Better Dads Better Kids

Rick Minton played softball for almost 27 years, starting in 1981 with Herbert Trucking and finishing playing "A" ball in Cerro Gordo. It is a great honor for Rick to be inducted into the Illinois ASA Hall of Fame, but I really believe that he deserves to represent Illinois, and especially Decatur, in the national ASA Hall of Fame.

The first “C” that I would use to describe Rick is Competitor. It didn’t matter if it was the Pan American games or Wednesday night in Cerro Gordo – Rick showed up to compete. He started as a pinch runner and outfielder, and finished as arguably the best second baseman in the history of the game.

I remember one year after Shelbyville High School won the state basketball championship, we honored them out at Borg Warner Field. We had some shirts printed up that said, “Shelbyville Basketball and Decatur Pride Softball – Winning is our business, and business is good!” I think that phrase really describes Rick.

My tally says that Rick was part of more than 1,500 wins for Decatur softball. [Herald & Review sportswriter] Mark Tupper wrote a letter for Rick's nomination and stated, “Always in top condition, always up for the big games, always healthy and in the lineup, Rick Minton was in many ways the heart and soul of those great Decatur teams. Those teams had other ASA Hall of Fame caliber players like Rothrock, Hicks, Place and Scott, but it was Rick who kept them playing fast and loose.”

The second “C” I would use is Character. I am using that term in a Babe Ruth or Harry Caray sort of way. How many people do you know that go by the nickname of “Bonehead” and like it? Tupper called Rick the “soundtrack" of Decatur Softball. It took an awful lot of money to play softball Decatur style, so it not only needed to be a game, it needed to be a show. Rick played with flair; people showed up and paid their money because they wanted to see what Rick might do. Sometimes it was having a heated discussion with [umpire] Ron Runyon over the proper application of the strike zone, but sometimes it was hitting the dramatic home run.

In Tupper’s letter, he said that Rick "was a defensive magician. He could make all the routine plays, but he would routinely make all the difficult plays. Again, it didn't matter whether it was under the biggest lights or the worst lights – you always knew you were going to get your best from Rick. He truly loved to play the game.”

It always amazed me though, how as soon as the game was over, it was over. Guys that Rick was in a knock-down, drag-out fight with 20 minutes ago were buying the first round for him. Long time teammate Brent Stevenson said, "I traveled and played the game at the highest level with Rick, and I can tell you he was respected and liked by everyone. It was war between the lines and then great friendship off the field.”

Finally, the last “C” is for Champion. 1984 International Softball Congress World Champion. 1988 gold medalist, playing for the USA in the International Softball Federation Worlds. 1994 and 1995 ASA National Championships. You can even throw in a couple of over-40 National Championships. Rick has six silver medals from U.S. National Sports Festivals and Pan American games. He played in Pan Am games in Cuba and Argentina.

I remember the 1987 Pan Am games in Indianapolis. It was right after his son Ryan was born, so Rick was driving back and forth to Indy every day to play. I rode over with him once and saw that this team of the best players in the U.S. had Rick batting cleanup that day.

Dave Boys also wrote a letter to the committee for Rick. Now, Dave wasn't too bad of a player; he played on some decent teams, with some above average teammates. . . of course, I am playing this down. You have more rings than fingers, right, Dave? Dave said, “I honestly think Rick Minton is the best big-game player I have ever played with.”

Tupper also noted in his letter that Rick not only thrived in the ASA Men's Major game, but he also helped USA softball, as well. To this day, Rick is recognized throughout the United States, Canada and New Zealand, as a legend of the game.

So the final “C,” Rick, is “Congrats.” Momma Minton would be proud.