BRITISH HALL TO INDUCT FIRST MEMBERS
2007-02-16

The first group of individuals chosen for the new British Softball Federation (BSF) Hall of Fame will be inducted at a ceremony to be held tomorrow at the Federation’s annual general meeting in London.

The initial class of twelve are former players, umpires, organizers, national team managers, or development workers who, in the words of the Hall of Fame statement of purpose, have “played a major role in the growth and development of, or demonstrated outstanding achievement and ability within, British Softball.”

While these first Hall of Fame members have been elected by a Committee established by the BSF Executive, nominations in 2007 and succeeding years will be opened up to the British Softball community as a whole.

British Softball first became organized in 1984, and was the beneficiary of some early help from the International Softball Federation (ISF) following a visit to London that year by the world governing body’s President, Don Porter.

Since then the development of softball in Britain has been primarily in the slowpitch discipline and Britain is now the five-time European Slowpitch Champion. But the British Men’s Fastpitch Team achieved a ninth place ranking at the World Championship in 2004 and the GB Women’s Fastpitch Team finished 10th at the World Championship in Beijing in 2006.

Below is a list of the first members who will enter the British Softball Federation Hall of Fame and the categories in which they have been chosen. (In order to be eligible for British Hall of Fame selection, an individual must no longer be active in the category for which he or she has been nominated.)

British-Born Players: Julian Aldridge* and Kate Allen

Foreign-Born Players: Tim Richey, Paul Gambaccini, and Eddie Sanchez

Umpires: Dave Allen and Vince McGuire

National Team Managers/Coaches: Mark Berman

Administrators/Organizers: Andy Cannon, Rikki Gemmell, Julian Aldridge*, and Sarah-Jane Glover

Development Achievements: Natalie Fox

(* - elected in two categories)

Bios on the above individuals can be found here

Visit the ISF’s Hall of Fame page here

(report contributed by British Softball Federation)