2013 Male Player: Mike "Oatie" Oates

Mike "Oatie" Oates

The Boyzz from Illinois, Stroh’s, The Bank of Westmont, Burla Construction, and Joe Black’s. These are legendary names in Illinois softball filled with Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame inductees and these are the teams that were fortunate enough to have Mike Oates play for them.  Talk about a storybook career …

When his minor league baseball career as a pitcher in the Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos organizations came to an end Mike returned home and began his softball career playing in local leagues. In 1978 Mike met Bob Raikovich, became friends, and began playing with teams Bob coached the following year. That friendship lasted 35 years, 19 of which Mike anchored those famous Illinois teams.

Bob and everyone else recognized that the powerful six-foot four Oatie was truly a five tool player, he could run, field, throw, hit for average, and hit for power. He was a star and batted cleanup all through his playing career. His consistency was such that he kept a high career batting average of .620 plus and was top three in batting average and home runs every year on every team he played .  Mike was the consummate player, the steady cleanup hitter always could be counted on in clutch situations

Forever a winner, Mike was on Illinois State Championship teams with Stroh’s, The Bank of Westmont, Burla Construction, and Joe Blacks. He made the State  All Tournament team with both The Bank and Burla. He competed in USSSA tournaments for 17 years. The 1986 Burla team finished fourth in the USSSA “A” World Tournament in Kalamazoo, MI.

Oatie was an original member of Joe Blacks, the team formed in 1988 that competed in USSSA softball until 2002.  In his 5 years with Joe Black’s they won one State title and competed in the prestigious 1989 USSSA Men’s Major World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska. . In 1990 they finished fourth in the USSSA Men’s “AA” World Tournament, coincidentally in Kalamazoo again.

Mike took pride in his ability to balance his softball career with both his family life and his successful business career. Mike knew of his induction in the IL USSSA Hall of Fame Class of 2013 and was very pleased. His time on this earth ended May 29, 2013, but his spirit and accomplishments live on.