Detroit Auto Kings

Detroit was represented by the Detroit Caesars, who played in the first professional league, the American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL), beginning with the founding of that league in 1977.{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/kentucky-bourbons/|title=Kentucky Bourbons – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com|date=26 April 2020}} The Caesars disbanded after the 1978 season and the APSPL continued, but 1980 was a year of division in professional softball as the Cleveland Stepien's Competitors, the Fort Wayne Huggie Bears and the Milwaukee Schlitz broke away from the APSPL to form a new league, the North American Softball League, under the leadership of Cleveland Stepien's Competitors owner Ted Stepien.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64663193/pittsburgh-post-gazette/|title=Clipped From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=April 24, 1980|pages=11|via=newspapers.com}} The Cincinnati Suds continued in the reduced numbers of the APSPL.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64668331/democrat-and-chronicle/|title=Clipped From Democrat and Chronicle|newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle|date=March 24, 1980|pages=35|via=newspapers.com}} Stepien placed NASL teams in several APSPL markets, including Lexington, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. Stepien owned 6 of the 8 teams in the NASL, with only Milwaukee and Fort Wayne having local ownership.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64306795/the-pittsburgh-press/|title=Clipped From The Pittsburgh Press|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=May 8, 1980|pages=4|via=newspapers.com}} The owner of the Pittsburgh Hardhats of the APSPL brought an unsuccessful challenge in federal court in an attempt to prevent splitting the young professional sport.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64982230/the-pittsburgh-press/|title=Clipped From The Pittsburgh Press|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=March 9, 1980|pages=84|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64668298/pittsburgh-post-gazette/|title=Clipped From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=June 19, 1980|pages=61|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64666599/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=March 8, 1980|pages=33|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64666746/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=March 8, 1980|pages=37|via=newspapers.com}}

Stepien went into the APSPL markets trying to lure talent away as well. He hired Donnie Rardin, former Kentucky Bourbons player, to play and serve as General Manager for the Lexington Stallions, did the same in Pittsburgh with Roger Snatchko, former Pittsburgh Hardhat, who would lead the new Pittsburgh Champions and much the same in Cincinnati with former Cincinnati Sud Mike LaFever as player and General Manager.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64876627/the-cincinnati-enquirer/|title=Clipped From The Cincinnati Enquirer|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=April 21, 1980|pages=28|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64397063/lexington-leader/|title=Clipped From Lexington Leader|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|date=May 16, 1980|pages=16|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65739125/lexington-leader/|title=Clipped From Lexington Leader|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|date=May 16, 1980|pages=20|via=newspapers.com}} Detroit was much less contentious as the Detroit Caesars had folded after the 1979 season, allowing the NASL Detroit Auto Kings to take over as the professional softball team, with former Caesars outfielder Mike Gouin managing the team.{{Cite web|url=https://detroitcaesars.weebly.com/detroit-auto-kings.html|title=Detroit Auto Kings|website=Detroit Caesars|access-date=2020-12-21|archive-date=2020-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204111633/https://detroitcaesars.weebly.com/detroit-auto-kings.html|url-status=dead}} Stepien formed and owned the Detroit NASL team, naming it in honor of the history of Detroit auto manufacturing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/category/1980/|title=1980 – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}}

Former MLB players Mudcat Grant and Joe Pepitone served as PR officials for the league, with Pepitone serving as team President and playing for Chicago Nationwide Advertising.{{Cite web|url=https://thisgreatgame.com/mudcat-grant/|title=They Were There: The TGG Interview with Mudcat Grant}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65289366/lexington-leader/|title=Clipped From Lexington Leader|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|date=May 16, 1980|pages=16|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65289431/lexington-leader/|title=Clipped From Lexington Leader|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|date=May 16, 1980|pages=20|via=newspapers.com}} Pepitone was a former player for the Trenton Champales franchise in the APSPL. The NASL would last just one season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/07/15/archives/connecticut-weekly-new-haven-pros-ride-slowpitch-boom.html|title=New Haven Pros Ride Slow‐Pitch Boom (Published 1979)|first=John|last=Cavanaugh|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 15, 1979}}

The Auto Kings played at the same field as the Detroit Caesars, Memorial Field in East Detroit, and the Auto Kings roster featured several members of Detroit Caesar teams including outfielder Dan Murphy, third-baseman Gary Geister, outfielder Mike Gouin, first-baseman Cal Carmen, and pitcher Tony Mazza. Mike Gouin also served as team manager.{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/1980-nasl/|title=1980 NASL – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com|date=11 November 2018}}

Continuing the Caesars tradition of former Detroit Tigers turning to play professional softball, the Auto Kings featured former Detroit Tigers outfielder Mickey Stanley. The Auto Kings advanced to the playoffs with a 35-26 (.574) record, 1st in the Eastern Division. The team catapulted in the standings in August with a 6-game, 3-doubleheader sweep of the Cincinnati Rivermen with strong hitting from Matt Partridge, Dan Murphy, Mike Turk and Gary Geister. The team clinched a playoff berth and first place in a dominating weekend.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65740289/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=August 16, 1980|pages=33|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65740088/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=August 17, 1980|pages=71|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65740106/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=August 18, 1980|pages=49|via=newspapers.com}}

