Otto will join players Jeremy Manley and Brent Stevenson, long-time ISC administrator Keith Erkenbrack, Jon Kegel and the Hill Family
From the Official ISC Website:
Originally hailing from Minnesota, Robert (Bob) Otto, Yucaipa, CA, is a longtime fastpitch pitcher, photographer, writer and newspaperman. In the late heyday of the game in 1990s through the early 2000s, Bob was fastpitch’s most prolific writer, and published articles and game photos regularly at his own website Otto in Focus. His photos have graced the cover of the ISC Guide and many websites, including FastpitchWest and Al’s Fastball. In 2011, he published a book of fastpitch memoirs entitled “We Play It Fast”.
Editor’s Note: We are pleased to congratulate So Cal’s own Bobby Otto, fastpitch writer and photographer extraordinaire, on his upcoming induction to the ISC Hall of Fame in Mankato MN in 2025. Bobby has been a frequent contributor of articles and photos here at Fastpitch West. Bobby is originally from Minnesota, so fitting that he be inducted at Mankato next year.
Editor’s Note #2, Saturday October 19, 2024
I went digging for some more pics of Bobby Otto and ran across the one below, circa 1983. (I’ll save you doing the math – it was 41 years ago). Most people remember Bobby’s fastpitch photos and articles, but forget that he was a pitcher too ! Below is a photo of Bobby (that’s him on the left) with the 1983 Matthew Bronze team that qualified for the 1983 ASA Class A National Tournament. I was a “pick-up” pitcher that year, and got to tag along. The excerpt below was written by Bobby, and posted on FB ten (10) years ago, in 2014. The bearded fellow next to Bobby is Chuck Vranich who ran the team, and also the league, one of the longest running leagues in So Cal.
Bob Otto’s note posted in 2014: “TUESDAY’S TURING BACK TIME: Come August, it will be 31 years since the ‘young’ Lake Elsinore Bronze won the ASA Class A So. Calif. Regional Men’s Fastpitch Championship and headed for Bloomington, Ill. and the 1983 ASA Class A National Tournament. Front from left, Bob Otto, Chuck Vranich, Jim Teninty, Doug Moore and Gary Jackson. Back row, Ron Quinn, John Bennett, Ken McAtee and Allen Peters. The Bronze finished 1-2. Missing is Jim Flanagan from www.fastpitchwest. I think we are the only one’s still left in the game from that team.”
Reading those names and remembering the players reminds me that we should all list the names of the players in the team photos !