Some sports are more regionalized than others—like the sport of 16-inch softball, for instance. Outside of the Midwest (most notably Chicago), the odds are that you never even knew that this sport existed. However, it’s an integral part of the Chicagoland sporting scene, extending the careers of softball players for generations to come. Here is the history of Chicago’s 16-inch softball and some fun factoids that may surprise you.
The glorious game of 16-inch softball just turned 134 years old over this Thanksgiving holiday. The inaugural match involved two of the biggest rivals for collegiate athletics: Yale and Harvard.
A small group was waiting on the outcome of the big football game between the two schools, and Yale came out victorious. Jubilant Yale fans gleefully threw a boxing glove towards the Harvard folks, who sent it back by hitting it with a broomstick. The glove replaced the ball—and so a new sport was spontaneously and inadvertently created.
The rules of 16-inch softball has a lot of similarities to a standard slowpitch game. There are still the position players, including the extra defender out in the field. The most noticeable difference between the two games is that the defenders of 26-inch softball aren’t wearing any gloves.
That’s right—these daredevils field their position with their bare hands. Fielding a ball without a glove is virtually impossible in a classic softball game, especially considering the ball’s velocity comes from a potent softball bat.
Yet, a 16-inch softball doesn’t travel as far and hard as a 12-inch ball, which makes it easier to handle. Due to the difficulty of having light tower power for a 16-inch ball, you can play this game on a smaller field, allowing more players to enjoy it.
You know it’s serious business when 16-inch softball has its own Hall of Fame. One of its most prominent inductees is Nat Clifton, one of the first African-American players who signed on the dotted line to play in the NBA in 1950. It’s located in Forest Park, Illinois, and it has more than 300 members still with us today.
The history of Chicago’s 16-inch softball makes the game unique to the people who call the city their home. It’s so meaningful for those in the community that it’s the official sport for boys in the Chicago Public School system. If you came through the school system from the time of the Cubs’ first World Series Championship to their last, you’ve probably tossed a 16-inch softball on the playground.
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