Fan League Hall of Fame

Dennis Johnson

After a dozen summers of organized play, the Fan District Softball League established its Hall of Fame in 1986. The first class was elected by the 12-team outfit’s designated franchise representatives/captains. To be eligible then one had to have retired from play and be considered to be among the league's founders.

Ten names were tapped for the first class of Hall-of-Famers. The induction ceremony took place at the league's All-Star game at the Columbian Center in the Westend. The same procedures held true in 1987, when six new names were engraved on the plaque. 

However, by 1988, a few of those who had been inducted into the Hall had un-retired ... more power to them. So, that year, eligibility to the Hall was opened up to anyone who seemed deserving. Those already in got to vote, as well. Nine new members were selected. The meetings to select new inductees were always quite lively, as were most FDSL meetings. The voting process was probably no more twisted than any hall of fame’s way of choosing its memberships.

For 1989 six additional names were picked. The class of ‘90 added seven new names, and in ‘92 the last five names were tacked on. In all, 41 players and two umpires were selected. 

As for what bias may have existed, well, the list does appear to lean somewhat in favor of guys who made significant contributions to the league's lore in its early years. The mistakes that were made were in leaving some guys out who should have been considered. 

Those men who were inducted into the FDSL’s Hall from 1986 through 1992 are as follows: Ricardo Adams, Herbie Atkinson, Howard Awad, Boogie Bailey, Yogi Bair, Jay Barrows, Otto Brauer, Ernie Brooks, Hank Brown, Bobby Cassell, Jack Colan, Willie Collins, Dickie deTreville, Jack deTreville, Henry Ford, Danny Gammon, Donald Greshham, James Jackson, Dennis Johnson, Mike Kittle, Leo Koury, Jim Letizia, Junie Loving, Tony Martin, Kenny Meyer, Cliff Mowells, Buddy Noble, Randy Noble, Henry Pollard, Artie Probst, Terry Rea, John Richardson, Jerry Robinson, Larry Rohr, Billy Snead, Jim Story, Hook Shepherd, Pudy Stallard, Durwood Usry, Jumpy White, Barry Winn, Chuck Wrenn.

 

It's fair to assume all of them deserved it. 

One thing is for sure: If you put all 43 of the Hall's members in the open grassy field across Woodrow Avenue from the ballfield -- a veritable no-man's-land -- let's say in a summer twilight of 1981, as your time machine floats in toward the scene, the sound you'd hear would be laughter. 

Note: As an organization, the Fan District Softball League lasted 20 years (1975-1994), which was a wonder in itself. There are plenty of true stories from those years that are only believable to those of us who knew the people.

-- Words and art by F.T. Rea

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