2023 Honorary: Dottie Ferguson Key

 Dottie was introduced to sports at a very young age in Winnipeg, Canada where she was born. She inspired to be a figure skater like her hero, Sonja Henning but got a pair of speed skates for Christmas instead of figure skates. In 1939 she was named the North American women’s speed skating champion. Dottie had qualified for the 1940 Olympics but those were cancelled due to WWII. That didn’t stop her pursuing her other love, however.

Dottie’s love of baseball and success earned her a try-out with the All-American Girl’s Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) at Wrigley Field. She was selected to play for the Rockford Peaches earning $75/month in 1945. And her future husband followed her to Rockford.

Don Key was also an outstanding athlete who excelled in many sports. He was a member of Canada’s Olympic track and field team. Don received a call from the Cardinals. They wanted him to come to St. Louis for a tryout. Don declined the offer because he wanted to let Dottie “follow her dreams”.  In 1949 Dottie Ferguson married Don Key.

There is much written about Dottie Ferguson Key and her Rockford Peaches in many publications but what you don’t know about this great athlete is what she gave off the field in her twilight years.

Dottie and the women of the AAGPBL came out of obscurity when the movie “A League of Their Own” was released in 1992. Dottie and these women finally got the recognition they deserved. 

Rockford was awarded the USSSA Slo-Pitch Women’s World Series, Class A World, and the Great Lakes Class B Divisional tournaments in Rockford in 1993. “When Chuck Fischer, Master of Ceremonies, at this prestigious event announced Dottie’s name after the parade of teams were standing in the outfield, these grown women went nuts”, said Paulson. We also had Thomas Sanders and Wendell Davis, (Chicago Bear players) at this event but Dottie’s autograph line never ended in 3 days.

At the USSSA National Convention in the fall of 1993 Chuck Fischer was awarded the 12U Girls Slo-Pitch World Tournament. The first thing he did was contact Dottie to ask her to attend his event. “At the opening ceremonies at the football field in Shepardsville, KY and after all 64 teams were introduced and a few speeches were made, what brought every player to their feet was when the DJ started playing “This used to be My Playground”, followed by asking, “Anyone know this song”? and then again, the crowd when crazy.” Prior to the tournament, Chuck made 1000 copies of the Rockford Peaches team and 1000 pictures of Dottie in her Peaches uniform. “She signed all 2000 and numerous hats, gloves, bats, and uniforms. Dottie made this a great experience for everyone,” said Chuck.

In 1996, at Hutchinson, KS, 51 talented teams competed in the 16U and 18U divisions in the first USSSA Fast Pitch World Tournaments. What made this event so special was that Team Illinois had Dottie as their batgirl throughout the tournament! “This was a contributing factor in the 16U team finishing fourth” Myron said. By the way, Myron Schroeder, IL USSSA Director, inducted into the IL USSSA Hall of Fame in 2008, and IL Hall of Fame founding member of this Hall of Fame was also the coach. “An additional highlight was Dottie dancing all night with the girls at the tournament pizza party, while husband Don, could only shake his head at his wife’s dance floor moves,” said Myron.

“What great memories Dottie provided the 600+ participants as she signed pictures, balls, hats and even several pairs of shoes! She made the tournament one of the best as she promoted the USSSA with her presence. At the opening ceremonies she told the audience, “Professional Women’s Softball is coming.” Her vision was right!”

As her daughter Dona explained, “Mom always said follow your dreams”.

“There was no place or ballpark to far for Don and Dottie to hop into that big blue van and travel to Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan, or any other city or State for a softball event. Don enjoyed the traveling as much as Dottie. Dottie spent hours signing items and autographs for girls, women and even men who I witnessed were inspired by her. Dottie and her family became very dear friends of mine,” said Paulson.

Dottie lost her beloved Don in the fall of 2002, and she lost her second battle of breast cancer on May 8, 2003. She is survived by her daughter, Dona and son, Doug the hockey player and her 2 Granddaughters and 1 Grandson, and additional 3 Great Granddaughters and 2 Great Great Grandchildren.

Dottie Ferguson Key was one of the best ambassadors for the Rockford area community. She never asked for compensation for any of her travels she just loved the game and who would think this gentle soul would sacrifice her body just to get on base. (She led the league on walks due to her putting her hip in harms way) Her son, Doug says he got his competitive nature due to his mom’s aggressive behavior on the field during her playing days and off the field watching her son playing hockey as a 16U goalie. Officials were not spared her wrath either!

