{{Short description|American softball team}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} '''Chicago Nationwide Advertising''' were a professional [[softball]] team that played in the [[men's professional softball leagues|North American Softball League (NASL)]] during the 1980 season.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/category/other/nasl/|title=NASL – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}}</ref> They played their home games at The team played at [[Lou Boudreau]] Field<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64877361/southtown-star/|title=Clipped From Southtown Star|newspaper=Southtown Star|date=May 18, 1980|pages=14|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> in [[Harvey, Illinois]].

==League history== Chicago was represented by the [[Chicago Storm (softball)|Chicago Storm]], who played in the first professional league, the [[men's professional softball leagues|American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL)]], beginning with the founding of that league in 1977.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/kentucky-bourbons/|title=Kentucky Bourbons – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com|date=26 April 2020}}</ref> The Storm disbanded after the 1978 season and the APSPL continued, but 1980 was a year of division in professional softball as the [[Cleveland Stepien's Competitors]], the [[Fort Wayne Huggie Bears]] and the [[Milwaukee Schlitz]] broke away from the APSPL to form a new league, the North American Softball League, under the leadership of [[Cleveland Stepien's Competitors]] owner [[Ted Stepien]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64663193/pittsburgh-post-gazette/|title=Clipped From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=April 24, 1980|pages=11|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The Cincinnati Suds continued in the reduced numbers of the APSPL.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64668331/democrat-and-chronicle/|title=Clipped From Democrat and Chronicle|newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle|date=March 24, 1980|pages=35|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Stepien placed NASL teams in several APSPL markets, including [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]], [[Pittsburgh]], and [[Cincinnati]] with the Rivermen. Stepien owned 6 of the 8 teams in the NASL, with only Milwaukee and Fort Wayne having local ownership.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64306795/the-pittsburgh-press/|title=Clipped From The Pittsburgh Press|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=May 8, 1980|pages=4|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The owner of the [[Pittsburgh Hardhats (softball)|Pittsburgh Hardhats]] of the APSPL brought an unsuccessful challenge in federal court in an attempt to prevent splitting the young professional sport.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64982230/the-pittsburgh-press/|title=Clipped From The Pittsburgh Press|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=March 9, 1980|pages=84|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64668298/pittsburgh-post-gazette/|title=Clipped From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=June 19, 1980|pages=61|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64666599/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=March 8, 1980|pages=33|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64666746/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=March 8, 1980|pages=37|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

Stepien went into the APSPL markets trying to lure talent away as well. He hired Donnie Rardin, former [[Kentucky Bourbons]] player, to play and serve as General Manager for the [[Lexington Stallions]], did the same in Pittsburgh with Roger Snatchko, former Pittsburgh Hardhat, who would lead the new [[Pittsburgh Champions]] and much the same in Cincinnati with former [[Cincinnati Suds|Cincinnati Sud]] Mike LaFever as player and General Manager.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64876627/the-cincinnati-enquirer/|title=Clipped From The Cincinnati Enquirer|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=April 21, 1980|pages=28|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64397063/lexington-leader/|title=Clipped From Lexington Leader|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|date=May 16, 1980|pages=16|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65739125/lexington-leader/|title=Clipped From Lexington Leader|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|date=May 16, 1980|pages=20|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Detroit was much less contentious as the [[Detroit Caesars]] had folded after the 1979 season, allowing the NASL [[Detroit Auto Kings]] to take over as the professional softball team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://detroitcaesars.weebly.com/detroit-auto-kings.html|title=Detroit Auto Kings|website=Detroit Caesars|access-date=2020-12-21|archive-date=2020-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204111633/https://detroitcaesars.weebly.com/detroit-auto-kings.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Chicago did not have a pro softball team for the 1979 APSPL season, as many players simply returned to the competitive 16-inch softball tournaments in the Chicago area, although Mike Krolicki played for the [[Fort Wayne Scouts]] in 1979. Stepien formed and owned the Chicago NASL team, naming it after his advertising firm.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/category/1980/|title=1980 – Softball History USA|website=www.softballhistoryusa.com}}</ref>

==Chicago Nationwide Advertising== Stepien made a splash in the Chicago sports market when he brought on former [[Chicago Cub]] [[Joe Pepitone]] to serve as team President and play first-base.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64560374/the-tampa-times/|title=Clipped From The Tampa Times|newspaper=The Tampa Times|date=June 29, 1978|pages=27|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64560712/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=May 14, 1980|pages=57|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Pepitone has played previously for the [[Trenton Statesmen]] in the APSPL. Pepitone would get a suspension during the year for "conduct detrimental to professional softball" when NASL Commissioner Robert Brown suspended him for 6 games<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64842830/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=July 20, 1980|pages=50|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> and then was lost to the season in August with a thigh injury.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64842896/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=August 11, 1980|pages=56|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The team was managed by local 16-inch softball legend Eddie Zolna.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64891068/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=January 23, 2015|pages=2–7|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

