The Kentucky Bourbons were a professional softball team that played in two men's professional softball leagues between 1977 and 1982 at Bishop David Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky . The Bourbons, Cincinnati Suds and Pittsburgh Hardhats were the only three teams to play all 6 seasons of professional softball.
38-563: The American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) was formed by former World Football League executive Bill Byrne , who would go on to form the Women's Professional Basketball League . Former New York Yankees player Whitey Ford was brought on to serve as league commissioner. The Bourbons were owned by Don Rardin Sr., who started the team in 1977, but then sold the club the following year to Larry Gatti, who owned several McDonald's franchises in
76-468: A year with the Cincinnati Suds , and Bill Gatti (.533, 20 HRs, 79 RBIs) made the all-APSPL team in 1979. Rardin, Gatti, Cobbie Harrison, Chuck Winders, and Phil Schroer of Kentucky all represented Kentucky in the mid-season all-star game. Winders (.409, 6 HRs, 60 RBIs) and Nick Nikitas .493, 95 runs scored) had productive campaigns in 1979. 1980 was a year of division in professional softball as
114-756: Is a member of the American Softball Association Hall of Fame, inducted in 2000, and is also honored in the United States Slowpitch Softball Association (USSSA) Hall of Fame. Men%27s professional softball leagues During the late 1970s and early 1980s, several men's professional slow-pitch softball leagues were formed in the United States to build on the growth and talent in the booming men's amateur game during this period. The American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL)
152-721: The Atlanta Hawks for two seasons. He would begin playing for the Bourbons in 1981 when his NBA career ended, earning regular playing time as an outfielder, and contributed in the World Series win over New England. In 1982 the Bourbons won the Western Division with a 38–23 (.623) record, earning a first-round bye, but lost in the playoff semifinals to the Milwaukee Schlitz, 3–2, with a 23–22 loss in
190-670: The Cleveland Stepien's Competitors , Fort Wayne Huggie Bears and Milwaukee broke away from the APSPL to form a new league (North American Softball League) in 1980, under the leadership of Cleveland owner Ted Stepien . The Bourbons continued in the reduced numbers of the APSPL. Stepien placed NASL teams in several APSPL markets, including Cincinnati and Pittsburgh , also placing a team, the Lexington Stallions , in nearby Lexington, Kentucky . Stepien owned many of
228-686: The Louisville, Kentucky area. Both men had sons who would be all-pro players for the Bourbons. In the 1977 APSPL season the Bourbons won the Central Division finishing eight games ahead of the Cleveland Jaybirds . The Bourbons' 40–16 (.714) record was the 2nd best in the APSPL behind only the 42–14 (.750) tally of the Midwest Division champion and eventual World Series champions Detroit Caesars . Kentucky lost in
266-454: The NBA , and retired MLB players Ralph Garr , Norm Cash , Bruce Miller , Jim Price , Darrel Chaney , Jim Northrup , Gene Hiser , Mickey Stanley , Danny Napoleon , Dick McAuliffe , and Zoilo Versalles . Few had much success in professional softball, playing part-time and promotional roles. The notable exception was former New York Yankee and Chicago Cub Joe Pepitone who played for
304-406: The NBA , and retired MLB players Ralph Garr , Norm Cash , Bruce Miller , Jim Price , Darrel Chaney , Jim Northrup , Gene Hiser , Mickey Stanley , Danny Napoleon , Dick McAuliffe , and Zoilo Versalles . Few had much success in professional softball, playing part-time and promotional roles. The notable exception was former New York Yankee and Chicago Cub Joe Pepitone who played for
342-557: The North American Softball League (NASL), under the leadership of Cleveland owner Ted Stepien , who owned 6 of the 8 teams in the league (only Fort Wayne and Milwaukee had non-Stepien ownership in the new league), while the APSPL continued with just 6 teams. Former Major League Baseball players Mudcat Grant and Joe Pepitone served as PR officials for the new league; Pepitone would also play for Chicago Nationwide Advertising , having played previously for
380-762: The Trenton Statesmen franchise in the APSPL. The owners of the APSPL Pittsburgh Hardhats unsuccessfully challenged Stepien in court in an attempt to prevent the new league from splitting the young professional sport. The NASL only lasted the one season. Also in 1980, Stepien made the news when he held a promotional event for the league in Cleveland in which he dropped softballs from the 52nd floor of Terminal Tower to be caught by outfielders from his Cleveland Competitors team. The balls were estimated to be traveling at 144 mph by
