Fast-pitch softball players look to team up again at reunion
Former teammates to reunite April 9
From the Topeka Capital Journal/cjonline.com
By JC Reeves
In the 1960s and 70s men’s fast-pitch softball was an immensely popular sport. Specifically in Topeka.
Now, roughly 50 years later, a group of former players and their wives, headed by Gloria Hupp — the widow of former player and manager Dee Hupp — hope to reunite with many former “family members” at noon Saturday, April 9 at the Goodyear Shelter House on 25th and Indianola.
Spectators, including the players’ wives and children, would head to the ballpark in droves to watch the games. Fans would spend hours on hot summer days observing intently as players for teams such as Coffee Cup, Doug Ruedlinger Insurance and Plantation Steak House did battle on the diamond.
The Topeka Capital-Journal would send reporters and photographers to games to provide recaps for those who were unable to attend or just wanted to refresh their memory.
The men playing the game would leave it all out on the field, often playing multiple games per day.
“There was a lot of times we played six games in one day,” Dan Workman, who played for multiple teams under Dee Hupp, said. “And the teams were even. So if you got beat, well, it was going to happen.” “Even the lowest of teams could beat the best of teams on a given day,” Kay Dick added.