Chicago 16-Inch Softball HOF Celebrates 30th Birthday
By Don DeBat
Many marriages don’t last three decades. So, the Chicago 16-Inch Softball Hall of Fame (HOF) is proud to celebrate its 30th-anniversary, and the birthday of its founding in 1996.
The HOF includes 700 plus of the best male and female athletes in the sport since the 1920s, when softball began to take off in Chicago parks and gravel school yards.
On October 24th, the HOF also will recognize the Class of 2026 Inductees and Honorees at its 30th annual dinner event held at Drury Lane in Oak Brook Terrace, IL. Since 1995, the HOF has inducted more than 700 individuals and teams.
The event—long considered the “Academy Awards” of 16-inch Chicago-style softball, will be attended by more than 500 softball players, enthusiasts and lovers of the game.
“The Hall of Fame is the most prestigious honor among the 16-inch softball community,” said Paul Rowan president of the HOF. “We are excited to honor and highlight those who have performed or supported the game at the highest levels.”
“The Hall 30-year journey has made it the epicenter of the sport today, when many people never expected it to last and thrive,” said Al Maag, co-founder of the HOF. “But our outstanding Board members, the support by the Park District of Forest Board and sponsors like Fritz Zimmermann of March Manufacturing, have allowed us to build a beautiful and informative museum and put plaques on display outside at Inductee Park.”
The “smiles and memories for honorees and their families have been worth every effort by our volunteers,” Maag said. “Now the goal is stay sustainable as we reach out to more sponsors and donors.”
“HOF inductees and the board are pleased to see more individuals and teams see the beauty of the game,” said Rowan. “Tens of thousands of people are playing 16-inch softball for fun in and around Chicago, and tournaments are growing in the Midwest and across the USA.”
Rowan remarked: “The game is simple—a ball and a bat are all that is required to have fun or be as competitive as you wish.”
This year’s HOF event will induct 18 individuals and recognize nine historic teams. Each with outstanding stories. Dinner tickets can be purchased on-line until Friday, October 15, 2026: $150 for adults, $95 for kids. Tickets are $170, and $110 for kids at the door.
Price includes free parking, a four-course dinner, four hours of open bar starting at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:45 p.m. Award presentations start at 7:45 p.m. Visit:
CHICAGO 16-INCH SOFTBALL HALL-OF-FAME 2026 INDUCTEES
Chicago 16-Inch Softball Hall of Fame is proud to list the following players and teams inducted into the HOF on its 30th-anniversary:
Richard J. Daley Award: The Richard J. Daley Award winners in the HOF induction Class of 2026 are Edward Klepadlo and Frank Mastro, both men were top umpires for more than five decades.
Frank Holan Award: Jerry Flanagan from Iowa, is a perfect example of a winner on and off the field as a player, organizer and ambassador to the game of softball for more than 50 years.
Star Player: Men: Jake Olson. After starting his career playing for his father Jack Olson (HOF), he became an outstanding center fielder winning dozens of championships and individual awards.
Star Player: Woman: Danine Juszynski. At the height of her career in leagues on the North Side of Chicago, she was playing infield five nights a week with dozens of titles under her belt.
Star Player Out-of-State: Marty Freese. Iowa all-star infielder and hitter with multiple honors and titles.
Historic Men’s Teams:
Boomtown
J’s Softball
Old Timer Tavern—Iowa
Right Ons
Graphic Edge—Iowa
Masterpeace
On Waivers
Screwballs
Historic Co-Ed Team:
Phunky Buddhas
Wall of Fame: Greg Arredia, James Chiappetta, Tom Kulawiak, David Yozze, Bob Beckus, Anthony Jones, Andrew Peoples, and Lou Rossi are individual star players who have been outstanding for two to four decades.
Managers: Kevin Veselsky and Frank Stella
Veterans Committee: Joey Soltys
Organizer: Francisco Arenas
Lifetime-Achievement Award
Ron Kubicki—2026 winner of the coveted “Tony Reibel HOF Lifetime Achievement Award”—is the perfect example of having an impact on the sport of 16-inch softball over his lifetime.
A former-firefighter, Kubicki, nicknamed “The Colonel,” started his softball-playing career in 1971 with his church team in Hodgkins, IL. At that time, he was working at the Hodgkins Park District.
In 1985, he was promoted to Executive Director of the Hodgkins Park District, and that started his goal to make softball a major part of the park’s program. One of Ron’s first acts as executive director was to get lights installed on both the Little League and softball field. Ron worked at the Hodgkins Park District for 40 years until he retired in 2012.
From 1973 to 2012, the park had a 16-inch men’s and women’s softball leagues, which grew into the famed Westchester/Hodgkins Pro League. In 1975 Kubicki, along with Larry Randa the owner and editor of the Life Newspapers, started what was to be known as the “Life Area Classic 16-inch Softball Tournament.” That tournament ran for 12 years in the western suburbs of Chicago.
In 2000 Ron was inducted into the Softball Hall of Fame as an Organizer. He is proud to say he has been involved in Major 16-inch softball from 1984 to 2024.
Ron says he was very lucky to have been surrounded by some of the greatest players to ever play the game, and proud to have been a part of these teams as they went on to win a grand total of 27 National Championships.
Kubicki’s first contact with the Chicago 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame came in 1995 when asked to serve on the modern ERA committee for the newly formed Hall of Fame. He stayed involved with the HOF until 2001.
Ron was elected President of the HOF Board from 2010 until 2023 when he and wife Debbie made the move to Mesa, Arizona. As president he was engaged in the building the new Inductee Park, and the deeply involved in finding the memorabilia to help fill the displays to open the Hall of Fame Museum.
After a few years, Kubicki helped update the by-laws by the Board. This was needed to let the Board of Directors grow into what it is today, placing the first African Americans, and Iowa members on the board.
Some Ron’s other accomplishments, include launching a HOF Golf Outing to help raise funds; moving the annual dinner event to the classy Drury Lane facility to attract a much larger audience, and working closely with the Forest Park District to help promote the 16-inch No-Glove Pro League.
Kubicki also opened closer ties with Depaul University, welcoming new students to Chicago and the local Junior High Schools to bring students to visit the HOF Museum and provide clinics to help the students with a better understanding of the game.
History of the HOF
Since its founding in 1995, the Chicago 16-Inch Softball Hall of Fame is the premier nonprofit organization for supporting and recognizing the game of 16-inch slow-pitch softball.
The Chicago 16-Inch Softball Museum at 7501 W. Harrison St. in Forest Park, IL, pays homage to the Forest Park No-Gloves National, one of softball’s premier tournaments. The museum is open Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. Call 708-366-7500, or visit www.16inchsoftballhof.com.
Don DeBat is co-author of “Escaping Condo Jail,” the definitive guide to condominium living. A veteran real estate voice, he provides essential insights for navigating communal ownership at escapingcondojail.com. Stay updated on housing news at dondebat.biz. Don is currently writing “Chicago’s Game,” a look at the history and lifestyle of 16-inch softball.
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