418-560: The Trenton Statesmen franchise in the APSPL. The owners of the APSPL Pittsburgh Hardhats unsuccessfully challenged Stepien in court in an attempt to prevent the new league from splitting the young professional sport. The NASL only lasted the one season. Also in 1980, Stepien made the news when he held a promotional event for the league in Cleveland in which he dropped softballs from the 52nd floor of Terminal Tower to be caught by outfielders from his Cleveland Competitors team. The balls were estimated to be traveling at 144 mph by
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#1732797251017456-547: The Trenton Statesmen . Pepitone put up respectable numbers in 1978 (110–225, .489, 14 HRs, 61 RBIs) and 1979 (50-122, .410, 9 HRs, 30 RBIs). The Detroit Caesars would even offer $ 30,000 to the Statesmen to buy Pepitone's contract in 1978. That offer was rejected. After the New Jersey franchise disbanded in 1979, Pepitone went on to serve as the team president and played first base for Chicago Nationwide Advertising in
494-431: The Trenton Statesmen . Pepitone put up respectable numbers in 1978 (110–225, .489, 14 HRs, 61 RBIs) and 1979 (50-122, .410, 9 HRs, 30 RBIs). The Detroit Caesars would even offer $ 30,000 to the Statesmen to buy Pepitone's contract in 1978. That offer was rejected. After the New Jersey franchise disbanded in 1979, Pepitone went on to serve as the team president and played first base for Chicago Nationwide Advertising in
532-791: The 1978 cause. The 1979 squad finished with a league best regular season record of 48–15 (.762) and defeated the Trenton Champales 3–0 in the first-round and the Rochester Zeniths 3–1 in the semi-finals. to advance to the APSPL World Series. Games were featured on the new start-up sports network ESPN with the Bourbons losing the series 5–2 to the Milwaukee Schlitz with league and World Series MVP Rick Weiterman. Phil Schroer (40–8 pitching, 3.84 ERA), Don Rardin (.486, 22 HRs, 87 RBIs), returned from
570-588: The 1982 season, ending the pro era of men's softball. Of note historically, the first sporting event to air on ESPN on September 7, 1979 was an APSPL championship game between the Milwaukee Schlitz and Kentucky Bourbons . A number of prominent athletes from other sports came to the professional softball leagues. Major League Baseball baseball veterans Jim Rivera , Curt Blefary , Johnny Callison and Milt Pappas managed teams. Softball players included former National Football League stars Billy "White Shoes" Johnson and Bob Lurtsema , Rick Wilson from
608-588: The 1982 season, ending the pro era of men's softball. Of note historically, the first sporting event to air on ESPN on September 7, 1979 was an APSPL championship game between the Milwaukee Schlitz and Kentucky Bourbons . A number of prominent athletes from other sports came to the professional softball leagues. Major League Baseball baseball veterans Jim Rivera , Curt Blefary , Johnny Callison and Milt Pappas managed teams. Softball players included former National Football League stars Billy "White Shoes" Johnson and Bob Lurtsema , Rick Wilson from
646-414: The 5th game with Milwaukee scoring in the final inning. The Schlitz advanced and beat Detroit Softball City 5–2 to win the 1982 UPSL title. Bill Gatti (.554, 46 HRs), Greg Whitlock (.535) and Ken Parker (36 HRs, 107 RBIs ) represented Kentucky on the all-league team. Steve Stewart went 35–20 pitching for the Bourbons and Pat Paulson had a strong year hitting .503 with 91 runs scored. Rick Wilson had left
684-539: The Bourbons early in the 1981 season. The UPSL folded after the conclusion of the 1982 season, ending professional play and returning players to the amateur leagues. The demise of the Bourbons coincided with the arrival of minor-league AAA baseball in Louisville with the Louisville Redbirds who would go on to set records for minor league baseball attendance in 1982. Bourbon third-baseman Bill Gatti
722-406: The Bourbons finished with 30 wins and 34 losses (.469), ten games behind the Central Division champion Cincinnati Suds and failed to make the playoffs. Bill Gatti (.584, 54 HRs, 132 RBIs, 131 runs scored) and Fred Miller (.549, 57 HRs, 141 RBIs) represented the Bourbons on the 1978 All-APSPL team. Fred Miller (.549, 57 HRs, 141 RBIs) and Phil Schrorer (.507, 3 HRs, 58 RBIs, 27–26 pitching) added to
