Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

Since things are going to be a little bit slow for a while, I thought I would post this;
In 1960-61, my freshman and only year at UF, the only softball was some slow pitch intermurals. Since I mention softball and U F, I guess I’m on topic! The big news at that time was about the Clearwater Bombers and their star pitcher, Bill Massey. I couldn’t remember his name. All I could remember he could throw 100 mph.i googled and found his Hall of Fame write up. Enjoy!
Bill Massey, Bremond, TX Men’s Fast Pitch – Pitcher

Not only an outstanding pitcher, but Massey also did not embarrass himself at-bat either. In fact, he once held the record for most triples in a national championship (3) and batted .300 (21-for-70) in national championship play. But pitching was Massey’s bread and butter as he starred for some of the nation’s top teams during a 27-year career, including the Clearwater, FL Bombers, the Raybestos Cardinals of Stratford, CT, the Houston, TX Bombers and the Texas TI Texas. Early in his career Massey, a 6-2, 200 pounds, established himself as a hurler pitching for the Air Force and earned the first of six All-American selections while in the Air Force in 1958. That year he had a 31-8 record with 611 strikeouts and 73 walks. After getting discharged from the Air Force, Massey joined the famed Clearwater Bombers and remained with them through 1961. He was 24-2, 27-2 and 34-4 in his three seasons with the Bombers and played in the All-Star Fast Pitch Series in 1961 and 1963. After his first All-American selection, Massey was again named an All-American in 1959, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1967 and compiled a record of 16-8 in ASA National Championship Play striking out 242 batters in 160 2/3 innings and allowing only 11 earned runs for an ERA of 0.48. Born February 17, 1936, Massey participated in a unique experiment in 1961 against the Baltimore Orioles baseball pitcher Steve Barber, who was clocked at 95.55 miles per hour at 60 feet six inches. Massey was clocked at 98.8 miles per hour pitching from 46 feet, the distance from the pitcher’s mound to home plate in men’s fast pitch. An independent contractor involving in promotional products representing Tasco Industries of Dallas, TX, a national company in business for 55 years, Massey retired as an active player in 1974. Massey called his greatest thrill in softball winning the “World Championship with Clearwater in 1960 in Jones Beach, NY.” His biggest disappointment was losing the World Championship two years later with the Raybestos Cardinals. Massey played for the Cardinals from 1962-1964 and averaged 28 wins a season. In 1963, he was 28-5 and hurled 16 shutouts including four no hitters and one perfect game with 403 strikeouts in 242 innings.

 

I remember him and the Bombers. We even went to a couple of games.
The Raybestos Cardinals ring a bell, too.
There was also a barnstorming team that the pitcher pitched from 2B.
The name escapes me.

 

A fraternity brother of mine Tom Moore played for the Bombers and was an All-American shortstop for the Gators. You brought back great memories. Thanks

 

The barnstorming team was "The King and His Court", and the King was Eddie Feigner. It was him and three other guys that challenged all comers.

 

This is our new and favorite softball reporter.
Sorry for the blurriness.

 

I pledged SigEp, didn’t make my grades and suspended. I got to know Coach Dave Fuller, asst. football and head baseball, areally nice guy. I was hitching down from UF to Santa Fe High School to watch a game and Coach pick me up. I told him about Larry Dupree from Macclenny whom I blocked for. Our coach Tom Covington was scouting the game and I introduced them. He scouted Macclenny’s next game and Larry (UF ‘61-‘64) became an All American. Coach Fuller would always take time out to talk when we met on campus.

 

You are on a roll William. Larry Dupree was also a fraternity brother of mine. He was not a typical jock but a nice, quiet, sort of shy, unassuming guy.

 

So far, Lauren is doing a good job.

 

Here is a strange story OFF TOPIC. In the early fifties, Jack Toney was the first player from Macclenny High to play in the Annual Fl High School All Star Football Game, I was the first from the consolidated Baker Co. High in 1960 and Larry in 1961. Jack attended Chipola Junior College and made a bad decision to catch a ride back to school with a friend hauling shine. They were stopped by Trooper Eldridge Beech, later FHP Director. Jack tried to get away, but was shot by Beech. Larry of course married Beech’’s daughter Denise while at UF.

 

Of course, Sounds like a potential movie