1999 Male Player: Rod Shives
/Rod Shives
This hard-hitting shortstop began his USSSA career in 1972 and played until 1996. His teams included the following teams, all from Rockford, Illinois: White Eagles, AXA, Club 51, RMA, Twin Oaks, Forest Hills Lanes, Bullards, Rockford Stars, Miller Transportation, Town Hall and Little Caesar’s.
With a .600 career batting average with 750 home runs, Shives was selected MVP at a 1976 Class B qualifier and a 1984 Class A qualifier. He also claimed All-Tournament honors at the 1976 Class B World Tournament in Tullahoma, Tennessee. His team, Forest Hills Lanes, won that World Championship.
All-State tournament team awards include the 1976 Class B and 1977-1982 Class A. Shives played in every Class A or B State Tournament from 1976-1988 with the sole exception of 1987. He appeared in Class A Regionals from 1977-1982 and again in 1986. Shives also played in Class A Nationals from 1983-1985 and won the Best Defensive Player Award at the Class A Nationals in 1981.