Tombstone
Formed: June 19761NO BYLINE. “Birth of the League”. Pro Softball Magazine, June 1977, 10.
Disbanded:
First Game: May 28, 1977
Last Game: September 7, 1980
Seasons: 4
States: 12
(CT, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, MN, NJ, NY, OH, PA, WI )
Leadership
President:
- 1977: Bill Byrne
Commissioner:
- 1978: Whitey Ford
- 1979-1980: Jim DiIorio
Trophy Case
Background
Between 1977 and 1982, three men’s professional softball leagues existed in the United States.
The first to form was the American Professional Slo-Pitch League, created by Columbus, Ohio promoter Bill Byrne, in 1977. The APSPL lasted four seasons, playing from 1977 to 1980.
Splits, Mergers & Demise
After the 1979 APSPL season, Cleveland Competitors owner Ted Stepien (who would also buy the NBA”s Cleveland Cavaliers in 1980), split from the APSPL to form the rival North American Softball League (NASL). The Milwaukee Schlitz franchise also left to join the NASL. The Competitors and the Schlitz were complemented by six new Midwestern NASL franchises. Both leagues fielded clubs in Cincinnati and in Pittsburgh during the summer of 1980, competing for the very limited pro softball audience.
Stepien pulled out of pro softball after the 1980 season, resulting in the collapse of the NASL. The Milwaukee Schlitz franchise essentially re-joined the six surviving franchises of the APSPL, and then the league announced a name change to the United Professional Softball League (UPSL) for the 1981 season.
The UPSL lasted two seasons, playing its final campaign in the summer of 1982. The demise of the UPSL after 1982 essentially brought an end to the professional era of men’s Slo-Pitch softball in the United States.
American Professional Slo-Pitch League Franchise List (1977-1980
| Franchise | Years Active | APSPL Champions |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Monuments | 1977 | None |
| Chicago Storm | 1977-1978 | None |
| Cincinnati Suds | 1977-1980 | None |
| Cleveland Jaybirds | 1977-1978 | None |
| Cleveland Stepien's Competitors | 1979 | None |
| Columbus All-Americans | 1977 | None |
| Detroit Caesars | 1977-1979 | 1978-1979 |
| Fort Wayne Scouts | 1979 | None |
| Kentucky Bourbons | 1977-1980 | None |
| Milwaukee Copper Hearth | 1977 | None |
| Milwaukee Schlitz | 1978-1979 | 1979 |
| Minnesota Goofy's | 1977 | None |
| Minnesota Norsemen | 1978-1979 | None |
| New England Pilgrims | 1978-1980 | None |
| New Jersey Statesmen | 1977 | None |
| New York Clippers | 1977 | None |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 1978-1980 | None |
| Pittsburgh Hardhats | 1977-1980 | None |
| Rochester Express | 1980 | 1980 |
| Rochester Zeniths | 1978-1979 | None |
| Trenton Champales | 1979 | None |
| Trenton Statesmen | 1978 | None |
2 Responses
My brother Jack Gansheimer played for The Stepins Competitours they called him “CRAZY JACK” I HAVE A SOFTBALL WITH ALL THE PLAYERS AND TED’S. My family enjoyed all the games I even have t-shirts of both teams Blue Jay’s excluded. Thank you!!
I am trying to find any footage or photos from city league softball I played 2nd base for the flying machine where we were state champs 1979 I believe.