American Professional Slo-Pitch League (1977-1979)
Tombstone
Born: 1977 – APSPL founding franchise
Re-Branded: 1978 (Minnesota Norsemen)
First Game: May 29, 1977 (W 15-12, W 15-14 vs. Cincinnati Suds)
Last Game:
APSPL Championships: None
Stadium
Midway Stadium I (10,500)1NO BYLINE. “Minnesota”, Pro Softball Magazine, June 1977, 70
Opened: 1957
Demolished: 1981
Branding
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owner: Joe Houle
Background
The Twin Cities had a men’s professional softball team for three summers in the late 1970’s in the American Professional Slo-Pitch League (1977-1980).
First up was the Minnesota Goofy’s, owned by Joe Houle. The green-and-gold clad Goofy’s lasted for only one season, as Houle quickly ran into financial difficulties. A July 4, 1977 doubleheader against the Kentucky Bourbons drew only 350 fans to St. Paul’s Midway Stadium. (Although it should be noted that such depressing attendance numbers would have been customary for many minor league baseball teams of the era as well).
The Goofy’s evaporated after the 1977 season, but a new owner stepped in to keep the APSPL in St. Paul. The revived club kept the green-and-gold color scheme but ditched the club’s insipid name in favor of the “Minnesota Norsemen” for the 1978 season. The 1978 Norsemen advanced to the APSPL Championship Series where they were swept by the Detroit Caesars.
The Norsemen folded after the 1979 season. The APSPL vanished from the scene a year later.
An unnamed softball fanatic has a big gallery of APSPL memorabilia on Flickr, including this very rare Minnesota Goofy’s pennant.
Downloads
1979 American Professional Slo-Pitch League Franchise Sales Brochure
1979 American Professional Slo-Pitch League Franchise Sales Brochure
Links
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