760-603: The NASL teams, including the Stallions. The owner of the Pittsburgh Hardhats of the APSPL brought a challenge in federal court in an attempt to prevent splitting the young professional sport. Donnie Rardin of the Bourbons was brought on by Stepien and would play for and serve as General Manager for Lexington, former Bourbon Dave Bair would play and manage the team, and ex-Bourbon pitcher Phil Schroer joined them on
798-1064: The North American Softball League (NASL) in their 1980 season. The professional softball era showcased some of the all-time best in softball history with several pro era veterans represented in the American Softball Association Hall of Fame - Tex Collins (Detroit), Ron Ford (Detroit), Jim Galloway (New York, Trenton), Bill Gatti (Kentucky), Mike Gouin (Detroit), Dennis Graser (Milwaukee), Mike Nye (Detroit), Steve Loya (Cleveland), Mike Mancenko (Cleveland), Willie Simpson (Chicago), Bert Smith (Detroit), and manager Eddie Zolna (Chicago). In addition, pro softball alumni Rick Weiterman (Milwaukee), Cal Carmen (Rochester, Detroit), Gary Vitto (Detroit), Chuck Drewicz (Detroit), Bill Gatti (Kentucky), Mike Mancenko (Cleveland), and Braxton Speller, Jr. (Detroit) are members of United States Slowpitch Softball Association (USSSA) Hall of Fame. Team chosen by Robert Brown, former NASL league commissioner (Note that teams are listed horizontally if
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#1732797251017836-979: The North American Softball League (NASL) in their 1980 season. The professional softball era showcased some of the all-time best in softball history with several pro era veterans represented in the American Softball Association Hall of Fame - Tex Collins (Detroit), Ron Ford (Detroit), Jim Galloway (New York, Trenton), Bill Gatti (Kentucky), Mike Gouin (Detroit), Dennis Graser (Milwaukee), Mike Nye (Detroit), Steve Loya (Cleveland), Mike Mancenko (Cleveland), Willie Simpson (Chicago), Bert Smith (Detroit), and manager Eddie Zolna (Chicago). In addition, pro softball alumni Rick Weiterman (Milwaukee), Cal Carmen (Rochester, Detroit), Gary Vitto (Detroit), Chuck Drewicz (Detroit), Bill Gatti (Kentucky), Mike Mancenko (Cleveland), and Braxton Speller, Jr. (Detroit) are members of United States Slowpitch Softball Association (USSSA) Hall of Fame. Team chosen by Robert Brown, former NASL league commissioner (Note that teams are listed horizontally if
874-517: The Stallions. Meanwhile, in 1980, the Bourbons were the APSPL regular season best with a record of 49–13 (.790) but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Pittsburgh Hardhats 3–2. Steve Stewart (40–14 pitching record), Nick Nikitas (.464, 82 runs scored), former Detroit Caesar Jack Roudebush (.464, 3 HRs, 48 RBIs), Bill Gatti (.483, 21 HRs, 81 RBIs) and Greg Whitlock (.435, 2 HRs, 42 RBIs) won all-league honors in 1980; Gatti led
912-627: The best of 9 series moved to the Pilgrims home field. An opening split with the series now in Connecticut set up a double-header. New England took the first game 8–6 to tighten the series, but an explosive start with Rick Wilson homering, Cobbie Harrison with a triple and timely hitting from Greg Kemp and Mike O'Brien, the 14–11 victory secured the first pro softball title for Kentucky 5–3 (12–17, 11–7, 12–6, 16–5, 10–11, 14–11, 6–8, 14–11). Bourbon Greg Whitlock (.581, 5 RBIs, 3 2Bs, 14 runs scored)
950-433: The first round with Jimmie Hammond's sacrifice fly scoring Rick Wilson in the 7th inning of game three to sweep the opening series. The Bourbons would take on the league-best Cincinnati Suds in the semi-finals, winning 3–2 (2–10, 6–7, 13–12, 4–3, 6–5), including a nail-biting 6–5 victory in the deciding 5th game. The Suds took the first two games, the Bourbons responded by winning the next two, with Dave Whitlock singling in
988-422: The leadership of Cleveland owner Ted Stepien , who owned 6 of the 8 teams in the league (only Fort Wayne and Milwaukee had non-Stepien ownership in the new league), while the APSPL continued with just 6 teams. Former Major League Baseball players Mudcat Grant and Joe Pepitone served as PR officials for the new league; Pepitone would also play for Chicago Nationwide Advertising , having played previously for
1026-455: The league in home-runs (21) and RBIs (81). The NASL lasted just one season, and the APSPL combined with the NASL for 1980, although the only team from the NASL to come to the new United Professional Softball League (UPSL) was Milwaukee as other NASL franchises, including Lexington, disbanded. The Bourbons edged into the 1981 USPL playoff with a 36–24 (.600) and a third-place Western Division finish, 6 games back of Cincinnati, but improving as
