Amateur Softball Association

Amateur Softball Association
Amateur Softball Association

ASA Hall of Fame Stadium
Abbreviation ASA
Formation 1933
Type Sport governing body
Headquarters Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Coordinates 35°31′24″N 97°27′47″W / 35.5233376°N 97.4631822°W / 35.5233376; -97.4631822
Membership 3 million players, 230,000 teams, 60,000 umpires
Official languages English
Website http://www.asasoftball.com/

The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) is a volunteer, non-profit organization based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was founded in 1933 with a tournament held in Chicago that was organized by Leo Fischer and Michael J. Pauley.[1] The following year the 1934 National Recreation Congress recognized the ASA.[1] Shortly afterward the ASA was located in Newark, New Jersey. A world amateur softball tournament was held by the ASA at Chicago's Soldier Field that started on September 7, 1939.[2] The ASA moved to Oklahoma City on January 1, 1966.[3]

The National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum is operated by the ASA and is located at 2801 NE 50th Street in Oklahoma City.

Since 2005, they have run the World Cup of Softball. ASA Hall of Fame Stadium also hosts the NCAA Women's College World Series and the Big 12 Conference softball championship.

ASA now runs competitions in every state through a network of 87 state associations. It has a membership of over 230,000 teams, with more than 3 million players and 60,000 umpires.

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National Team Program (USA Softball)

In 1978, the United States Olympic Committee named ASA the national governing body of softball. Due to this designation ASA is responsible for training, equipping and promoting Men’s, Women’s, Junior Boys’ and Junior Girls’ National Softball Teams in order to compete in international and domestic competitions. in 1996 The Women's Fast Pitch National Team became The first Team to compete in the Olympics. The ASA National Team program is also known as USA Softball.

National Softball Hall of Fame Museum and Gift Shop

The National Softball Hall of Fame was officially dedicated May 26, 1973 in Oklahoma City. The building was opened to the public July 1, 1973.

The first of two additions to the ASA Hall of Fame/ASA Headquarters was started July 5, 1976 and completed July 13, 1977 for an additional 4,350 square feet (404 m2) of space. Dedication ceremonies for the expansion were held July 23, 1977. Counting the Hall of Fame/ASA Headquarters and the ASA Hall of Fame, there is 28,406 square feet (2,639.0 m2) of space. The second expansion was added July of 1980 for an additional 5,182 square feet (481.4 m2) of space, with total footage 18,140 square feet (1,685 m2) of space. Plans are currently in the works for future expansion and the existing museum is currently undergoing renovations.

The ASA National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum has 337 members with 125 deceased. There are two categories of membership: Players and non-players. A nominee needs 75 percent (nine votes) of the votes cast by the 12 member Hall of Fame Committee to be elected. Annual inductions are held at the ASA Annual Meeting. The members include 182 players and one non player (50 deceased) in the following divisions: men's fast pitch (84); women's fast pitch (54); men's slow pitch (31); women's slow pitch (11); and modified pitch (2). The Hall of Fame has 154 members in non-playing categories including commissioner (39); umpire (36), meritorious service (38), managers (25) and sponsors (14). Seventy-Five are deceased. The Clearwater, FL Bombers, 10 time ASA national fast pitch champion, has the most members in the players category of the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame with 22.

The Hall of Fame Gift Shop is located on the first floor of the Hall of Fame and Museum. It carries a variety of softball items, ranging from colorful, popular T-shirts to custom USA Softball jerseys to Jennie Finch Head Bands. The gift shop also sells merchandise online at softballoutlet.com.

References

  1. ^ a b "History of Softball and the ASA". http://www.asasoftball.com/about/asa_history.asp. Retrieved 2009-09-10. 
  2. ^ "Play to Open Tomorrow in Softball Meet". Chicago Tribune. September 6, 1939. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/461727102.html?dids=461727102:461727102&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+06%2C+1939&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Play+to+Open+Tomorrow+in+Softball+Meet&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2009-09-10. 
  3. ^ "Quick facts about the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame". http://www.asasoftball.com/hall_of_fame/quick_facts.asp. Retrieved 2009-08-30. 

External links


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