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The New York Clippers were a professional softball team based in Mount Vernon, New York who played in the American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) in 1977.[1] The Clippers played for only one year and disbanded after the 1977 season.

File:Galloway, Clippers, 1977.jpg
Jim Galloway, New York Clippers

League history

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, several men's professional slow-pitch softball leagues were formed in the United States to build on the growth and talent in the booming men's amateur game during this period.[2][3] The American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) was the first such league, launching in an era of experimentation in professional sports leagues.[4] The APSPL was formed in 1977 by former World Football League executive Bill Byrne, who would go on to form the Women's Professional Basketball League.[5][6] Former New York Yankees player Whitey Ford was brought on to serve as league commissioner.[7][8]

New York Clippers

New York home games were played at Memorial Stadium in Mount Vernon, and the Clippers had signed local softball star, the "King of Slow Pitch," Jim Galloway.[9][10][11][2] The team had offered Ron Swoboda, formerly of the New York Mets, the managerial position but he declined after comparing his salary offer to those the Detroit Caesars were paying former Detroit Tigers Norm Cash and Jim Northrup.[12][13][14][15]

New York struggled to a 20-36 (.357) regular season record but advanced to the playoffs having finished second in the eastern division to the Baltimore Monuments.[16] Baltimore beat the Clippers 2-0 (15-14, 10-9) in the best of three first-round of the APSPL playoffs. The Monuments would advance to the APSPL World Series, losing 4-0 to the Detroit Caesars with Mike Nye of Detroit honored as series MVP. Benny Holt (.690, 89 HRs, 187 RBIs) of the Chicago Storm won the triple crown and the inaugural league MVP award. Frank Cammailere (.520, 16 HRs, 54 RBIs) made the all-pro team for 1977 for New York. Contributing were Gary Richter (587, 24 HRs, 71 RBIs) who won a Player of the Week award, Mike Foley (.585, 32 HRs, 85 RBIs) and Jim Galloway (.455, 26 HRs, 58 RBIs). Other players who had a solid season included Larry Chiapetta (528, 12 HRs, 42 RBIs) and John Dunn (.525 BA).[17]

File:Parker, Clippers, 1977.jpg
Jim Parker, New York Clippers

The true story of the season is that there were essentially two Clippers teams in 1977. More than halfway through the season, on July 29, with 20 games to go, team General Manager Steve Bernheim placed the bulk of the second-place team on waivers and team manager Strat Scarlotos left with the players.[18] Poor attendance had led to team owner Sandy Scheman asking the players to accept deferred payment on the season.[19] The players refused, the team waived the professional roster and then signed the new Clippers, bringing on the Jets of Westchester, an amateur team who had won the 1976 New York state American Softball Association championship.[20] New Clippers outfielder Tony DiCairano said "In the amateur tournaments we played in, the other teams would have one or two all-world players. The teams we're going against now have eight or nine."[21] The new Clippers proceeded to then lose their first 8 games, finishing the season and were the team swept in the playoffs by Baltimore in the first-round. Jim Parker of the new Clippers hit .571 in 9 in his nine games.[22] The team folded at the end of the season.[2][23]

Several of the Clippers professionals would reappear in the APSPL the next season - Richter, Dunn, Foley, Galloway and Chiapetta with the Trenton Statesmen; Cammilere and pitcher Sam Sapienza with the New England Pilgrims. Mike Foley made the 1978 all-APSPL squad with Trenton.[17][23]

Jim Galloway of the Clippers is a member of the American Softball Association Hall of Fame, inducted in 1985.[24]

New York Clippers record

Year Record Pct Finish Division Playoffs League
1977 20-36 .357 2nd Eastern - APSPL

References

  1. ^ "Clipped From Valley News". Valley News. May 25, 1977. p. 42 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c "ASPSL – Softball History USA". www.softballhistoryusa.com.
  3. ^ Carter, Russell (May 26, 1977). "Pro Slo-Pitch Softball Debuts Sunday" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  4. ^ "Ludington Daily News - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  5. ^ "Clipped From The Journal Times". The Journal Times. April 3, 1977. p. 47 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Clipped From The Courier-Journal". The Courier-Journal. September 3, 1978. p. 8 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Softball challenge - OOTP Developments Forums". forums.ootpdevelopments.com.
  8. ^ "Clipped From Lansing State Journal". Lansing State Journal. July 21, 1977. p. 42 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Hall of Fame comes calling for Lawrence". The Hour. November 16, 2007.
  10. ^ "Slow-Pitch Softball Is Fast With Runs; Slow-Pitch Softball Produces Homers And High Scores". timesmachine.nytimes.com.
  11. ^ "Clippers, Monuments Vie In Doubleheader Tonight (Published 1977)". The New York Times. June 26, 1977.
  12. ^ "Ludington Daily News - Google News Archive Search".
  13. ^ Hannon, Kent. "It's easy come, easy go". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com.
  14. ^ "Clipped From The Kingston Daily Freeman". The Kingston Daily Freeman. May 22, 1977. p. 29 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Clipped From The Kingston Daily Freeman". The Kingston Daily Freeman. May 22, 1977. p. 33 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "1977 Champions". Detroit Caesars.
  17. ^ a b "Professional Slow Pitch Softball History". www.angelfire.com.
  18. ^ "Clipped From The Herald Statesman". The Herald Statesman. July 30, 1977. p. 14 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Clipped From Lancaster Eagle-Gazette". Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. May 25, 1977. p. 19 – via newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "ASA of New York State Slow Pitch Softball Champions". www.norristownsoftball.com.
  21. ^ "14 Aug 1977, 532 - Daily News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Clipped From Daily News". Daily News. August 14, 1977. p. 532 – via newspapers.com.
  23. ^ a b "Clipped From Democrat and Chronicle". Democrat and Chronicle. June 18, 1978. p. 62 – via newspapers.com.
  24. ^ https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/National-Softball-Hall-of-Fame/Members [bare URL]
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