Robert Brown was the Director of the APSPL and the NASL and an executive with the Detroit Caesars and Detroit Softball City. Steve Dmitry is the historian for softball in the US and has done incredible work capturing both the professional and amateur history of the game in the US. Softball History USA reflects Steve's extensive work and Robert Brown was invaluable to him with the history of the professional era. History can disappear too easily if not for people like them.
Robert Brown's All-Time Pro Softball Team
Position, First Team Second Team
Pitcher- Rick Weiterman, Milwaukee; Dana Andry, Cleveland
Catcher- Bill Gatti, Kentucky; Benny Holt, Chicago-Cleveland
First Base- Doug Gerdes, Detroit; Dennis Graser, Milwaukee
Second Base- Donnie Rardin, Cincinnati-Kentucky-Lexington; Doug Czaplewski, Milwaukee
Shortstop- Rick Trudeau, Detroit; Denny Brown, Pittsburgh
Third Base- Buddy Haines, Chicago-Milwaukee; Gary Richter, New York-Trenton
Outfield- Ron Ford, Detroit; Gene Parrish, Minnesota; Mike Nye, Detroit; Ken Parker, Milwaukee-Kentucky; Phil Higgins, Milwaukee; Fred Miller, Kentucky-Cleveland; Mike Gouin, Detroit; Ron Olesiak, Chicago
Utility- Rick Petrunyak, Cleveland; Lawrence Hutcherson, Baltimore-Philadelphia; Jim Dillard, Milwaukee; John Spadaccino, New Jersey-Trenton-South Jersey; Bert Smith, Detroit
Manager- Gary Vitto, Detroit; Mike Basile, Milwaukee
All-Time Greatest Pro Softball Team - 1978 Detroit Caesars - 49-15 regular season record, Division Champs (Mid-West) - Undefeated in Playoffs (55-15 overall record ), World Series Champs - HR, RBI and Batting Leader, league MVP and World Series MVP - 7 Players on APSPL 1978 all-league team - 6 Players and Manager on All-Time Pro Softball Team
All-Time Greatest Pro Softball Player - Bill Gatti - 1980 APSPL MVP, 1981 UPSL MVP - 6 time member of the All-Pro Team - 1980 APSPL HR and RBI Champion - 1981 UPSL Triple Crown winner (HR, RBI and Batting Average Champion)
Position, First Team Second Team
Pitcher- Rick Weiterman, Milwaukee; Dana Andry, Cleveland
Catcher- Bill Gatti, Kentucky; Benny Holt, Chicago-Cleveland
First Base- Doug Gerdes, Detroit; Dennis Graser, Milwaukee
Second Base- Donnie Rardin, Cincinnati-Kentucky-Lexington; Doug Czaplewski, Milwaukee
Shortstop- Rick Trudeau, Detroit; Denny Brown, Pittsburgh
Third Base- Buddy Haines, Chicago-Milwaukee; Gary Richter, New York-Trenton
Outfield- Ron Ford, Detroit; Gene Parrish, Minnesota; Mike Nye, Detroit; Ken Parker, Milwaukee-Kentucky; Phil Higgins, Milwaukee; Fred Miller, Kentucky-Cleveland; Mike Gouin, Detroit; Ron Olesiak, Chicago
Utility- Rick Petrunyak, Cleveland; Lawrence Hutcherson, Baltimore-Philadelphia; Jim Dillard, Milwaukee; John Spadaccino, New Jersey-Trenton-South Jersey; Bert Smith, Detroit
Manager- Gary Vitto, Detroit; Mike Basile, Milwaukee
All-Time Greatest Pro Softball Team - 1978 Detroit Caesars - 49-15 regular season record, Division Champs (Mid-West) - Undefeated in Playoffs (55-15 overall record ), World Series Champs - HR, RBI and Batting Leader, league MVP and World Series MVP - 7 Players on APSPL 1978 all-league team - 6 Players and Manager on All-Time Pro Softball Team
All-Time Greatest Pro Softball Player - Bill Gatti - 1980 APSPL MVP, 1981 UPSL MVP - 6 time member of the All-Pro Team - 1980 APSPL HR and RBI Champion - 1981 UPSL Triple Crown winner (HR, RBI and Batting Average Champion)