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Hall of Fame
The first group of individuals chosen for the British Softball Federation Hall of Fame were inducted at a ceremony during the Federation’s AGM in London on Saturday, February 17, 2007.
The twelve individuals chosen were former players, umpires, organisers, national team managers or development workers who, in the words of the Hall of Fame statement of purpose, have “played a major role in the growth and development of, or demonstrated outstanding achievement and ability within, British Softball.”
While these first Hall of Fame members were elected by a Committee established by the BSF Executive, nominations succeeding years will be opened up to the British softball community as a whole. In order to be eligible for British Hall of Fame selection, an individual must no longer be active in the category for which he or she has been nominated.
HALL OF FAMERS INDUCTED IN 2007
BRITISH PLAYERS
Julian Aldridge: Perhaps the first creative pitcher in British slowpitch softball, and a high average hitter with great speed and base-running awareness. Julian has also been elected as an Organiser/Administrator.
Kate Allen: Pioneer GB Women’s Fastpitch Team player who played her first game in 1985 and her last in 2003, and was a mainstay at shortstop for the GB Women over that period in European Championships, Olympic Qualifiers and the 1994 World Championships.
OVERSEAS-BORN PLAYERS
Paul Gambaccini: Paul was a key player/organiser in the Regents Park pick-up games that started in 1974 and carried on until the late 1980s – the games where many British players got their start in softball. Paul didn’t look like an athlete, but was a surprisingly good hitter as well as a pitcher with superb control. And of course, as one of the top commentators on music and culture in the UK, his knowledge of pop music was unsurpassed!
Tim Richey: Highly competitive and skilful shortstop for the slowpitch club team Niners for many years in the 1990s and a great clutch hitter.
Eddie Sanchez: Eddie played for US military teams from the Ruislip Naval Base in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was a tremendous shortstop and power hitter – one of very few players ever to hit a home run onto the bank behind left field in the University of Westminster Stadium at Chiswick. His range and athleticism at shortstop was an eye-opener to emerging British players.
UMPIRES
Dave Allen: A much-loved American blue who died prematurely in 2006 of cancer. While not always the most reliable in terms of showing up at tournaments, Dave was an excellent and player-friendly umpire with his own unique style.
Vince McGuire: An ever-present umpiring stalwart for many years who helped solidify the British Association of Softball Umpires (BASU) in its development phase and always promoted a professional approach to umpiring.
NATIONAL TEAM MANAGERS/COACHES
Mark Berman: Founded the GB Men’s Fastpitch Team in 1996 and led the team through 2005, taking it from a standing start to third place in Europe, a World Championship qualification and ninth place at the 2004 World Championships.
ADMINISTRATORS/ORGANISERS
Julian Aldridge: Julian has been elected to the Hall of Fame as an organiser as well as a player. He brought Triple Crown Softball to the UK, founded the Jersey Liberation Tournament, brought in the first major softball sponsorships, took softball into the UK Corporate Games for the first time and was a key organiser in the London Advertising League. Julian was softball’s first and most successful “entrepreneur”.
Andy Cannon: Without him there would be no softball in Scotland. He started the Picts Softball Club in Edinburgh, which at one time had 55 members over three teams. Many of these players went on to build their own teams and three original Picts still play in the Edinburgh Softball League under the Picts banner. Andy also started the Edinburgh Festiball in 1991.
Rikki Gemmell: Andy Cannon’s equivalent in Glasgow, Rikki built up a thriving Glasgow Corporate League in the mid-90s and encouraged Scottish participation in the softball world south of the border.
Sarah-Jane Glover: An ever-present London organiser in the 1980s and early 1990s both for the London Softball Federation and the London Advertising League. Sarah-Jane was a tireless worker who set high standards for tournament organisation and innovation. The annual BSF award for outstanding service to softball in a non-playing capacity, the Glover Cup, is named for her.
DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Natalie Fox: Elected for her enormous contribution to developing and running the GB youth softball programme from 2000-2005, as well as for her outstanding work as a youth coach before, during and after that time. |
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