|first=Kent|last=Hannon|website=Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64969354/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=May 29, 1977|pages=70|via=newspapers.com}} The Storm were managed by former Chicago Cub Milt Pappas.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64969418/the-baltimore-sun/|title=Clipped From The Baltimore Sun|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=July 6, 1977|pages=29|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64969521/the-baltimore-sun/|title=Clipped From The Baltimore Sun|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=July 6, 1977|pages=33|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64969329/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=May 18, 1977|pages=57|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64560192/arlington-heights-herald/|title=Clipped From Arlington Heights Herald|newspaper=Arlington Heights Herald|date=June 6, 1977|pages=30|via=newspapers.com}} The Caesars would go on to win the first pro softball World Series 4–0 over the Baltimore Monuments with Mike Nye of Detroit honored as the series MVP.{{Cite web|url=https://detroitcaesars.weebly.com/|title=Detroit Caesars|website=Detroit Caesars}} But Benny Holt (.690 BA, 89 HRs, 187 RBIs, 144 runs scored, 25 walks) of Chicago was the talk of the league in winning the triple crown and the league MVP trophy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64969235/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=June 1, 1977|pages=49|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64969281/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=June 1, 1977|pages=51|via=newspapers.com}} Holt and Buddy Haines (.605, 42 HRs, 100 RBIs, 101 runs scored) made the all-pro team for 1977. Storm players Ron Olesiak (.581, 55 HRs, 112 RBIs), Tom Spahn (.541, 49 HRs, 129 RBIs), Mike Krolicki (.511, 22 HRs, 75 RBIs) and Dave Shortz (.506, 33 HRs, 56 RBIs) had stellar seasons for Chicago.{{Cite web|url=https://www.angelfire.com/sd/slopitch/pro.html|title=Professional Slow Pitch Softball History|website=Angelfire}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64560160/the-daily-herald/|title=Clipped From The Daily Herald|newspaper=The Daily Herald|date=April 22, 1977|pages=25|via=newspapers.com}} Former Cub Gene Hiser played for the Storm in 1977.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64561921/the-capital-times/|title=Clipped From The Capital Times|newspaper=The Capital Times|date=June 23, 1978|pages=19|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64969307/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=June 6, 1977|pages=71|via=newspapers.com}}

1978 was no more kind to the Storm as they ended the season with an abysmal 11–53 (.172) record, 4th in the division and 38 games behind Detroit. Detroit would repeat again as APSPL champions, defeating the Minnesota Norsemen with series MVP Bert Smith hitting 15–16 (.940). Ron Ford of Detroit was the league MVP. Benny Holt (.526, 50 HRs, 130 RBIs) was again outstanding for the Storm and was the team's sole representative on the all-pro team. Tommy Spahn (.539, 34 HRs, 101 RBIs), Mike Krolicki (.511, 13 HRs, 59 RBIs) and Ron Olesiak (.509, 20 HRs, 47 RBIs) again performed well in support. The team suffered with poor attendance{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/category/other/aspsl/|title=ASPSL – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}} and financial instability led to the league taking over the Storm in 1978. The team would be without a home and played home games on the road by the end of the season, and the team disbanded at the end of the year.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28363557/the-cincinnati-enquirer/|title=Clipped From The Cincinnati Enquirer|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=August 14, 1978|pages=27|via=newspapers.com}}

Professional softball returned briefly to Chicago in 1980 when a rival league, the North American Softball League (NASL), was formed by Cleveland Stepien's Competitors owner Ted Stepien, who put forward a team called Chicago Nationwide Advertising, named after the advertising company owned by Stepien. The team played at Lou Boudreau Field{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64877361/southtown-star/|title=Clipped From Southtown Star|newspaper=Southtown Star |date=May 18, 1980|pages=14|via=newspapers.com}} in Harvey, Illinois, and former Chicago Cub Joe Pepitone served as team president and played first-base.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64560374/the-tampa-times/|title=Clipped From The Tampa Times|newspaper=The Tampa Times |date=June 29, 1978|pages=27|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64560712/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=May 14, 1980|pages=57|via=newspapers.com}} Pepitone would get a suspension during the year for "conduct detrimental to professional softball" when NASL Commissioner Robert Brown suspended him for 6 games{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64842830/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=July 20, 1980|pages=50|via=newspapers.com}} and then was lost to the season in August with a thigh injury.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64842896/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=August 11, 1980|pages=56|via=newspapers.com}} The team was managed by local softball legend Eddie Zolna.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64891068/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=January 23, 2015|pages=2–7|via=newspapers.com}}

It was an excellent regular season for CNA as Chicago finished 43–19 (.694), 2nd in the Western Division to the Milwaukee Schlitz. The Schlitz would defeat Chicago in the playoffs 4–2 and go on to win the NASL World Series in 1980 over the Detroit Auto Kings 5–12 behind the hitting of Ken Parker (.586, 16 RBIs) in the series. Former Chicago Storm star Benny Holt was now with Cleveland, but Ron Olesiak (.555, 34 HRs, 124 RBIs) of Chicago won the league MVP trophy, and Chicago added all-pro seasons from Mike Krolicki (27–6 pitching record), Buddy Haines (.518, 27 HRS, 115 RBIs), Tommy Spahn (.527, 15 HRs, 97 RBIs), Curt Dusek (.413 BA), Willie Simpson (.506, 23 doubles, 13 triples) and Jake Jakobi (.520 BA). Olesiak, Dusek, Simpson, Spahn represented Chicago at the mid-season All-Star game and Zolna managed the West team.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64891025/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=July 8, 1980|pages=47|via=newspapers.com}} The NASL lasted one season before combining with the APSPL to form a new league, the United Professional Softball League (UPSL). That league disbanded in 1982, bringing an end to the professional era of men's softball in the US.{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/category/other/nasl/|title=NASL – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}} Many players returned to the competitive leagues in the Chicago area, especially the 16-inch game in the region.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65746518/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=June 13, 1980|pages=59|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65746623/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=June 13, 1980|pages=62|via=newspapers.com}}

The Chicago Nationwide Advertising team featured two members of the American Softball Association Hall of Fame—manager Eddie Zolna and catcher Willie Simpson.{{Cite web|url=https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/National-Softball-Hall-of-Fame/Members|title=Members|date=31 May 2019|accessdate=24 November 2023|archive-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531152611/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/National-Softball-Hall-of-Fame/Members|url-status=bot: unknown}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://funwhileitlasted.net/american-professional-slo-pitch-league/ APSPL on Fun While It Lasted]
• [https://www.angelfire.com/sd/slopitch/pro.html Softball History Data]
• [https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/ Softball History USA]
• [https://detroitcaesars.weebly.com/ Detroit Caesars Online Home]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190324200635/https://www.teamusa.org/usa-softball/national-softball-hall-of-fame National Softball Hall of Fame]

Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1977

Category:Softball teams in Illinois

Category:1978 establishments in Illinois

Category:1979 disestablishments in Illinois

Category:Sports clubs and teams disestablished in 1978

Category:Men's professional softball teams

Category:Sports in Chicago