Paysor, Richard

Richard Paysor – (1991)

 

RICHARD PAYSOR

Dick Paysor, one of the most popular and talented fast-pitch softball managers in Ohio during the sport’s heyday during the 1950s and early 1960s, came from a strong athletic background. With old Highland Park (now Central) located near his home to serve as his sandlot headquarters, Dick played both softball and baseball for many top-fight teams during the late 1920s, 1930s and early 1940s.

Chunky Dick pitched in Lorain Class D, C and B baseball leagues, and he could fill virtually any position he was asked to perform when crossing over to softball. In the latter ranks, Paysor was a member of the champion Lorain Sokol team in the old Ohio ARS Traveling League. The Sokols were ARS District champs four years running and, in 1939, they defeated Pittsburgh, 2-1, for the National Russo Sokol crown.

Before entering the U.S. Army in World War II, Dick played on the local Class A softball sandlots for the Hart’s Jewelers and Rusine’s clubs. While in military service, he performed for the 41st Army division’s title-winning softball nine in the Far East Theater. Following his Army discharge, Paysor was a member of four straight Lorain City or County championship softball clubs — Russo-Slav (1947), Hart’s (1948-49) and Kosco’s Tavern (1950).

It was during the 1950s that Paysor — always well liked by his players and sponsors — made his mark as the pilot of storied Fatty’s Sports Club, as well as that of United Polish Club and Old Dutch Beer. The latter two nines were always district and state-contending mainstays in the rugged Ohio Big 8 Fast-Pitch circuit.

Paysor’s 1952 Fatty’s nine rolled to a 49-6 record and became the only city team to date to win a major state ASA (Amateur Softball Association) fast-pitch crown. Playing against the likes of such renown fireball pitchers as Todd (Ike) McKinney and Hank Vaughn, Paysor had to use all of his crafty skills to pull out the 1952 crown at Washington Court House, O. Bunting when he had to; employing the hit-and-run at opportune times, and using such strategems as ”short-fly” tag-ups on offense and ”short-field” protectors on defense, Paysor’s Fatty crew defeated Zanesville, 6-1; Canton, 5-1; Columbus (12 innings), 1-0; Youngstown, 1-0, and Columbus again, 1-0, for Ohio honors. Fatty’s then advanced to the U.S. East Central Regional at Lakewood Elks Field where they defeated strong Cleveland Schraders, 1-0, and Pittsburgh, 7-1, but lost to Cincinnati, 8-4, and legendary Detroit Briggs Mfg., 5-2. Named ASA All-State at Washington Court House that year were pitcher Gib Smith, who had a 3-0 mark in the finals; leading tourney hitters Leo Pawlak and Hermie Fecho, plus Dom Ciarrone and Clarence (Clanky) Krontz.

The 1952 Fatty’s team, sponsored by the late Walter (Fatty) Brodke, was enshrined individually in the LSHF’s class of 1978. Also enshrined separately in other years were Fatty teammates Pawlak, Krontz, Ray Waters, Don Mitroff, Fritz Danicki and Mike Campana.

”The 1952 team had an unbelievable array of talent,” said Paysor, also known as an outstanding classic league bowler. ”I was blessed to play and manage during that era, please believe me. Fast-pitch had a huge popularity then. It was nothing to see 500-600 fans at a routine Class A city league game in Lorain.

*WELCOME DICK PAYSOR TO THE LORAIN SPORTS HALL OF FAME*