Bob “Pappy” Papich Memorial Team Sportsmanship Award

We lost a member of our Illinois USSSA family on August 5, 2008.  Bob “Pappy” Papich passed away at home from a sudden illness.

Pappy was the Rockford Park District Sportscore Manager upon opening the complex in 1983 until his retirement in 1996.  He also became a USSSA Director at this time and later became a great Slow Pitch and Fast Pitch Umpire. Pappy was honored for all his outstanding service to the USSSA and was inducted into the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame in 2002 in the meritorious category.

For those of you who knew Pappy, his true passion was UMPIRING.  Pappy always liked good competition.  He didn’t much care for individual accolades but he always thought good sportsmanship lead to good character. If Pappy umpired your game you received; respect, hustle, knowledge of the rules and total professionalism.

In memory of Pappy we have established the Bob “Pappy” Papich Memorial Team Sportsmanship Award to be given in each of the Northern IL Fast Pitch State Tournaments in memory and in the true spirit of a wonderful man and friend.