Detroit would advance to the playoffs, winning the semifinals 4–1 over Cleveland (6–4, 8–7, 19–4, 5–10, 14–5) with a Mike Taylor grand-slam leading the way to an Auto King victory in the 5th game. Next up was Milwaukee, the 1979 APSPL champion, in the NASL World Series. Detroit would return to their home-field down 2-3,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65762500/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=September 8, 1980|pages=44|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65762243/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=September 13, 1980|pages=34|via=newspapers.com}} but Milwaukee would come to Detroit and sweep a double-header, with two home-runs in the first game by Schlitz Jim Dillard. In the seventh game, Detroit fought back from an early Milwaukee lead on a home-run by Gary Gesiter to take a late, lead, but then a two-run inning from Milwaukee in the 8th inning, with a sacrifice fly by Ken Parker, gave Milwaukee the 9-8 series-clinching win.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64786715/wisconsin-state-journal/|title=Clipped From Wisconsin State Journal|newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal|date=September 15, 1980|pages=15|via=newspapers.com}} The series would go to the Schlitz 5–2 (19–11, 10–12, 12–16, 22–13, 13–4, 12–3, 11–9){{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64959933/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=September 14, 1980|pages=87|via=newspapers.com}} with Ken Parker (.586 BA) of Milwaukee the World Series MVP.

Ron Olesiak (.555, 34 HRs, 124 RBIs) of Chicago Nationwide Advertising was the NASL 1980 MVP. The only two Auto Kings to appear in the top-ten categories were Gary Geister (5th, 31 HRs) and Jerry Gadette (10th, 24 HRs).{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/category/other/nasl/|title=NASL – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}} 3B/SS Mike Turk (.518, 27 HRs, 115 RBIs) was the only Auto King to receive all-league honors in 1980. Matt Partridge (22 HRs) and Gary Geister (31 HRs, 80 RBIs) added to the cause.{{Cite web|url=https://funwhileitlasted.net/2012/01/11/1977-1979-detroit-caesars/|title=1977-1979 Detroit Caesars • Fun While It Lasted|date=January 11, 2012}}

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 as players once again returned to the amateur leagues.{{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|page=62|via=newspapers.com}}

Auto King Mike Gouin is a member of the American Softball Association Hall of Fame.[https://web.archive.org/web/20190531152611/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/National-Softball-Hall-of-Fame/Members Hall of Fame Members] Team USA In addition, Cal Carmen is a member of the United States Slowpitch Softball Association (USSSA) Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=http://hof.usssa.com/fame/|title=USSSA Hall of Fame and Museum|website=hof.usssa.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1993/08/09/its-around-here-someplace|title="It's Around Here Someplace"|first=Mike|last=D'Orso|website=Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com}}

The APSPL and the NASL then merged to form the United Professional Softball League in 1981, although only Milwaukee came to the new league from the NASL as the other franchises, including the Auto Kings, disbanded.{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/|title=Softball History USA – This site is dedicated to collecting the history of the great sport of softball.|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}} No Detroit team played in 1981 in the UPSL. In 1982, Detroit Softball City, playing at and named for a large softball complex on the grounds of the Michigan State Fair, played in the UPSL and were led by Charlie Mitchell and Braxton Speller, along with former Caesars Rick Trudeau, Doug Gerdes, Chuck Drewicz, George Birch, Gary Geister and manager Gary Vitto, along with former Auto Kings Matt Partridge and Mike Turk.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64786686/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=May 22, 1982|pages=31|via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64462027/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=April 7, 1982|pages=63|via=newspapers.com}} Detroit Softball City finished second in the division to Cleveland with a record of 36–20, advancing to the playoffs against the South Jersey Athletics, winning 3-0 in the first round, and then defeating Cleveland 3–2 in the semi-finals. Detroit would lose in the UPSL World Series to Milwaukee 5–1 with the Schlitz led by World Series MVP Dick Laba (.667 BA). Dana Andry of Cleveland (.618, 65 HRs, 128 RBIs, 125 runs scored, 46-17 pitching) was the UPSL MVP and Charles Mitchell (59 HRs, 133 RBIs) of Detroit made the All-UPSL team. That was the last year for professional softball in the US as players once again returned to amateur leagues.{{Cite web|url=https://detroitcaesars.weebly.com/|title=Detroit Caesars|website=Detroit Caesars}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://detroitcaesars.weebly.com/ Detroit Caesars Online Home]
• [http://funwhileitlasted.net/2012/01/11/1977-1979-detroit-caesars/ Detroit Caesars on FunWhileItLasted.net]
• [https://www.angelfire.com/sd/slopitch/pro.html Softball History Data]
• [https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/ Softball History USA]
• [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 Michigan

Category:Sports clubs and teams in Detroit

Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1980

Category:1980 establishments in Michigan

Category:Men's professional softball teams

Category:Defunct sports clubs and teams in Michigan