The Rochester Express , originally named the Rochester Zeniths, were a professional softball team that played in two professional softball leagues from 1978 through 1982 at various locations in the Rochester, New York area.
25-575: The Rochester Zeniths were organized in the fall of 1978 to play in the second year of the American Professional Slow-Pitch League (APSPL) . The APSPL was formed in 1977 by former World Football League executive Bill Byrne , who would go on to found the Women's Professional Basketball League . Former New York Yankees player Whitey Ford served as the first league commissioner. The Zeniths were owned by Dick Hill who owned Hill TV,
50-713: A Division III All-American 4th-year starting QB for the Saxons. The APSPL and the NASL then merged to form the United Professional Softball League in 1981, although only Milwaukee came to the new league from the NASL as the other franchises disbanded. The Express finished with a record of 30–28 (.517), second place in the Eastern Division behind the South Jersey Athletics . New England beat Rochester 3–1 in
75-687: A Rochester electronics store that sold Zenith brand televisions, hence the team name. Hill also owned the Rochester Zeniths franchise in the Continental Basketball Association . The Zeniths softball team played at Harris Whalen Park in Penfield, New York for the 1978 and 1979 seasons in the APSPL. The Zeniths built a roster from the area amateur teams, including former San Francisco Giant minor-leaguer Joe Costello. The team then added
100-481: A promotional event for the league in Cleveland in which he dropped softballs from the 52nd floor of Terminal Tower to be caught by outfielders from his Cleveland Competitors team. The balls were estimated to be traveling at 144 mph by the time they reached the street, damaging cars and injuring several spectators. One was caught by Cleveland outfielder Mike Zarefoss. In 1981 the APSPL merged with NASL to create
125-463: The Milwaukee Schlitz and Kentucky Bourbons . A number of prominent athletes from other sports came to the professional softball leagues. Major League Baseball baseball veterans Jim Rivera , Curt Blefary , Johnny Callison and Milt Pappas managed teams. Softball players included former National Football League stars Billy "White Shoes" Johnson and Bob Lurtsema , Rick Wilson from
150-451: The NBA , and retired MLB players Ralph Garr , Norm Cash , Bruce Miller , Jim Price , Darrel Chaney , Jim Northrup , Gene Hiser , Mickey Stanley , Danny Napoleon , Dick McAuliffe , and Zoilo Versalles . Few had much success in professional softball, playing part-time and promotional roles. The notable exception was former New York Yankee and Chicago Cub Joe Pepitone who played for
175-595: The Trenton Statesmen . Pepitone put up respectable numbers in 1978 (110–225, .489, 14 HRs, 61 RBIs) and 1979 (50-122, .410, 9 HRs, 30 RBIs). The Detroit Caesars would even offer $ 30,000 to the Statesmen to buy Pepitone's contract in 1978. That offer was rejected. After the New Jersey franchise disbanded in 1979, Pepitone went on to serve as the team president and played first base for Chicago Nationwide Advertising in
200-534: The United Professional Softball League (UPSL), but only the Milwaukee franchise came from the NASL to the new league as the other NASL teams folded. The merged league competed for two seasons, before disbanding after the 1982 season, ending the pro era of men's softball. Of note historically, the first sporting event to air on ESPN on September 7, 1979 was an APSPL championship game between
225-657: The Express folded at the end of the season ending the era of men's professional softball in the US. Former Zenith first-baseman Cal Carmen is a member of the United States Slowpitch Softball Association (USSSA) Hall of Fame. Men%27s professional softball leagues During the late 1970s and early 1980s, several men's professional slow-pitch softball leagues were formed in the United States to build on
250-1128: The North American Softball League (NASL) in their 1980 season. The professional softball era showcased some of the all-time best in softball history with several pro era veterans represented in the American Softball Association Hall of Fame - Tex Collins (Detroit), Ron Ford (Detroit), Jim Galloway (New York, Trenton), Bill Gatti (Kentucky), Mike Gouin (Detroit), Dennis Graser (Milwaukee), Mike Nye (Detroit), Steve Loya (Cleveland), Mike Mancenko (Cleveland), Willie Simpson (Chicago), Bert Smith (Detroit), and manager Eddie Zolna (Chicago). In addition, pro softball alumni Rick Weiterman (Milwaukee), Cal Carmen (Rochester, Detroit), Gary Vitto (Detroit), Chuck Drewicz (Detroit), Bill Gatti (Kentucky), Mike Mancenko (Cleveland), and Braxton Speller, Jr. (Detroit) are members of United States Slowpitch Softball Association (USSSA) Hall of Fame. Team chosen by Robert Brown, former NASL league commissioner (Note that teams are listed horizontally if
275-601: The Softball Centre in Scottsville, NY . The Express limped to a 30–34 (.469) record and would make a managerial change mid-season to try to stir the team, with Manager Mike Decillis returning full-time to playing field and second-baseman Don Fazio moving taking the reins. The team advanced to the playoffs, defeating New England 3–0 in the first round to move to the APSPL World Series against Pittsburgh. Rochester upset
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#1732875750975300-537: The city of Rochester. Rochester struggled to a 24–40 (.375) record, finishing 22.5 games behind the division-winning Cleveland Competitors . No Express player made the 1982 all-league team although Pete Castle (50, 38 HRS, 74 RBIs) had a solid year. Milwaukee defeated Detroit Softball City in the 1982 World Series, with Dick Laba of the Schlitz taking the Series MVP trophy and Dana Andry honored as league MVP. The UPSL and
