J.J. HENDLEY
1950-1991

Simply put, J.J. Hendley was a founder of the City of Brotherly Love Softball League, the 22nd city to join NAGAAA. Through not originally from Philadelphia, in 1981 J.J. brought an infectious enthusiasm and energy to the loosely organized gay softball teams in the city. He "came out of nowhere, dressed to the hilt with spikes over his shoulder" to lead the "rag-tag Masterbatters" players to Pittsburgh to participate in their first turnpike tournament in 1982. From then on, there was no turning back. Philadelphia had been bitten by the NAGAAA bug. Two years later, in Pittsburgh again, it was J.J. who delivered the official presentation for Philadelphia requesting admission to the NAGAAA board.

J.J served as liaison with other NAGAAA representatives although he never held an official position in the NAGAAA body. He was a "great ambassador" and had the vision, the intensity, and the genuineness to convince our community of ball players that there was something greater then playing among ourselves.

In 1999 J.J. was inducted as Philadelphia first NAGAAA Hall of Fame member because he is the reason Philadelphia joined NAGAAA. Under his direction and leadership, "there was no doubt in everyone's mind that we had to join NAGAAA." He convinced us that we needed to join a national organization to further gay softball not only in Philadelphia, but throughout the United States. He was proud of who he was, as an athlete and a gay man, and despite his confident swagger, was a sweet, generous friend as evidenced by the numbers of people who knew and loved him. When he died at the age of 41 in1991, he had already indelibly left his mark on the Philadelphia community and in those NAGAAA cities where he competed.

His passion and dedication to gay softball, and Philadelphia, have been memorialized in the J.J. Hendley award. It is given in J.J.'s memory honoring the player who embodies and displays sportsmanship and commitment to the CBLSL. It is the highest honor a player in the CBLSL can receive.

J.J. HENDLEY MEMORIAL AWARD WINNERS

1991
 LARRY MISTICHELLI

1992
 TOMMY GARBARINO

1993
 LYNN FRIDEL

1994
 JIMMY DOTZEL

1995
 BOB CONNOLLY

1996
 TONY IERO

1997
 JOHN EDGAR

1998
 BILL WOOD

1999
 KRISSY WILD

2000
 JIM YOUNG

2001
 RUSSELL DILKES

2002
 JERRY O'NEILL

2003
 JOHN FLUEHR

2004
 MICHAEL VALERIO

2005
CHICK WINN

2006
SUE GILDEA

2007
  Carol Ann O'Neill

2008
Jeff Chase

2009
Eric Holliday