june2006

Softball pioneer recognised as Wellington sporting legend

June 9, 2006

Wellington, NZ

Softball pioneer recognised as Wellington sporting legend
Friday June 9th 2006


Thirty seven years after retiring as a player softball pitching legendBill Massey was this week inducted as a Wellington Sports Legend at theregional sports awards.

In his playing days Massey was the dominant figure in New Zealandsoftball and as a pitcher was often called “The Man with the Golden Arm”.During his time on the mound Massey led his club side Railways to sixnational titles and Hutt Valley to seven provincial titles. He was alsopart of the New Zealand team at the inaugural world championships in 1966where the Kiwi side placed third.

When reflecting on his playing days Massey recalls the hard work put inat club level by supporters and administrators to make everything happenout on the diamond.

“For me it was special just to play the game, every time I donned auniform for club or representative I always felt proud to play the gameand proud to wear the uniform,” said Massey.

While Massey pitched his team to great success at club and provinciallevel he says the honour of wearing the silver fern and playing for hiscountry was a highlight.

Massey recalls the inaugural world championships in Mexico in 1966 whenwith a playing of squad of 15 along with a manager, coach and umpire theyset off with little knowledge of international softball and the challengein front of them.

“Mexico was a tremendous experience, we toured through America and Hawaiithree weeks prior to the world champs. When we left New Zealand wethought we were pretty hot we didn’t realise what was ahead of us. Thelittle club sides we played against in the build up were giving us ahiding and that woke our ideas up and in the end I think we performedpretty well,” said Massey.

Following his playing days Massey remained in the game as an umpire andcoach. He achieved his New Zealand umpires badge in the 1960’s andcoached senior and kids teams at the Railways club.

Softball New Zealand CEO, Dale Eagar, stated the award was recognition ofthe huge effect Massey had on the game at the top level, especially inhis time as a player.

“It is great to see one of the pioneers of elite softball honoured insuch a way, watching Bill’s reaction on the night, and then being witnessto the very obvious respect, even reverence, shown by a current Black Soxteam member congratulating Bill on his achievement, were memorablemoments for me,” said Eagar.

Looking back to his times on the playing diamond Massey says a lot ofthings have changed in the game. When he was on the mound as a pitcherthe softball diamonds had no perimeter fences so batters were looking tohit the ball hard through the field but now with fences in place battersare looking to hit the ball high and out of the park.  

Other changes have seen development in bats which have gone from beingsmall and wooden to high technology aluminium and designed to hit theball over the fence.

While some things may have changed Massey says he still loves the gameand when he reflects on the sport and looks back at the worldchampionship winning record of the current Black Sox team he is full ofadmiration.

“Look at the Black Sox now and they are a team of athletes and some ofthe other teams such as America and Canada don’t seem as dedicated. I canremember years ago when America was really good and it was years beforewe (New Zealand) could even score a run off them,” said Massey.

By SNZ Media Liaison: Kelly Mitchell
* 
mailto:kelly.mitchell@xtra.co.nz

http://www.softball.org.nz/
*mailto:snz@softball.org.nz


Cheers Vance
Softball New Zealand web master.
*
 mailto:vanf@ihug.co.nz

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