RESUME OF ELMER HOFFMANN

For

CONSIDERATlON INTO lOWA ASA

FASTPlTCH SOFTBALL HALL OF F AME

By John Pletchette (as requested by Irv Kawarsky)

From 1953 through 1962 the Dedham Men's Fastpitch team had a remarkable 236- 71-2 record. Throughout the '60's, Dedham, (pop. 300, Carroll County) would stay competitive on the fastpitch diamond and play it's final State Tourney in 1970. Dedham, Danbury and Boxholm were among the few small towns to consistently do well in the annual state softball tournament.

According to my 'late' father, Dedham's best all around player for three decades was a local farm boy by the name of Elmer Hoffmann. Born in the early 1930's, Elmer was a farmer and truck driver. He taught himself how to throw windmill and would develop into a very successful pitcher. Batting in the number three spot, he was a power hitter. When not pitching Elmer played a solid left field with a strong arm. Always a gentleman, Elmer was a great example of the many good things that made amateur fastpitch softball a big-time summer attraction for small towns in this era. Other than the1955 - 56 seasons, (service duty) and 1958-61 (Gene Knop's 4 years in town), Elmer was the king of the mound in Dedham for a long time

Fastpitch softball in Dedham began in the late1940's. Elmer began playing in the early 50's. In 1952, a used set of lights was purchased and the Dedham field was lighted. In 1953, Dedham was the team to beat in the area. A young Elmer began pitching more and more games sharing duties with two other Dedham pitchers soon to retire. Dedham compiled a 29 - 4 record playing all Carroll County teams and no tournaments in 1953. The team played in jeans with a Schlitz beer jersey and cap. In 1954, Dedham would begin playing some top-flight softball teams including Ames, Fort Dodge, Ricketts as well as the local teams. In 1954, Elmer was a one-man pitching staff. Games began drawing big crowds. Dedham's sponsor, the Commercial Club, purchased new 'full' uniforms' with "Dedham" lettered across the chest.

Prior to the 1955 season, Elmer was drafted into the army and would not pitch for Dedham again until 1957. In the service, Elmer pitched his army team (Chicago) to a national army tournament at Denver Colo. One of Elmer's army teammates was George Adam, an All American 1B from Stratford Conn. During Elmer's absence, Dedham acquired Bob Piggsley for the 1955 and 56 seasons. They continued to play a top notch schedule with teams like D.M. Hotntots (Johnny Bright), Fort Dodge Tony's, D.M. Park Lane, Council Bluffs, D.M. Nite-Hawks. Win/loss records with Piggsley replacing Hoffmann would be 21-10 and 13-12 respectively.

Elmer returned home from service duty to pitch the 1957 season in Dedham. Dedham would finish with 18-7 record. Elmer had a 15-5 record while batting .314 with 6 homers. Dedham joined the ASA this year winning the District and qualifying for the 32-single elimination State Tourney at Boone. In the first round, Dedham defeated Newton 9 - 7. In the second round Dedham lost a 13-inning heart breaker 2-1 to Sigourney and Tim Buff. A large crowd followed the team to Boone. Many area fans that did not make the trip, listened to play by play on KCIM (Carroll) radio. Dedham was on the softball map. Also in 1957, ASA State Commissioner, Jack North appointed Don Pletchette (Dedham Manager and center fielder) as District 2 Commissioner. Tiny Dedham would host many District and Sub-State Tourneys through 1971.

In 1958, Dedham acquired Gene Knop to beef up the pitching. Hall of Famer Knop would become one of Iowa's finest pitchers. With Knop and Hoffmann, Dedham would go onto win 122 games and lose only 23 in the next four years (1958-61). Dedham would have a run of five consecutive state tourney appearances. In 1960, four teams (winners of 4 sub-states) would qualify for state. Dedham won one and lost two 1- run games to place third in the state. Dedham would place fourth in the state the following year. During the Knop years, Elmer would pitch approx. 6 games a year, but most of the time he was controlling left field and batting in the number three spot. He batted over .400 in 1958 with 4 homeruns. He batted over .300 with 12 homers the following year. In 1960, Elmer batted .305 with a 4-0 pitching record. He had 34 strikeouts in 35 innings pitched.

In 1961, it was an Elmer Hoffmann homerun to beat Irwin and win the District Championship game. In 1962, Dedham hosted the biggest fastpitch softball doubleheader ever played in town. The World Champion Aurora Sealmasters came to Dedham on September 1, 1962. The Dedham Merchants would play the Sealmasters in the first game and the Iowa All Stars would play them in the night cap. Hoffmann and Knop would share pitching duties for Dedham vs Chuck Richard of the Sealmasters. Richard pitched a no-hitter with 18 strikeouts and winning 7-0. Elmer walked and was the only batter to hit the ball out of the infield (fly out to RF). In the second game, Elmer played left field (Iowa All Stars) for the second half of the game. Harvey Sterkel was on the mound for the Sealmasters. 20 Iowa All Star batters went down on strikeouts. Elmer walked and was the only batter to hit a ball in fair territory (grounder to shortstop). The Sealmasters won 5-0 on a nearly perfect game by Sterkel. On a normal night, going 0 for 3 with 2 walks in a doubleheader would not be any special accomplishment at the plate, but this was not a normal night.

In 1970, Elmer defeated Gene Knop (Sioux City) 2-1 in the semi-final round of Districts at Hubbard Park. Elmer homered in the 5th inning to win it for Dedham. In 1970, Dedham would play in there final State Fastpitch Tourney at Birdland (Des Moines) going 0-2. Elmer would continue to play softball a few more years. Today Elmer lives with his wife Flossie in Lake City. If Dedham was truly one of Iowa's fmest men's fastpitch programs during this era, then the best all-around player on those teams should be considered for the Hall of Fame.

260 Bass

Carroll, IA 51401

March 30, 2003

To: Dan Pomeroy/John Pletchette

From: Dan Balk

Re: Elmer Hoffmann as an ASA Hall of Fame Candidate

While I'm not much of a record keeper, I was a teammate of Elmer during the years he pitched for Dedham and also one year at Gray. During that time, there were several occasions when Elmer matched up with some of Iowa's finest pitchers, and I think any records you come across will show that he won his share of those match-ups.

Having played behind Elmer for many years, the one thing that impressed me the most was the fact that even on nights when he didn't have his best "stuff," his ability to spot his pitches was so good that you always had a chance to win.

If you visit with managers of teams who've competed against Elmer, they will tell you that when you played against him, you had to beat not only his pitching but his bat. Very few pitchers of his caliber batted in the 3rd or 4th position in the order as he did throughout his career.

Does Elmer Hoffmann belong in the Iowa ASA Fastpitch Hall of Fame? Try to find someone who has played with him or against him on a regular basis who doesn't!

Sincerely,

Dan Balk, 2b