League History

The Main Line Softball Assn. is an adult men's slow pitch softball league which originated in Radnor Township in 1976 as the Printer & Publishers League. At that time, the league consisted of newspaper (Surburban and Wayne Times) and publishing (Chilton & T.V. Guide) sponsored teams and used the unlimited arc style of pitching. In 1978 the league changed it's name to the Delco Softball Association. From 1976 until 1987, games were played at a number of locations in Delaware County including Steele and Cooperstown fields in Havertown, Russell School and Culbertson School fields in Marple Township, Valley Forge Middle School, Villanova and Archbisop Carroll in Radnor Township. Beginning in 1988, the league began playing all of their games at Radnor High School and Wayne Middle School.

In 1991, the league switched to the current 6 - 12 foot pitching style and also changed it's name to the Main Line Softball Assn.

League highlights:

In 1988 and 1989, the Main Line league arranged a slow pitch softball tournament to help raise money for the family of Vic Winterberger who passed away while playing softball for the Chilton team in 1980. The tournamet raised over $3,000 for Vic's wife and children.

The Delaware County Daily Times Tournament of Champions is held every year during late August in Marcus Hook and showcases the champions from a number of Delaware County softball leagues.  The Main Line league entered it's champion in the tournament each year since the tournament's inception in 1983. In 1991, Bottle N Can finished 4th and in 1993 they finished 2nd. Beginning in 2000, a team from the Main Line League finished in the top 3 for four straight years. In 2000 Hopson Seal Coating finished 3rd, in 2001 the Brick Bar finished 3rd, and in 2002 and 2003 Mel's won the tournament.

In 1991 the Philadelphia 76ers entered a team in the Main Line league and in 1992 their roster included players Ron Anderson and Charles Barkley and sports reporter Howard Eskin.

The league has played host to hundreds of softball players over the last 32 years and has seen a number of local teams participate in league play. The leagues highest number of teams hit 16 in the 1988 and 1989. The league currently has 10 teams.

League Commissioners:

John Murphy (1976 - 1984)

Craig Smith (1985 - present)