1064-472: The playoff semifinals 2–1 to the East Division champion Baltimore Monuments , led by semi-finals playoff MVP Johnny Dollar. Phil Schroer (15–5 pitching), Bill Gatti (.539, 48 HRs, 127 RBIs) and Don Rardin (.536, 4 HRs, 51 RBIs, 81 runs scored) of the Bourbons made the all-league team. Cobbie Harrison (.437, 17 HRs, 60 RBIs) and Nick Nikitas (.480, 78 runs scored) had solid seasons in support. In 1978
1102-469: The same franchise changed names) Men%27s professional softball leagues During the late 1970s and early 1980s, several men's professional slow-pitch softball leagues were formed in the United States to build on the growth and talent in the booming men's amateur game during this period. The American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) was the first such league, launching in an era of experimentation in professional sports leagues. The APSPL
1140-457: The season went along. It was a season of drama in Louisville as team moved manager Steve Coffman to the front office after a slow start, replacing him with player-manager Cobbie Harrison, catcher Jim Roudebush left the team, and then the team voted to release "talented but temperamental" outfielder Mike LaFever for unprofessional conduct, but would end up allowing him to return later in the season. The team also lost outfielder Chuck Winders late in
1178-570: The season when he quit the team after an on-field fight with Bill Gatti in Milwaukee, which was followed that same night by player-manager Cobbie Harrison getting into a fight with a Milwaukee fan as the team loaded onto the bus post-game, resulting in Harrison's mother breaking her hip in the fracas. The drama flowed into the post-season as the Bourbons beat the Schlitz 3–0 (5–4, 13–4, 11–10) in
Kentucky Bourbons - Misplaced Pages Continue
1216-495: The time they reached the street, damaging cars and injuring several spectators. One was caught by Cleveland outfielder Mike Zarefoss. In 1981 the APSPL merged with NASL to create the United Professional Softball League (UPSL), but only the Milwaukee franchise came from the NASL to the new league as the other NASL teams folded. The merged league competed for two seasons, before disbanding after
1254-404: The time they reached the street, damaging cars and injuring several spectators. One was caught by Cleveland outfielder Mike Zarefoss. In 1981 the APSPL merged with NASL to create the United Professional Softball League (UPSL), but only the Milwaukee franchise came from the NASL to the new league as the other NASL teams folded. The merged league competed for two seasons, before disbanding after
1292-477: The winning run in a 4–4 game in the bottom of the 7th of the 4th game in the series, only to have the post-game marred when Kentucky fans threw beer cans at Cincinnati players, leading Cincinnati manager Gerry Weidmann to declare, "I can't stand this place." In the 5th game, former Sud Mike O'Brien singled in Rick Wilson in the bottom of the seventh to give the Bourbons a shot at the title. Bill Gatti said, "it
1330-526: Was a team victory, the kind that puts chills down your spine." Having beaten the two teams with better records in their division, Kentucky would advance to the first UPSL World Series against the New England Pilgrims . Kentucky dropped the opener, but an impassioned Cobbied Harrison hit three home-runs in the second game to keep the series competitive. The Bourbons swept a pair behind the hitting of Greg Whitlock and Dave Whitlock to go up 3–1 as
1368-493: Was formed in 1977 by former World Football League executive Bill Byrne , who would go on to found the Women's Professional Basketball League . Former New York Yankees star Whitey Ford was the first APSPL commissioner. In 1980, three teams, the Milwaukee Schlitz , the Fort Wayne Huggie Bears and Cleveland Stepien's Competitors , broke away to form the North American Softball League (NASL), under
1406-532: Was the MVP of the 1981 World Series and Bill Gatti the league MVP, winning the triple crown of home runs (38), RBIs (99) and batting average (.622). Steve Stewart (35–20 pitching), Greg Whitlock (.474, 2 HRs, 37 RBIs) and Dave Whitlock (.443, 19 HRs, 65 RBIs) made the all-UPSL squad with Bourbon player-manager Cobbie Harrison. Rick Wilson , former basketball standout at the University of Louisville , had played with
1444-477: Was the first such league, launching in an era of experimentation in professional sports leagues. The APSPL was formed in 1977 by former World Football League executive Bill Byrne , who would go on to found the Women's Professional Basketball League . Former New York Yankees star Whitey Ford was the first APSPL commissioner. In 1980, three teams, the Milwaukee Schlitz , the Fort Wayne Huggie Bears and Cleveland Stepien's Competitors , broke away to form
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