MVP: The Red Party Cup

Report by Sunny Hertz

June 29.

CHASE PARK,CHICAGO- Players begin their warm-ups about four minutes prior to the first pitch, a rigorous routine of bending down to remove the red party cup from the plastic sleeve and stretch a modest amount to fill it with the unknown orange colored power juice with a very distinctive aroma. But the players in the Bar Softball League don’t just leave their commitment to this power boost on the bench, that’s right; the red party cup comes with them all the way onto the field. Between pitches the athletes refuel, and in case it becomes necessary to move in order to retrieve the sixteen-inch softball, the red party cup stays in hand.

Prior to tapping a grounder practically into the pitcher’s glove, Michael Shaun, “half team manager” of the Goose Island team argued that pitcher Reggie Sneads is trying to take the title of MVP away from the red party cup. Sneads has pitched fifteen no-hitters and leads the league in strikeouts, but has yet to claim the title.

Across the field team Murphy’s has batting practice under way. Having been in the sports casting industry for several years, I have yet to see a batting practice quite as educational as this one. Each team member stepped up to the batter’s box, and following the encouragement of fellow teammates the players placed their foreheads to the knob of the bat with the end pointed down on the ground. The players then athletically hunched over and proceeded to spin ever so gracefully around the bat several times until the pitcher was ready to deliver the pitch. Contact from bat to ball was not actually made during this batting practice session, but players did seem to take the drill very seriously. Terry from Murphy’s expressed, “They don’t call me the most extreme man for no reason.” Terry was then wheeled off on a stretcher following a bat vs. head collision.

BAR SOFTBALL LEAGUE

2009

Welcome to the 14^th season of the BAR SOFTBALL LEAGUE (BSL). The BSL is dedicated to the restaurant industry and its employees. It is a chance to meet, play and network with other local bars and restaurants.

The BSL is a 16” co-ed slow pitch recreational softball league. The league runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. One exciting mainstay of the league is the “Host Bar.” Each week, after the games are complete, one of the bars in the league is scheduled as the “Host” for the rest of the league. The Host Bar gets anywhere from 40 to 100 industry workers to celebrate their victories, drowned their sorrows or just have a little fun.

The Host Night is an excellent opportunity for a sponsor to promote their product. First, the clientele is all hospitality. There are owners, managers and those who serve the products on the weekends. Second, it is a busy promotion night early in the week when there is not a lot of other opportunities to promote. You will be promoting to the decision makers in the industry.

The league changes a little each year, but we are mostly teams around Wrigley. Some of the teams that have played over the last few years are: Goose Island, Harry Carays, Rebel, Waterhouse, Vines on Clark, Casey Morans, The Hye Bar, Sheffields, Shubas, Finley Dunnes, Merkles, Four Shadows, and The Hideout.

Sponsorship can be as little as providing T-shirts  to product league sponsorship ie: Porter’s Bar Softball League name on all schedules, promotions, website, newspapers covering standings all additional publicity.

To discuss, please call.

Dan Porter

Commissioner

(847) 942-2291

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MORTGAGES ARE STILL LOW AND REDUCED CLOSING COSTS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE BAR SOFTBALL LEAGUE!!!

Dan

INTERESTED IN OWNING A BAR? CALL ME AT THE KUDAN GROUP!!!

I need your help to make the HOST NIGHTS the best ever. Please talk to your vendors, especially liquor/beer reps to see if they would like to participate with the league or at least on your host night. Please have any interested rep. call me at (847) 942-2291. There are lots of things we can do for them, after all look at who we are!

 Please CHECK OUT links and see what is going on at your places. 

http://www.cubbybear.com/vinesonclark/

http://www.caseymorans.com/morans/home.asp

http://www.sheffieldschicago.com/
http://www.merkleschicago.com/

http://www.houndstoothsaloon.com/

http://www.gooseisland.com/pubs/wrigleyville.asp

http://rebelchicago.com/

http://www.harrycaraystavern.com

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Dan (847)942-2291