And so, this is almost the “rest of the story” for our dear friend Dottie Ferguson Key. Her love of Women’s baseball and softball was immeasurable.

Thank you, Dottie, for all your love of the sport and giving many young ladies inspiration to “follow your dreams”.

1997 Honorary: Charlie O'Donnell

Charlie O’Donnell

Charlie O’Donnell was appointed an Area Director in 1971. He became the Missouri State Director in 1975. The following year, he was named Regional Vice President of the then Central Division with jurisdiction over Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Iowa. During his tenure as Regional VP, the Central Division became the largest division in terms of team and umpire registrations in the USSSA. Following realignment in 1988, O’Donnell became the Executive Vice President of the Central Division (Illinois and Kentucky moved to the Great Lakes Division at the same time).

Though O’Donnell is no longer directly involved with the Illinois program, he is still part of the new Northern Region, and his leadership and guidance is still felt by his older directors.

In 1993, O’Donnell was inducted into the National USSSA Hall of Fame as a Director. At the 1996 National Convention, he was honored for his contributions to the USSSA Hall of Fame.

2008 Honorary: Chuck Fischer

Chuck Fischer

In the spring of 1996, close to 300 people crammed into the Clock Tower Grand Ballroom to witness 13 of Illinois’ finest softball talents be inducted into the inaugural class of the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame. Being the Hall of Fame’s first ceremonies, it was important the induction ceremonies came off without a hitch, so State Director Brenda Paulson called upon a longtime friend to be that evening’s Co-Master of Ceremonies. Chuck had already had is “tryout” at the 1993 Women’s World Series when he organized the opening ceremonies and was the emcee at that Rockford event. Also, Mr. Al Ramsey, CEO of the USSSA was at this World Series and was so impressed with Chuck and Jeff Brown’s game play-by-play that both of them became a part of his team. Jeff became “the voice” of the Men’s Major World Series and Chuck has been the Master of Ceremonies at the National Hall of Fame banquet.

For those in attendance, it was evident that he was going to lead this banquet and future banquets with dignity, swagger and grace. No one else could ever get 300 people to go to the bathroom at the same time – prior to the beginning of the induction ceremonies.

This “silver-tongued” Southern gentleman with his Kentucky style for description became the voice of the Illinois Hall of Fame on that night; a voice that has become the trademark of the 13 Hall of Fame banquets that have followed.

At the conclusion of that evening’s inductions, the talk was not about the countless funny stories that came from the inductees but of the professionalism of the Co-Master of Ceremonies to arrange and guide the ceremonies in a timely manner. It was evident that the future success of the Illinois Hall of Fame was in good hands with Chuck Fischer and Jeff Brown at the microphone.

It was not like this was Chuck Fischer’s first trip to the podium. He had let the USSSA National Hall of Fame ceremonies since 1994. That experience allowed him to tackle the tough tasks of introducing people he did not know and making them sound like he had known them his entire life, while guiding the Illinois Hall of Fame inductees on and off the stage on his professional time table.

Chuck Fischer has an eloquent speaking talent, but his attributes to the game of softball go much farther as he has been involved with the USSSA since 1980 as an area director. He was appointed the Kentucky State Youth Director and the Women’s State Director in 1986. In 1990, he was appointed Co-State Director of Kentucky with Ed Williams. In 1998, Chuck took over the sole duties as State Director due to Mr. William’s retirement.

In 1988, Chuck was named the Great Lakes Director of the Year and in 1999 received the coveted President’s Award. In 2003, Chuck received the Richard Pollack Memorial Award for his leadership in the Women’s program. He has hosted and directed numerous state, national and world tournaments during his USSSA tenure. Not to mention, he directed the first three Super Series weekends at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. Chuck was inducted into the USSSA National Hall of Fame in 2007 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

State Director Brenda Paulson perhaps summed up Chuck’s contributions best as she stated, “I cannot imagine being involved with the USSSA without my good friend, Chuck Fischer.”

Without Chuck Fischer, there are many that cannot imagine what the Illinois’ USSSA Hallof Fame would be like either.