Jim Sibigtroth

Jim "SIB" Sibigtroth – Rockford, IL

My first year of softball was with Dom's Pizza in 1972. Jim Yeager (1996 HOF) and I formed that team. In the early years every tournament was open to any team since there was no classification system. We won a number of tournaments. Our 1973 team won the Rockford Classic 8 league Championship. From 1975 to 1987 I participated in 12 World or Divisional tournaments — 7 Class B and 5 Class C tournaments.

"Sib had all the tools to play Class A Softball. He could run, throw, and hit for power and average. He could have played for any Class A team that I played for, but he owned a Bricklaying Company and couldn't commit to playing Saturdays and Sundays every weekend. He was a great team leader, and I enjoyed playing with him, having 2 or three beers after the game." — Jim Yeager, HOF 1996.

In 1974 I was voted "Most Valuable Player" of the Ken Becker Team. In 1975 my Diamond Bar team won the Ace of Diamond's 4th of July Tournament — I hit three home runs in the Championship game. I was an 8-time All Star in the Forest Hills Challenge League, 2-time Champion in the Forest Hills Challenge League and 2-time Forest Hills Challenge League Playoff Champion. Also, a 3-time Champion in the Players Park top League.

Our 1981 Class C team Steiner Electric won the Class B NIT on the 4th of July ("Wilson Fireball Classic") in Milwaukee. We defeated Stanich Realtors in the championship game 27-26. I was voted the MVP of the tournament. In 1982 our Leonardo's team won the "USSSA State Old Style Class C Divisional Qualifier" at Forest Hills. I was awarded the MVP trophy. I hit .744 with 11 home runs and 21 RBIs.

The friendships I made have lasted to this day. Win or lose, on the field where you shared a beer with your opposing team members after the game. Throughout the years, in addition to Jim Yeager, I played with many IL Hall of Fame members including Mike Emerson, Clancy Horn, Randy Torgerson, Denny Howell, LT Graham, Pierre LaBounty and new inductee John "Arky" Manis.

We were fortunate to have Brenda and Ken Paulson heading up our area USSSA softball organization. Their commitment, leadership and organizational skills allowed us to have everything teams needed to compete at the local, state and national level. Most players might have taken that for granted. I never did. For that I say Thank You. I want to thank Hall of Famer Ken Franzen for making Forest Hills Diamonds one of the premier sports complexes in the state. Special thanks to my lifetime coach Denny Longnecker, and thank you to my best friend Jim Yeager and great friends Mike Emerson and Rodney Peterson.

This former left-center fielder posted a lifetime batting average of .590 with 610 home runs per the consensus of his former teammates and coach.