A lefthanded pitcher who played with championship girls fastpitch softball teams throughout her career, Jean Simms Pierman won particular fame as a strikeout artist. She once struck out 21 batters in a no-hit game. Jean played in numerous city, national and international championships. She also starred in basketball and became an excellent bowler after her softball career ended.
A ten-time All-American pick at ASA National Slow Pitch Tournaments, Ida Jean Hopkins was chosen as the tournament’s most valuable player in 1967, 1968 and 1970, when she was the tourney’s leading hitter with a .704 average. She played fastpitch softball for ten years before switching to slow pitch in 1960. Ida began managing slow pitch teams in 1964, and coached her teams to eleven Regional ASA Tournament wins in 12 years and the national tournament in 1967.
Marge Wood played in nine World Softball tournaments as an outfielder and pitcher, and on an equal number of Metropolitan Cleveland championship teams between 1936 and 1951. She threw numerous no-hitters, several in World Tournament competition, and averaged ten strikeouts per game. Marge once hit four home runs in four at bats for the Rosenblums in a championship qualifier contest.
Rated one of the greatest catchers in the history of the sport, Ann Smith Downs was equally renowned for her hitting, her throwing arm and her ability to handle pitchers. She played on the Cleveland area’s finest teams, ending her career with the National Screw & Manufacturing Co. team that won the World Girls Softball championship. Ann also became one of the top women basketball players in Cleveland.
Mary “Whitey” Doljack Primosch played for Cleveland’s famed Bloomer Girls team, winning the 1935 National Championship at Soldier’s Field in Chicago. It was her home run that won the deciding game for the Cleveland team. She played short center and occasionally caught. Mary competed for numerous City championship squads during her career.
Marge Kelley Cook starred for the Favorite Knits, Fleming Furniture and Blepp-Coombs teams during the period from 1922-1930, when those teams were perennial international champions. A righthanded fastball pitcher, she also played the outfield because of her outstanding ability as a hitter. Marge frequently pitched successfully against men’s teams.
Ron Annotico played in eight softball World Championships, beginning in 1956. Selected as All-World center fielder three times in those championships, every team on which he played from 1956 through 1962 won its league championship. Ron was recognized by his peers as Cleveland’s finest softball player of that era.
Eddie Marotta won the 126 pound national Golden Gloves and AAU crowns in 1947. He was a consistent top-rung fighter in the amateur ranks with over 100 wins before turning professional.
A short fielder who played between the infield and outfield on ten-man teams in the 1920s and 1930s, Herb Timm was renowned for his fielding and base stealing. A better than .350 average hitter for the 14 years he competed in both 14-inch and 12-inch play, he rarely struck out and almost always reached base.
One of the greatest 14-inch softball pitchers in Cleveland history, Bill Miller regularly fanned 21 or more players in nine-inning games and once struck out 27 batters. He seldom lost a game in the 12 years he pitched. Bill led his Comella Sports team to four titles. Ultimately, he quit playing when the 12-inch ball was adopted by local leagues.