325-462: The colorful Cal Carmen from Detroit before the season began. Carmen played first-base and would often come within 10-feet of the batter during the pitch and taunt and whistle at the batter. Even with the trickery, Rochester struggled in the 1978 season, finishing with a record of 22–42 (.344), 16 games behind the Eastern Division winning New England Pilgrims . The Detroit Caesars won their second APSPL World Series with Bert Smith of Detroit winning
350-401: The final inning in game 7. Rochester rallied in the bottom of the 7th as Jerry Lasponara, with two out in a now tied game, capped the rally by driving home Don Fazio for the 7-6 win to force another game. The Express rode the momentum to a 9-1 blowout victory in game 8, and with Steve Re belting his 5th home-run of the series, Zaccarado tripling in 3 runs, and a triple from Rich Brown launching
375-790: The first round of the playoffs where the Pilgrims lost to Kentucky 5–3 behind the bat of World Series MVP Greg Whitlock. Bill Gatti of the Bourbons was named the 1981 UPSL MVP. Tom Zaccarado (.474, 15 HRs, 62 RBIs) of Rochester made the all-league team. Steve Re (.414, 15 HRs) and Rick Page ( 23 HRs, 64 RBIs) had productive seasons for the Express and Mike DeCillis went 16–12 pitching. 1980 home-run leader Bob Schuster played sparingly, having taken an out-of-state job after graduating college. The Express returned to Harris Whalen Park in Penfield for 1982 UPSL season and also played some home games at Silver Stadium in
400-433: The growth and talent in the booming men's amateur game during this period. The American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL) was the first such league, launching in an era of experimentation in professional sports leagues. The APSPL was formed in 1977 by former World Football League executive Bill Byrne , who would go on to found the Women's Professional Basketball League . Former New York Yankees star Whitey Ford
425-399: The heavily favored Hardhats 5–4 (2-8, 8-7, 10-4, 2-5, 7-9, 15-16, 7-6, 9-1, 8-2) in the 9-game series, behind strong hitting from Tom Zaccarado (.500, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs) and Steve Re (.444, 5 HRs, 9 RBIs), and series MVP Don Brown on the mound (5–4 pitching). The Express came back from a 2-4 deficit in the series and Pittsburgh was one win from the title with a 3-run lead heading to the bottom of
450-638: The mid-season All-Star team. Zeniths manager Mike DeCillis served as a coach for the Eastern All-Star team. Rick Weiterman of Milwaukee was both the World Series and league MVP in 1979. The rival North American Softball League (NASL) formed in 1980, splitting professional softball, but Rochester continued play in the APSPL. The Zeniths had been sold to new owners who renamed the team the Rochester Express in 1980. The team changed their home stadium to
475-488: The new league; Pepitone would also play for Chicago Nationwide Advertising , having played previously for the Trenton Statesmen franchise in the APSPL. The owners of the APSPL Pittsburgh Hardhats unsuccessfully challenged Stepien in court in an attempt to prevent the new league from splitting the young professional sport. The NASL only lasted the one season. Also in 1980, Stepien made the news when he held
500-454: The new start-up sports network ESPN . Zenith Rick Page (482, 24 HRs, 94 RBIs) made the 1978 all-APSPL team with Bob Goodlow (.558, 20 HRs, 59 RBIs) and Pete Castle (.493, 18 HRs, 59 RBIs) had solid seasons in support. Don Brown (.536, 38 RBIs, 43 runs scored, 30–21 pitching) of the Zeniths was named to the all-APSPL team for 1979, with Brown, Rick Palmiero, Rick Page and Jerry Lasponera making
525-467: The offense, the Express took the series with an 8-2 series winning victory in the 9th game, capping an improbable come-back and title run. Express players Pete Castle (435, 9 HRs, 57 RBIs,) Rich Brown (.494, 2 HRs, 22 RBIs) and, rookie of the year Bob Schuster (.421, 21 HRs, 59 RBI) made the all-league team in 1980. Schuster missed the playoffs as he was with the Alfred University football team as
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#1732875750975550-422: The same franchise changed names) Alfred Saxons The Alfred Saxons are composed of 21 teams representing Alfred University in intercollegiate athletics, including men and women's alpine skiing, basketball, cross country, equestrian, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, and track and field. Men's sports include football. Women's sports include softball and volleyball. The Saxons compete in
575-451: The series MVP. Ron Ford of the Caesars won the league MVP. Rick Page of the Zeniths was named to the all-league team. Bob Goodlow (.578, 6 HRs, 81 RBIs) and Pete Castle (.493, 18 HRs, 59 RBIs) had solid seasons for Rochester. Carmen (.307, 5 HRs, 22 RBIs) struggled in the adjustment to professional play, despite being the highest paid Zenith, and was released on July 31 when Rochester when
600-607: The team was eliminated from the playoff picture. The Zeniths improved greatly in 1979, winning the Eastern Division with a 35–27 (.565) record, advancing to the playoffs. Rochester beat the Pittsburgh Hardhats in the first round 3–2, but were defeated by the Kentucky Bourbons 3–1 in the semi-finals. The Milwaukee Schlitz would then beat the Kentucky Bourbons 5–3 in the APSPL World Series, broadcast nationwide on
625-676: Was the first APSPL commissioner. In 1980, three teams, the Milwaukee Schlitz , the Fort Wayne Huggie Bears and Cleveland Stepien's Competitors , broke away to form the North American Softball League (NASL), under the leadership of Cleveland owner Ted Stepien , who owned 6 of the 8 teams in the league (only Fort Wayne and Milwaukee had non-Stepien ownership in the new league), while the APSPL continued with just 6 teams. Former Major League Baseball players Mudcat Grant and Joe Pepitone served as PR officials for
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