Professional Slow Pitch Softball League
Encyclopedia
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
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 Slow Pitch League (APSPL) was the first such league, lasting from 1977 to 1980. In 1981, it merged with the North American Softball League (NASL), which had played only one season (1980), to then create the United Professional Softball League (UPSL). The merged league competed for two seasons, before disbanding after the 1982 season, ending the pro era of men's softball. However, there is a current and active fast-pitch
Fastpitch softball
Fast-pitch softball is a form of softball played commonly by women and men, though coed fast-pitch leagues also exist. The International Softball Federation is the international governing body of softball...
women's league, the National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago...
, which has been active since reforming in 2004.
Pro Softball World Series games
APSPL World Series- 1977 - Detroit CaesarsDetroit CaesarsThe Detroit Caesars were a professional softball team that began play in the American Professional Slow Pitch Softball League in 1977, the first of three professional softball leagues.-History:...
, 4-0 over Baltimore Monuments - 1978 - Detroit Caesars, 4-0 over Minnesota Norsemen
- 1979 - Milwaukee Schlitz, 5-4 over Kentucky Bourbons
NASL World Series
- 1980 - Milwaukee Schlitz, 5-2 over Detroit Auto KingsDetroit Auto KingsThe Detroit Auto Kings were a professional softball team that played during the 1980 season in the North American Softball League , one of three professional softball leagues active in the pro softball era...
United Professional Softball League World Series
- 1981 - Kentucky Bourbons, 5-3 over New England Pilgrims
- 1982 - Milwaukee Schlitz, 5-1 over Detroit Softball City