BRADY

Playing since age 8

from page B4 took advantage of the school’s study abroad program and spent two years at Loyola’s campus in Rome. Needless to say, he didn’t play softball there.

After graduating with a degree in economics, Brady earned his master’s in finance from Northwester n’s Kellogg School of Management. This degree earned him the nickname “The Professor” on softball diamonds. Brady went to work for R. R. Donnelley printing company and played for the company softball team at Grant Park. He later switched to telecommunications, where he still works full-time.

Brady also moved on to a more competitive level of softball at Kelly Park The South Side park levied mandatory bets on games to ensure that teams played to win. It wasn’t an “earth shattering amount” but a player might spend $900 over an 18-game schedule. Brady was 25 and single and at the top of his game. “I used to play 10 games a week. Every park had a league with a waiting list. Softball was our life.”

Brady was a slap hitter, who infuriated opposing infielders by beating out routine

When he was 30, Brady married Shirley and they went on to have three kids. Shirley was tolerant of softball but when kids started arriving, Brady had to cut back on softball. “I played hard until 1989. I took off from playing in weekend tournaments in the 90’s. I also morphed into coaching.” Brady coached his two sons and daughter in youth sports

Brady played in the No Gloves in the 1980s and still attends the tournament every year “No Gloves is the way softball is meant to be played.” His team never won the tournament. Their best finish was in the top eight. Brady also played in many glove tournaments. “Gloves made a gigantic difference in the outfield and they didn’t hurt my hitting.”

Brady moved into senior softball when he was 57. “I was playing in a 50-and-over league, when I led off the game with a hit and made a one-handed catch in the outfield.” He was immediately “carded” to make sure he was old enough. Brady was later forced to move from the outfield to designated hitter.

Softball has helped him to stay in shape and led to many friendships. “I got to play against all kinds of nationalities and players of different economic levels. In softball, everyone is equal.”

That may be true but not every player gets to be on the Wall of Fame Brady’s family knows how important softball has been for him. They are all coming to Forest Park to see his plaque installed. They