From the So Cal Independent Fastpitch League (SCIFL) website:
Softball veteran pitcher Chuck Vranich has decided to retire from softball at the age of 63. Yes that’s right 63 we finally get his true age from him. Chuck made the decision after the Palm Springs 1 tournament and will be available to the Sox when needed. Chuck pitched with Long Beach from 2004-2007 and is a veteran of over 40 years of fast pitch softball. Vranich goes down as one of the greatest pitchers ever to pitch for The Long Beach Black Sox. He will be eligible for The Long Beach Black Sox Hall of Fame next year and will be a shoe in to go in on the first ballot. Vranich leaves behind over 10 career and single season records. Chuck and Randy Clay have accounted for 95% of the sox pitching wins in the history of The Black Sox. He accounted for 44 wins and pitched in 87 games. His career ERA is a very respectable 4.60. He recorded 10 career shutouts and 72 complete games both Sox career records. His 28 complete games in 2004 and 5 shutouts in 2005 are both Sox single season records. He also was a career .303 hitter for Long Beach with 8 RBI. He ranks in the top 5 in Sox history in every pitching category. In his 4 year Sox illustrious career he won The Cy Young Award for most wins and The Bob Gibson Award for lowest ERA in a season. His best season with Long Beach was 2005 where he was 16-5 leading the team in wins. In that season he was voted Most Valuable Pitcher a record 4 times. Chuck will be available to The Sox when needed. The Long Beach Black Sox would like to wish him the best of luck and thank him for his service with the team. In 2007 Chuck was 3-1 with a 4.96 ERA in 5 starts in the new SCIFL.
As manager and owner of The Long Beach Black Sox I look for character as well as talent in a player. When I first started this team in 2004 Chuck Vranich was always a competitor as an opponent I admired as a person and as a ballplayer. He was one of the first people I wanted on this team. I cannot begin to thank him for his contributions to this team as a pitcher, hitter, runner, teammate and most importantly as a mentor and someone to talk to when I needed advice. I respect his decision to retire and he always has a spot on my team in any capacity. I thank him for his 4 years of service and always being there when I needed him. He is one of the most reliable players I have ever had and he always wanted the ball healthy or injured. I was always amazed how he kept himself in such great physical condition. He was much disciplined in his eating habits and his physical status. I never had to worry about Chuck being out of shape or not ready to pitch. His hard work and determination inspired many of our young players and gave them a positive role model. I wish him good luck in his future endeavors and in my mind he will always be a key component of The Long Beach Black Sox.
–Fred Hanker Long Beach Black Sox
Here is a brief statement released by Chuck.
To Sox Players:
From Chuck V
As you may, or may not know, (depending on how close you live to the Rumor Mill) I have chosen to retire from competitive fastpitch softball at this time. This is not a decision that was made hastily, as Fred and I have discussed it the past few years. Simply put…too many injuries that don’t heal (shoulder,elbow, back and now knee), too much fear (four “shots” up the middle in five games) and too little talent. With the depth of our pitching staff, three guys that want the ball, and the fact that I won’t be available in August, now seems like the smartest time to step away from the game I love. I’ve told Fred that this is a “Roger Clemens” retirement this year….meaning if any injuries, job changes, vacations, etc., would leave him shorthanded, I would gladly fill in when needed. Of course I would expect “Clemens $$$$$” !!!!!! Other than that, if you see me throwing again, I assure you the ball will be a DeBeer 212. You’ve chosen to join a great group of guys with a real dedicated leader. So, at the ripe old age of 63 (there, I’ve said it) I wish you all great success throughout the year and in the future. See you around the ball yard……..Chuck
p.s. Fred…..Thanks for dragging my career out a few more years!!! I’ve had a great time and been associated with some really neat people while wearing “Sox gear”. I really appreciate the confidence you had in my ability and your perception of my value to the team…….although somewhat inflated at times. The guys are lucky to have you as their leader and the game is lucky you stepped into a leadership role to run the new association…..both difficult and underappreciated jobs. If you do need me for anything during the season I’ll do everything in my power to get there. If you need me to throw in Beaumont to have lower class pitching, just let me know a couple of weeks before…you know I’ll be in shape! I’ve got a couple of “wishes” I’d like from you, but we’ll talk later. Thanks again!!!!…. #12 Chuck V
Editor’s note: I want to send my personal best wishes to one of the classiest people I have known in the game. And I have known him a long time. We even share the same birthday — that’s day not year 😉 I started playing against Chuck in 1981, when he was doing what Fred Hanker is now — running a team AND a league at the same time, no easy feat. In those days, I was with the El Cajon Phase Alloy Miners, and Chuck was the player/manager of “Matthew Bronze”, the name better known to most as just “The Bronze”, which is was called in later years. I was fortunate enough to be picked up as a pitcher by Chuck when his team qualified for the ASA “A” Nationals. In those days, it was a dogfight in Southern California, with all of the top “A” teams fighting for one berth to the Nationals. We didn’t last long in the National tournament, but, but the Bar-B-Q’s were great, and Chuck always excelled in surrounding himself with great people. Bloomington, Illinois was never the same. Nor will fastpitch in So Cal be the same without “Chuck V” around. We got a chance to team up again last year with the Black Sox, albeit briefly when my elbow put my on the shelf. Chuck just kept piling up those innings, and Sox records. He remains a favorite of Maddy’s as he always went out of his way to make her feel welcome around the diamonds. His age was a well kept secret – – and with his ability to compete against players a fraction of his age, he wasn’t about to tell them and give them any kind of edge. He’ll be remembered for that deep voice, that hearty laugh, and pitching into the late innings when you thought you’d get to him sooner. Oh, and of course that annual St. Patrick’s Day party on the hill in Riverside. But, hey, this post is not a eulogy, but to say, nice job. So Chuck, when does Clemens return?
