Softball Hall of Fame Museum Construction Nears Completion

By Don DeBat

With exterior construction nearly complete, work on the Chicago 16-Inch Softball Hall of Fame Museum is progressing at a rapid pace, HOF officials report.

“Our 16-year journey to launch the Hall of Fame Museum is moving toward a possible opening date in 2014,” said Al Maag, historian and co-founder of the Chicago 16-Inch Softball Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame Museum, at Des Plaines and Harrison streets in Forest Park, is adjacent to the Inductee Park where photos and information on the more than 300 inductees have been on display since 2009.

“Our building exterior and mechanical infrastructure is completed thanks to a superb job by Topps Construction,” said Maag. “We are currently also in the process of designing the interior displays, graphics and videos with Spark Design, ZM Productions and the Motif Exhibit Co.”

The museum will have interactive programs, feature different aspects of the game including the evolution of uniforms and equipment, and describe the timeline of the sport and honor all the best men and women players, teams, organizers and umpires, Maag noted.

“We are extremely excited about the progress of the museum and support of the Forest Park community and Park District of Forest Park to allow this venue to take shape,” said Ron Kubicki, president of the Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame honors both men and women—players, historic teams, organizers, managers and umpires—who since the 1920s have “excelled at their craft, provided thrills and memories and have set the benchmark for future generations,” said Kubicki.

“Today, we are looking for any memorabilia—especially film footage and photos before the 1970s—that could be considered for inclusion in the museum archives,” Kubicki said.

The Hall of Fame also is in the process of raising the $200,000 in additional donations required to complete the project.

“With all the great companies and individuals who played the sport we hope to raise the funds in 2013,” Kubicki said. “Our initial main sponsor’s roster include some of the best local and national brands—Waste Management, MB Financial Bank, Molex, March Manufacturing, Rawlings, Avnet and Vienna.”

“The museum’s interior displays will feature vintage uniforms, championship trophies, bats, spikes, photos, home movies and videos, such as the classic softball video on U-Tube titled ‘Royko at the Goat,’” Maag said.

Preliminary plans call for a video monitor wall depicting great plays, a series of kiosk displays and mannequins dressed in vintage softball uniforms to fully develop the history and legacy of 16-inch softball in Chicago.

Plus, there will be touch-screen information and interviews with all inductees and teams, organizers, umpires, managers and the media. Plaster casts of players’ hands and a timeline in sports history and softball also will be displayed.

Plans are also in place for rotating displays each quarter will showcase teams, the strategy of how to play the game, impact of 16-inch softball on Chicagoans, and neighborhoods, including Forest Park.

The Hall of Fame will host its 17th annual Inductee Dinner on April 13, 2013 at Drury Lane in Oak Brook. Tickets for the event—which include a four-course dinner, four hours of open bar and free parking—are still available for $100 each. Tickets are $125 at the door, and $75 for people under 21 years of age. For more information, call Donna Levy at 630-544-5054.