News story

20 Players, Managers, Pioneers Inducted into Hall of Fame

Sept. 1, 2003 – Senior Softball-USA

Twenty players and officials have been elected to join the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame as part of one of the largest honored groups in history.

Heading the list this year are manager Al Meyers and pioneer players Don Berg, Larry McNamara and Don Bento. In addition, 11 current players were elected into the Hall of Fame this year.

Manager Al Meyers' first year in senior softball was in 1986 when he joined the Redwood City Reds, a 50+ Major caliber team before there was an official distinction). He was both the team's pitcher and assistant manager.

The Reds participated in the first official Senior Softball World Series in 1989 in North Carolina and won the 50+ world title with Meyers as the manager. Meyers, who lives in Redwood City, Calif., moved on to manage Remax Today, a 55+ Major team and in 1996 Meyers started the Nor Cal Bluejays, a 60+ Major team.

In his seven-year stint at the helm of the Bluejays, the team has played in 14 national championship games, winning 10 of them.

Tom Palma, a member of the Hall of Fame and a member of the Bluejays, says "Al has always been a dedicated manager and has also sponsored many senior softball teams without gaining any advertisement or benefit for himself or his own company. He has helped several players to continue playing senior softball and helped promote competitive softball in our area by sponsoring major caliber teams every year.

The purpose of the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame is to recognize the players, managers, directors, umpires and pioneers of senior softball. The pioneer category is among the most highly regarded amongst all those in senior softball. Those elected this year include:

- Don Berg, 82, from La Mesa, Calif., who has been playing senior softball for 19 years. His teams have won 18 national and world championships.

- Cal Van Boxell, 76, from Riverview, Mich., who has been in senior softball for 26 years. He has played in 13 World Series and started the Michigan Ascot League.

- Fred Massey, 80, a resident of Las Vegas who has been in senior softball for a dozen years. He played for the San Diego Silver Hawks which won six national and world championships.

- Lou Palmisiano, 80, from Delray Beach, Fla. He has played senior softball for 23 years and has been in more than 3,700 senior softball games. He played on four national championship teams.

- Dominick Pasquariello who plays on the Car Center (Maryland) 70s team.

- Phil Seewald, 81, a resident of El Cajon, Calif., who has played senior softball for 20 years. He plays for the San Diego Silver Hawks and has been an All-World or All-American player nine times.

- Larry McNamara, 67, from Fairfield, Calif., who manages the Sky Trek Old A's which has won 11 national tournaments in the last three years. He has been in senior softball for 16 years.

- Don Bento, 65, is a resident of Mario, Ind., who has been in senior softball for 17 years and was elected in the special category: player/umpire/director. He played on two national champion teams as a member of the Oklahoma Seniors and has been umpire/UIC in 11 national tournaments.

Among the 11 current players who joined the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame this year are the following:

Ronald Brown, 65, from Hendersonville, N.C. He plays for the Chatanooga Choo-Choos and has won eight first team All American Awards. He has played for 10 years and has been on seven World Championship teams.

Larry Campbell, 56, from Modesto, Calif. Campbell has played for the Redwood City Magic, the California Rebels and the Sky Trek Old A's. He has been named a first team All-American nine times.

John Dorsett, 58, from Concord, Calif. With eight years of senior softball experience, Dorsett has been named an All-American nine times and has played from Dan Smith Plastering, Redwood City Magic and the Sky Trek Old A's.

Edward Finnegan, 62, from Stratford, Conn. He has been named a first team All-American for the New York Statesmen 10 times during his distinguished career as the leadoff hitter.

Elbert W. "Andy" Harbin Jr., 54 from Dora, Alabama. He has played organized softball for 32 years and has played senior softball for Faith Electric, Hendricks and Alabama 50s. He has been a first team All-American nine times.

Jim Hellam, 56, from Concord, Calif. In just seven years in senior softball, Hellam has been named a first team All-American nine times playing for the Redwood City Magic, California Rebels and Sky Trek Old A's.

Terry Nafziger, 63, from Woodland, Calif. He has played senior softball for 13 years for the Northern California Angels, Dixie Gas, NorCal Bluejays, Old A's 60s and NorCal 60's. He has been named a first team All-American eight times.

James R. Peacock, 60, from Ivins, Utah. He has played senior softball for 10 years for the Skinny Dugans, Lady Luck and Tharaldsons and has been a first team All-American eight times.

John Wick, 56, from Massapequa, New York. He has played senior softball for seven years with the New York Statesmen and has been an All-American nine times.

Jim Wilson, 62, from San Carlos, Calif. He has played for 14 years in senior softball for the Nor Cal Angels, Men's Wearhouse and the Nor Cal Bluejays. He has been an All-American nine times.