More than 20 years after his last ISF Men's World Championship appearance, Kevin Herlihy's name is still in the record books.

REMEMBERING KEVIN HERLIHY
2006-07-06

The International Softball Federation (ISF) joins with the rest of the international softball community today in mourning the loss of Kevin Herlihy, who passed away last night in Waikato Hospital following a heart attack. He was 58 years old.

Elected to the ISF Hall of Fame in 1991 as one of the first three male New Zealand players so honored, Herlihy played in an eye-popping six ISF Men’s World Championships, from the inaugural event in 1966 to the 1984 tournament in Michigan (USA). Over that span he won two gold medals and two bronze medals, going out on top by pitching a perfect game at his last world championship.

Following his playing career Herlihy was a selector with the New Zealand men's team during the early 1990s, pitching coach with the Black Sox in 1996, and attended the 2000 Olympics with the White Sox.

Former Black Sox coach Mike Walsh said, “I rate Kevin along with Michael White as two of the best pitchers New Zealand has ever produced. In the early days the New Zealand team didn't have the big hitting skills but he kept New Zealand in every game. New Zealand was a tough team to beat because of his outstanding pitching."

Inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Softball New Zealand Hall of Fame in 1995, Herlihy wrote a book called “Striking Out,” which was published in 1997.

He leaves behind a wife and two children.