Little Jim’s Pub——A 14” Ball Team To Be Reckoned With!

Little Jim’s Pub was a formidable and entertaining 14” slow-pitch softball team from 1970 to 1981. Clad in their black and white pinstripe red-trimmed uniforms, they won numerous invitational tournaments and a handful of Tacoma Metro League titles. The late Bud “ Doc “ Hoff was the energy behind all of the team success. The induction of Little Jim’s Pub into the Hall of Fame is a wonderful tribute and way to honor Doc. His leadership, quick wit and his unwavering friendship is a gift that just keeps giving to all of us who knew and loved him.

Jim Martin was a terrific and generous sponsor and friend. He provided us with the best equipment, uniforms, jackets, fees and best of all his warm and inviting Little Jim’s Pub where we celebrated as a team and became a family.

We won our first 32-team tournament hosted by Alfred’s Cafe at Peck Field in 1970. We were presented with a 5 ft. trophy that Jim Martin proudly displayed at the Pub and later became a unique coat rack. Some of our favorite tournament championships were the Joe Stortini Invite, Son’s of Italy, Home Plate and Michaels 11-

11 tournaments. There were many outstanding teams in this era like Son’s of Italy, Gremlins, Family Tavern, Hanks Tavern, Coach House, Michaels 11-11 and Jerry’s Tomboy just to name a few.

One highlight would be when we played the powerful and number 1 ranked Heidelberg team in

2022 Hall of Fame Team Inductees continued

a tournament game at Peck Field #1. Doc Hoff won the coin flip and chose to be visitors hoping to score a run in the top of the first inning so we could say we were ahead for a moment. Well, we scored 7 runs in the top of the first and then the bombs began rocketing out of Peck field. The final score ended up 29 to 26 in favor of Heidelberg. Little Jim’s Pub was now a player!

We were such a strong team that Phil Carmichael had to ride the bench his first year. Also, during that time our lefty pitcher, Chuck “Headman” McMillan, changed the 14” game with his occasional quick low slow pitch. Hitters just could not lay off such a gift pitch that many times led to a catchable line drive or ground ball. It helped keep so many balls from flying over the fences at Peck Field. Our catcher was Rick (Howard Huge #747) Keely. A powerhouse of a player who hit some awesome dingers. His best was a line drive which was just slightly above the reach of a leaping shortstop and flew over the left center field fence on Peck #3, hitting Sprague Street and resting at the Metro bus barn fence. We also hit nine consecutive balls out of Peck #1 in a tournament game against Gene Lobe Rich Heat of Bremerton. The 10th batter’s name will remain secret. (Editor’s Note: Not to many, Denny).

In 1982 the team went to small ball and was under the sponsorship of Evergreen Excavation, owned by one of the original Little Jim’s players, the Legendary Mo Manning.

Little Jim’s Pub is a perfect example of all the 14” Big Ball teams during the 1970’s. Teams were comprised of baseball loving guys who share so many great memories of their exploits on the Diamond, but most of all they have made friendships that will last forever.