Columbus All-Americans

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, and Columbus resident, Bill Byrne, who would go on to form the Women's Professional Basketball League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64705618/valley-news/|title=Clipped From Valley News|date=May 25, 1977|pages=42|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64767329/the-journal-times/|title=Clipped From The Journal Times|date=April 3, 1977|pages=47|via=newspapers.com}} Former New York Yankees star Whitey Ford was the first league commissioner.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64607292/lansing-state-journal/|title=Clipped From Lansing State Journal|date=July 21, 1977|pages=42|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64783650/the-courier-journal/|title=Clipped From 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 web|url=https://osupublicationarchives.osu.edu/?a=d&d=LTN19770420-01.2.36&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------|title=The Lantern 20 April 1977 — Ohio State University Newspaper Archives|website=osupublicationarchives.osu.edu}}{{Cite news|date=1977-01-23|title=Clipped From The Tribune|pages=13|work=The Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64536216/the-tribune/|access-date=2020-12-04}}

Columbus added local softball standouts Gary Pefley and Jud Boley as the season began,{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64869969/lancaster-eagle-gazette/|title=Clipped From Lancaster Eagle-Gazette|date=April 26, 1977|pages=18|via=newspapers.com}} but the All-Americans would finish the season 16-40 (.286), 24 games behind the Central Division winning Kentucky Bourbons. The Detroit Caesars defeated the Baltimore Monuments 4–0 to win the inaugural pro softball World Series behind the hitting of series MVP Mike Nye. A triple crown by Chicago Storm catcher Benny Holt (.690, 89 HRs, 187 RBIs) was honored with the league MVP award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/category/other/aspsl/|title=ASPSL – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}}

Two All-Americans, shortstop Tom Pappas (.602, 45 RBIs, 68 runs scored) and third-baseman Bill Speaks (.532,17 HRs, 97 RBIs) made the 1977 All-APSPL squad. Ralph Calitri (.475, 9 HRs, 34 RBIs) and Goldie Rich (.445, 23 HRs, 69 RBIs, 62 runs scored) also had solid seasons in support of the All-American cause.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64703187/wilmington-news-journal/|title=Clipped From Wilmington News-Journal|date=August 27, 1977|pages=10|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|date=1977-08-27|title=Clipped From Wilmington News-Journal|pages=10|work=Wilmington News-Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64536316/wilmington-news-journal/|access-date=2020-12-04}} The team suffered from poor attendance, had been financed by the league itself in 1977, a fact other teams did not know, and this jeopardize the World Series winner from receiving the promised $50,000 payout. The All-Americans were disbanded just as the 1978 APSPL season was set to begin.{{Cite news|date=1978-04-12|title=Clipped From Lancaster Eagle-Gazette|pages=11|work=Lancaster Eagle-Gazette|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64537275/lancaster-eagle-gazette/|access-date=2020-12-04}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64869933/the-tribune/|title=Clipped From The Tribune|date=April 16, 1978|pages=16|via=newspapers.com}}

{{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:Softball teams in Ohio

Category:Sports clubs and teams in Columbus, Ohio

Category:Men's professional softball teams

Category:1977 establishments in Ohio

Category:1978 disestablishments in Ohio