< Cleveland Competitors

 

In 1982 I played Pro Softball for the first and only time in the USPL. The USPL was the 3rd different league since the league inception. The first Professional Softball League in Cleveland was called the APSPL. The league ran from 1977 until 1980. The first Cleveland pro team was called the Cleveland Jaybirds. Once the great Steve Loya had left his Pyramid team and joined the Jaybirds, that opened the door for Jay Friedman. they had a number of players from the Parma Classic League. The Cleveland P.D. and other city leagues fron around the city also produced players for the league.provided.

The first Cleveland Professional Softball Team was owned by Jay Friedman, That was when the Pro League started up. It was a couple of years into the ProLeague when Ted Stepien purchased the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team. Ted himself played softball n some of the local leagues around town.

 

 



Eastern Division                Record  Pct.    GB

Cleveland Competitors       46-17    .730      -
Detroit Softball City              36-20   .643     6.5
South Jersey A's                  34-25    .576    10.0
Rochester Express              24-40   .375     22.5 
Pittsburgh Hardhats            8-56     .125     38.5
 

Western Division                Record  Pct.    GB

 Kentucky Bourbons            38-23   .623 
 Cincinnati Suds                    34-28   .548     4.5
 Milwaukee Schlitz                32-32   .500     7.5
 Lima Steele's Stars              20-34   .370    13.5
 

 

Standing: L to R - Bill Messics, Dick Koval, Dave Neale, Steve Blanchette, Paul Wright, Mike Macenko, Jim Bizzell, Marty Rolnick, Hank Gibson, Mick Dwyer, Dana Andry, Mickey Ferintino, Ted Stepien.
Kneeling:  Eddie DePompei, Bobby Reid, Mark Klimko, Rich Petrunyak, Rick Citino, Buddy Langdon.
BatBoy:  Patrick Langdon   Photo taken in Willoughby, Ohio at Daniels Park
Not Pictured: Doc Booker

1982 UPSL

Home Run Leader    /  Dana Andry- Cleveland   67

RBI Leader   /  Mike Macenko - Cleveland   140

Home Run Leader    /  Dana Andry- Cleveland   67
RBI Leader   /  Mike Macenko - Cleveland   140
Batting  Average Leader   /  Dana Andry -  Cleveland - .618

LEAGUE LEADERS

Batting

Dana Andry, Cleveland  .618
Phil Higgins, Milw.          .572 
Paul Wright, Cleve.         .566 
Bill Gatti, Kentucky        .565
Derek Gallagher, Milw.  .560
Ken Parker, Kentucky    .540
Greg Whitlock, Kent.      .535

Home Runs 

Dana Andry, Cleveland   67
Mike Macenko, Cleve.    63
Charles Mitchell, Det.  57
Bill Gatti, Kentucky    47 
Dennis Graser, Milw     43
Joe Young, Lima         38
Ken Parker, Kentucky    36

   RBIs

Mike Macenko, Cleve.    140
Charles Mitchell, Det   133
Dana Andry, Cleveland   128
Dennis Graser, Milw.    122
 Steve Blanchette, Cle.  120
Bill Gatti, Kentucky    115
Ken Parker, Kentucky    102

1982 ALL-PRO TEAM

Dana Andry, Cleveland (MVP) Mike Macenko, Cleveland Bill Gatti, Kentucky
Rick Weiterman, Milwaukee Greg Whitlock, Kentucky Phil Higgins, Milwaukee
Ron Dorsey, South Jersey Paul Wright, Cleveland Derek Gallagher, Milwaukee
Ken Parker, Milwaukee* Charles Mitchell, Detroit Dennis Graser, Milwaukee
Steve Blanchette, Cleveland Joe Young, Lima

* Disceased 

Dana Andry
Cleveland Competitors
Rick Weiterman
Milwaukee Schlitz
Greg Whitlock
Kentucky Bournons
Mighty Joe Young
Lima Stars
Bill Gatti
Kentucky Bourbons

 

1982
Disbanded Teams: New England Pilgrims and Syracuse Salt
New Teams: Detroit Softball City (1981 Snyder's Softball Club),
           Cleveland Competitors(1981 Nationwide Advertising Services) and
           Lima Steele's (1981 Steele's Sports)

The UPSL folded after the 1982 season. There has not been a Professional Slow
Pitch Softball League since.

 

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