Men's professional softball in the United States

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, several men's professional slow-pitch softball leagues were formed in the United States to build on the growth and talent in the booming men's amateur game during this period.

APSPL Logo

The American Professional Slow Pitch League (APSPL) was the first such league, lasting from 1977 to 1980. In 1981, it merged with the North American Softball League (NASL), which had played only one season (1980), to then create the United Professional Softball League (UPSL). The merged league competed for two seasons, before disbanding after the 1982 season, ending the pro era of men's softball.

ESPN carried the sport during the early years of its existence; the first sporting event to air on the network September 7, 1979 was a championship game.[1]

Championships
APSPL World Series[2]
Year Winner Runner-up Score
1977 Detroit Caesars Baltimore Monuments 4–0
Umpires: Tom Mattes, Terry Watt, Barry Daniels, Charlie Johnson
1978 Detroit Caesars Minnesota Norsemen 4–0
1979 Milwaukee Schlitz Kentucky Bourbons 5–4
1980 Rochester Express Pittsburgh Hardhats 5–4


NASL World Series [2]
Year Winner Runner-up Score
1980 Milwaukee Schlitz Detroit Auto Kings 5–2


UPSL World Series[2]
Year Winner Runner-up Score
1981 Kentucky Bourbons New England Pilgrims 5–3
1982 Milwaukee Schlitz Detroit Softball City 5–1

See also

References
  1. "History of ESPN, Inc.". International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 56. St. James Press. 2004. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  2. Dimitry, Steve (1998). "Professional Slow Pitch Softball History". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
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