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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. The owner of the Cleveland franchise. Once Steve went to the Birds a number of players from the Cleveland area signed after they saw that Steve would. He had that kind of following. A handful of players survived the 5 years the league was ran. Eddie Depompei, Bobby Reid, Buddy Langdon, had made it through those years and was part of Clevelands last Pro team. Below I have some stats from that year and a photo of our team. We had a lot of talent on that team.
Even though I only played the onme year I really enjoyed playing in the Pro League because it was a different style of softball. It was more of put a couple of people on base and then try and jack one over the fence. As time went by by the end of my career that was type of team we had finally puit together. Where everyone on the team could hit it out.
In 1982 Dana Andry had one of the best seasons anyone ever had in Cleveland. He led our team and the leaue in home runs. Dana who is a big man not only hit home runs he also did the pitching and was voted the MVP of the league. To me he was very deserving of the award.
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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, Micky 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
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
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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
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Home Run Leader / Dana Andry- Cleveland 67
RBI Leader / Mike Macenko - Cleveland 140
Batting Average Leader / Dana Andry - Cleveland - .618
LEAGUE LEADERS
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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
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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
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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
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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 |
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Joe Young, Lima |
* Disceased
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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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