Congratulations to the South Florida Amateur Athletic Association (SFAAA) on 30 years of gay softball in Oakland Park! Over 100 people including the Oakland Park City Commission, founding SFAAA members, current and former players, coaches, and fans attended the celebration to celebrate the milestone at a special Founders' Dedication Ceremony on Saturday, July 20th.
Wimberly Athletic Fields, the site of the league's first pitch, hit, and run in 1994, hosted the event. “It is truly an honor to celebrate 30 years of LGBT softball, not only with many of our founders but also where it all began,” said SFAAA Commissioner Rocky Bowell, who is serving his second term.
The City Commission issued a proclamation on July 17th to honor SFAAA's legacy and contributions to South Florida. A representative from the Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library attended the anniversary celebration to honor one of the oldest recorded LGBT civil rights events in Oakland Park history.
“I am grateful to the leaders who have taken the league to new heights and to the current SFAAA board for their commitment to preserving its history,” said SFAAA co-founder Jim Stork. “Past and present, whether we have met or not, we are all part of a softball family" Stork continued.
Founded in July 1994 by Stork, George Kessinger, and the late Bob Hagen, the league has grown from a handful of teams to over 30 teams and almost 500 players and supporters in 2024.
“Special shoutouts to Stan Butler, our first manager, the amazing founding players, George Kessinger, and the late Bob Hagen, our first commissioner,” Stork added. “They inspired the creation of our new league back in 1994.”
Other dignitaries included former North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance Commissioner Jim Marks, who helped guide SFAAA into the national organization, and Oakland Park author and historian Susan Gillis, who is writing a book on the history of the City of Oakland Park.
SFAAA has been a staple of South Florida and the national gay scene for three decades. Since 1995, the region has hosted the annual Hurricane Showdown softball tournament over Thanksgiving weekend with over 70 participating teams. Other notable milestones include:
- 1998: Hosted the first Gay Day at the Florida Marlins’ (former) Pro Player Stadium.
- 1999: Launched South Florida’s first women's division.
- 2000: Billy Bean, the second Major League Baseball player to come out, joined SFAAA and competed in the Gay World Series in Toronto.
- 2006: Hosted the NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series.
This year, the league will send 14 teams to the Gay Softball World Series in Las Vegas in October. On Sunday, July 21, SFAAA will hold its 30th Anniversary Gala, inducting new members into the SFAAA Hall of Fame and distributing league awards. The fall season will start in late August with ratings sessions, followed by the 30th Hurricane Showdown during Thanksgiving weekend.
For more information or to join the league, visit www.sfaaasoftball.com or contact Recruiting@sfaaasoftball.com.
Photos by Michael Murphy.