| Colorful Cal Carmen, who played for two USSSA World Championship teams and always drew a crowd to the ball park with his hustle and antics, was inducted into the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association Hall of Fame in the Male Player Category. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Carmen was a center figure for Dino's and Uniroyal during the 1970's, and then helped Mazzola-Castle of Rochester to a World Series Title. With consistent chatter and a bird-like whistle, Carmen had a way of taking reams out of their game plan. He often played first base, within a few feet of the opposing batter. Carmen was not only colorful, but compiled a .622 life time batting average and belted over 575 home runs in Major USSSA Tournaments. He plead five USSSA World Series and five Divisional or World Tournaments, earning All-Tournament honors in six of the events and twice taking MVP. Carmen played in the Detroit Tigers' Baseball Organization as a pitcher before turning to softball. "He was loved or hated by the fans, but either was they cam to see him play the game," one newspaper once said. |