GLASA
THE GLASA STORY: FROM PICKUP GAMES TO THE SIN CITY CLASSIC BY DIRK SMITH, SDL
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n 2018 the Greater Los Angeles Softball Association (GLASA) celebrated its 40th anniversary. It was quite a difference from the early days of local informal pickup games that began to grow and become locally organized. Then in 1978 GLASA became part of a movement across the U.S. to form LGBTQ-specific sports organizations and leagues. The origins of a national gay softball organization began as an effort to promote a new gay bar in San Francisco. In 1977 the bar owner invited a gay softball team from New York City to fly to San Francisco for a tournament – the Badlands Team of San Francisco versus the Big Apple League of New York City. That three-game tournament won by the San Francisco team ultimately became the first Gay Softball World Series (GSWS). The GSWS has continued every year since then, leading to the formation of gay softball leagues across the country, including the Greater Los Angeles Softball Association which began the next year in 1978. Distinctly Los Angeles-based, for the first year the league was known as the Inter-City Athletic Union Softball League with six original charter teams; the Griffs, Rusty Nail, Gang Green, Latinos Unidos, Boots, and Coast Times. And the games were held in a small field at West Hollywood Park located in L.A.’s traditional “gayborhood.” As one of the five founding members of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA), from its beginning GLASA has proven to be a competitive force in the gay softball community. After winning the inaugural GSWS during its first year, the league went on to win the next three tournaments. In all, GLASA has gone on to win 27 Gay Softball World Series Championships, including 19 in what is now considered its premiere A division. In 1988 GLASA created a B division, a C division was added in 1993 and a D division was added in 2002. With over 600 athletes playing both a spring and fall season, the league’s makeup is very diverse, mirroring the greater L.A. population.
16 COMPETE 2019 Sin City Classic
