HALL OF FAME PITCHING LEGEND HERB DUDLEY DIES AT 87

[Al's Fastball News]

Received: 3/19/07 11:20:55 AM 
From:  "Brian McCall" <bmccall(at)softball.org> 


Subject:  HALL OF FAME PITCHING LEGEND HERB DUDLEY DIES AT 87
 

  

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HALL OFFAME PITCHING LEGEND HERB DUDLEY DIES AT 87

 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Herb Dudley, who had a fast-pitch softball careerthat
defied imagination, passed away early Friday morning, March 16thof
congestive heart failure at Lynchburg General Hospital in Lynchburg,
Va.Dudley was 87 years-old. 

 

Dudley’s career in fast pitch spanned five decades,starting in
1940 and ending in 1981. Ironically, he started and ended hiscareer
with the same team—the Clearwater Bombers of Clearwater, Fla.,
whowon 10-ASA national championships. In addition to the Bombers,
Dudley playedfor teams in Atlanta, Ga.Ashland, Ohio, Levittown,
N.Y., Long Island, N.Y., Fort Wayne, Ind., Miami, Fla., Mountain
View, Calif.Rising Sun, Md., and Allentown, Pa.

 

It is estimated Dudley won more than1,000 games during his career
and compiled a record of 28-9 in16 ASA nationalchampionships.
Five times he earned ASA All-America honors and was named as
themost valuable player in the 1949 and 1957 ASA National Championships.

 

In 1949 he established the ASA national tourney single-game strikeoutrecord
when he fanned 55 batters in 21 innings against OkmulgeeOkla.,
in the ASA National Championship in Little Rock, Ark. After beating
Okmulgee, 1-0, Dudley hurled thenext game, fanning 12 more batters
in a 4-0 win against Mercedes, TexasDuring the six games Dudley
hurled in thetournament, he fanned 130 batters, including 89
in 46 innings the last twonights. 

 

That season was part of a five-year period in which Dudleywon
142 games and lost only 10 for the Bombers, striking out 2,475
batters,hurling 110 shutouts and 45 no-hitters. He hurled more
than 100 no-hittersduring his career. Dudley was so wellrespected
by the Amateur Softball Association, the National Governing Body
of Softball,that each year at the conclusion of the ASA Men’s
Major Fast PitchNational Championship the Herb Dudley Outstanding
Pitching Award is given tothe tournaments most outstanding pitcher.


 

After retiring as an active player, Dudley worked for the Dudley
SportsCompany (no relation) until 1995 and was employed by the
Clearwater Senior High School for 30 years as a teacher.  He
alsogave pitching clinics throughout the United States during
the summers. 

 

Dudley, who was born December 19, 1919, was inducted into the
ASA NationalSoftball Hall of Fame in 1986 in the men’s fast pitch
category. He hasalso been enshrined in the Stetson University
Sports Hall of Fame, IndianapolisIndiana Hall of Fame and the
Florida Sports Writers and Broadcasters Hall ofFame. 

 

Dudley is survived by his wife, Lucille, two sons, David andTommy,
three daughters, Susan, Becky and Sharon, 15 grandchildren and
14great-grandchildren.  

Funeral services will be held March 23, 2007 at the Sylvan AbbeyMemorial
Park and Funeral Home in Clearwater, Fla.

                                                            
      From:  "Brian McCall" <bmccall(at)softball.org>

 

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