Rick Palermo

Elected : USSSA New York Hall Of Fame in 2018
Inducted : 2019, Rochester, NY
 

I first started playing slow pitch softball in 1972.  I'm still playing senior softball some 43 years later.  For me, softball has always been about the team.  Playing with people you know well and care about makes it all worthwhile.  That was true when I started out by playing with my brothers, cousins and neighborhood friends to today with my closest friends playing senior softball and vacationing together.

USSSA softball has taken me all over the country.  From Florida to California to Louisiana to Texas.  It has been a great experience and I have had great success because I've been fortunate to play with great teammates.  Some of my best memories have been when my teammates have done the unexpected to win us a game.  Whether it was a big hit or a big double play at the right moment or a great catch to win the game.  The team victory was always more satisfying than any personal accomplishments.

I owe this honor to many people.  Especially, my older brother, Gary, who taught all of my brothers how to play the game.  Hitting, running the bases, hitting the cutoff, playing winning softball.  It was a joy to play with my brothers (Gary, Phil, Ron, Mark, Kurt and Jeff), my cousins (Lou and Mike) and many friends (Rocky, Greg, Todd, Paul, John, Kevin, Jimmy, Mike, Rob, Gino, Curt, Pete, Andy, Carl and many more too numerous to mention).

What an experience!