It was an excellent regular season for CNA as Chicago finished 43-19 (.694), 2nd in the Western Division, 5 games behind the [[Milwaukee Schlitz]]. CNA advanced to the playoffs to face Milwaukee, whom Chicago had beaten 5 times in 16 regular season match-ups. A late-season game between the team has gotten physical as CNA player Greg Linhart and Schlitz pitcher Tom Gorski tussled after Linhart felt he was being held down during a wild throw, leading CNA Manager Eddie Zolna to state "the only thing he did wrong was he didn't hit him. Those dirty play shennanigans are part of Milwaukee's game. They need them jammed back down their throats."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65746788/southtown-star/|title=Clipped From Southtown Star|newspaper=Southtown Star|date=August 28, 1980|pages=7|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65746850/southtown-star/|title=Clipped From Southtown Star|newspaper=Southtown Star|date=August 28, 1980|pages=8|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

It was a tight series, with Chicago outhitting Milwaukee 141-127 (.455 to .425 BA), but CNA stranded runners and the Schlitz would defeat Chicago in the playoffs 4-2 (9-13, 10-7, 17-12, 16-12, 10-17, 22-17).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65747540/southtown-star/|title=Clipped From Southtown Star|newspaper=Southtown Star|date=September 4, 1980|pages=15|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Milwaukee would go on to win the NASL World Series in 1980 over the [[Detroit Auto Kings]] 5-2 behind the hitting of Ken Parker (.586, 16 RBIs) in the series. Ron Olesiak (.555, 34 HRs, 124 RBIs) of Chicago won the league MVP trophy, and Chicago added all-pro seasons from Mike Krolicki (27-6 pitching record), Buddy Haines (.518, 27 HRS, 115 RBIs), Tommy Spahn (.527, 15 HRs, 97 RBIs), Curt Dusek (.413 BA), Willie Simpson (.506, 23 doubles, 13 triples) and Jake Jakobi (.520 BA). Olesiak, Dusek, Simpson, Spahn represented Chicago at the mid-season All-Star game and Zolna managed the West team.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64891025/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=July 8, 1980|pages=47|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

The NASL lasted one season before combining with the APSPL to form a new league, the United Professional Softball League (UPSL). That league disbanded in 1982, bringing an end to the professional era of men's softball in the US as players once again returned to the amateur leagues.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65746518/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=June 13, 1980|pages=59|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65746623/chicago-tribune/|title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=June 13, 1980|pages=62|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

Chicago Nationwide Advertising team featured two members of the [[American Softball Association]] Hall of Fame - manager Eddie Zolna and catcher Willie Simpson.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/National-Softball-Hall-of-Fame/Members|title=Members|date=31 May 2019|accessdate=24 November 2023|archive-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531152611/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/National-Softball-Hall-of-Fame/Members|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> Ron Olesiak would become a basketball referee, making it to the [[National Basketball Association]], and Mike Krolicki is a member of the Chicago 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame (as is Olesiak, Zolna and Buddy Haines) and a retired Chicago firefighter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://16inchsoftballhof.com/inductee/kro-krolicki/|title="Kro" Krolicki|website=16" Softball Hall of Fame}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://16inchsoftballhof.com/inductee/ron-big-o-olesiak/|title=Ron "Big O" Olesiak|website=16" Softball Hall of Fame}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://16inchsoftballhof.com/inductees/1964-1979-era/|title=1964-1979 Era|website=16" Softball Hall of Fame|access-date=2020-12-21|archive-date=2021-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121203819/https://16inchsoftballhof.com/inductees/1964-1979-era/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Chicago Nationwide Advertising record==

{| class="wikitable" |- style="background: #F2F2F2;" ! Year !! Record !! Pct !! Finish !! Division !! Playoffs !! League |- align=center | 1980|| 43-19 || .694 || 2nd || Midwest || Semi-Finals || NASL |- align=center |}

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == *[https://funwhileitlasted.net/american-professional-slo-pitch-league/ APSPL on Fun While It Lasted] *[https://www.angelfire.com/sd/slopitch/pro.html Softball History Data] *[https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/ Softball History USA] *[https://detroitcaesars.weebly.com/ Detroit Caesars Online Home] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20190324200635/https://www.teamusa.org/usa-softball/national-softball-hall-of-fame National Softball Hall of Fame]

[[Category:Softball teams in Illinois]] [[Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1980]] [[Category:Sports clubs and teams in Illinois]] [[Category:1980 establishments in Illinois]] [[Category:1980 disestablishments in Illinois]] [[Category:Sports clubs and teams disestablished in 1980]] [[Category:Men's professional softball teams]] [[Category:Sports in Chicago]]