The memories are vivid, even 28 years later. The emotions are still there, both good and bad, and there were plenty of each. Bob Strada retired from Chicago's gay softball league in 1995 after that year's Gay Softball World Series, which was held in Seattle.
Yet his 1983 Sidetrack jersey still fits today, though a bit snug.
Strada, 59, a Willowbrook resident, was the second baseman for the 1983 Gay Softball World Series-winning team from Chicago. He was one of 13 team members who captured the championship in Chicago, the last time the Series was held in the Windy City. Strada also was instrumental in securing the win for Chicago, picking up a grounder in the seventh inning of a one-run game. He moved to his right, touching second base for an out and then he threw the ball to first for a double play and the final out of the game.
"It was fantastic. When that final out was made, I jumped up, came down and pounded the ground. I'll never forget that moment," said Strada, who has owned a travel agency for 26 years. "I think it was a surprise to our team [ that we won ] . Sure, we knew that we were competitive, but it was a surprise to ultimately win it all.
"I still think about that moment all the time. The memory from that event never fades. It's a moment I'll never forget."
The '83 Chicago team had to get by Minneapolis en route to the championship game, and they were expecting to play the always-tough Los Angeles team, but the crew from California was eliminated. So Chicago ultimately defeated Atlanta for the championship.
"Home-field advantage definitely came into play in that tournament," Strada said of the '83 Series, which had 16 teams participating from across the U.S., in one division ( A ) .
"A main reason for that [ advantage ] was our knowledge of Lincoln Park, particularly, playing at that field and knowing its dimensions. It was an open field; there was no home-run fence—and we played well with that type of field. We had a strong, quick outfield; that was an advantage we had."
Chicago's gay softball community was formed in the late 1970s. Strada and others from that era attended the 1979 Series in Milwaukee as fans. He played in his first Series in 1980 in Los Angeles, with 11 participating teams.
"We competed fairly well [ in Los Angeles ] , but we weren't ready to win anything. We needed to learn what was required to win the World Series. And it took us about three years to figure that out," said Strada, who ultimately participated in the Series 15 times.
Chicago had only five or six gay softball teams in 1983, and Strada admitted that, "so many people then were afraid to cross the line and come into Margate Park and even play in an openly gay league." Still word continued to spread about the gay softball league in the early 1980s through the bars and other vehicles. Three of the most instrumental figures in developing, building and growing the local gay softball league in the early years were Jim Flint, Art Johnston and Sam Molinaro.
Strada's 1983 Sidetrack team qualified for the '83 Series against other local teams, just as teams still do. "We were the dominant team in Chicago at that time, so it would have been a surprise for us to not have qualified," he said.
Despite their glory in 1983, Strada and the Sidetrack bunch never captured another title. Strada's team came in second-place in 1990, third in 1993 and fourth in 1994. "We were maybe a play or two away from winning again. We were very close several years. I really wanted to win it a second time, but we didn't," he said.
Their on-the-field joy was, though, regularly silenced by the off-the-field issues they endured, mainly from HIV/AIDS, much more than anti-gay backlash, attacks or oppositions, which they knew could come at any time.
"It was a terrible time," Strada said slowly, reflecting. "There were many, many times that we'd come to the fields on a Sunday and we'd hear another sad story, the news of another death.
"I was in San Francisco for the Gay Softball World Series in August 1982, and that was the first time I ever heard of the [ disease ] AIDS," Strada said. "At that time, people were just getting sick and dying. No one really knew what was going on. There were a lot of rumors, etc., but no one knew for sure. We were constantly losing people in the gay community.
"It was a very hard time; I lost many, many friends."
Teammates, too.
Of the 13 players on that 1983 Sidetrack team with Strada, five are dead—all from AIDS, Strada said. Strada and others from that era are not certain about one teammate, so that tally might actually be six.
"AIDS was a death sentence at that time," said Strada, who admits he was most shaken at the AIDS-related death of the team's shortstop, John Cieplak. "I couldn't believe that [ death ] ."
Of the 13 players from that 1983 team, only one was straight, Strada said. The team's manager, Jack McGowan, is also dead.
"Thankfully, if a person takes care or themselves, takes the prescribed medicine, HIV/AIDS is now a controllable disease, like diabetes," Strada said.
Strada and his partner Patrick Keegan have been together for 17 years, and with Keegan playing softball again this season after a 10-year absence, Strada is back along the lakefront cheering for his partner's C1 Division team—and also counting the days until the 2011 Gay Softball World Series, which returns to Chicago, starting August 29.
"I can't wait for this year's Series. I'm hoping that some of the guys who I played with and against will come in for it," Strada said. "I know the Series will be emotional. I just want to be there, for the atmosphere."
Sidetrack team roster that won the 1983 Gay Softball World Series championship:
Garry Magida, catcher *
Greg Chrobak, catcher
Arturo Agurto, pitcher
John Barak, first baseman
Bob Strada, second baseman
John Cieplak, shortstop *
Mike Bradley, third baseman
Al Kuntz, infielder
Ed Leyton, outfielder *
Ed DeRosa, outfielder
Eric Wynn, outfielder
John Lewin, outfielder
John Setzkorn, outfielder *
Jack McGowan, manager *
Those with an * marked by their name have since passed away.
