Michael Foley
Elected : USSSA New York Hall Of Fame in 2023
Inducted : March 2024, Syracuse, NY
Mike’s softball career started in Sunnyside, Queens where he resided. Today he lives in Middle
Village, Queens with his wife Liz. They have been married for seventeen years and have a
daughter, Mary. Mike’s occupation was a stagehand with the Theatrical Teamsters 817 in
Manhattan for thirty years, with a brief stint with an elevator company.
Prior to his softball career, Mike was an outstanding baseball player who caught the eye of
several accounts. But a serious arm injury doused his ability to play at a professional level.
A city guy who honed his softball talents on fields of blacktop and wooden bats. He rose to
prominence and led teams locally to many championships. However, in 1966 playing for the
New York Titans. Mike helped his team finish 5th in a national tournament.
To qualify for that national, they had to win a regional on open fields in Staten Island. At this
time, the 1960s and 70s softball organizations were feuding for teams and territory. If you played
in one, you could not play in the other. So, Mike’s teams played USSSA and went to their
national tournament. Mike’s career spanned many years. The prominent teams were the New
York Titans, Hicksville Astros, County Sports, PepsiCo and County Steelers.
In 1997, Mike left amateur ball and played several years in the Pro League. Starting with the
New York Clippers and the New Jersey Statesmen. The accolades continued in the pro league
where he was selected to the All-Star Team twice.
Mike was the consummate competitor never giving less than a hundred percent. An outfielder
with great instincts and a hitter who led by his actions.
While playing with County Sports, Doc Linnehan put Mike in the lead-off spot. He became the
most prolific lead-off hitter of that time. His teammates watched the other team’s reaction as
Mike would hit a booming home run in the top of the first inning. The opponents’ expressions
were “What is coming next?”
A great player and person whose enshrinement in the USSSA Hall of Fame has come.
