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WOMEN'S SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM
Chicago has long been a home for softball, from the sport’s invention on Thanksgiving Day, 1887, to the formation of the first women’s team at West Division High School in 1895. One of my passion projects has been the creation of a Women’s Softball Hall of Fame & Museum in the Chicagoland area, an institution dedicated to honoring the many women who have played the game around the world.
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We came very close to making this vision a reality. While those plans ultimately fell through, we remain hopeful that one day this Hall of Fame will be built.
Three logo concepts for the Women’s Softball Hall of Fame & Museum. Designed by Adam Chu.
​Why create another Hall of Fame when one already exists in Oklahoma City?
Too much of the game’s history remains unrecognized. USA Softball, formerly known as the Amateur Softball Association, has primarily recognized athletes connected to its World Amateur / Women’s Major Fastpitch Tournaments (1933–2008) and the United States National Team. As a result, countless leagues, organizations, players, and teams—including international, collegiate, and professional athletes—have been overlooked. This Hall of Fame aims to change that.​​
A rendering of the proposed Women’s Softball Hall of Fame & Museum in left field at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont. Illustration by Adam Chu.
We explored three potential sites for the Hall of Fame and Museum:
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Thillens Stadium, Lincolnwood – the only continually operating softball grounds used by the National Girls Baseball League (while the park location remains the same, the stadium itself has undergone several rebuilds over the years).
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Michael Reese Hospital site – former home to the Farragut Boat Club, where indoor baseball / softball was invented in 1887.
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The Stadium at the Ballpark at Rosemont – home to the Chicago Bandits and a venue for local travel ball, high school, collegiate, and professional women’s softball games since 2011.
Ultimately, we chose Rosemont as the location, believing that connecting the sport’s history to the modern era would create an engaging experience for visitors attending games at the stadium.​​​
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Stormy Irwin and Bill Plummer III, key figures in preserving and promoting the history of women’s softball.
Irwin & Plummer Women’s Softball Library & Research Center
Included with the Hall of Fame and Museum would be a library and research center—something unprecedented for the sport. While baseball has numerous organizations dedicated to preserving its history, softball has nothing comparable. This research center would provide an accessible, centralized location for anyone wanting to study the game.
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The center would honor Stormy Irwin and Bill Plummer III, two major influences on my work. Irwin played softball and went on to publish numerous newsletters dedicated to the sport, while Plummer authored several books on the subject. Both were invaluable resources, especially when I first began this project, and their contributions to the history of women’s softball continue to inspire my work. Irwin passed away on May 1, 2025, and Plummer passed away on April 9, 2016.