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History
"History is made every time we step onto a field. If we record it now, others will appreciate it in the future." Ralph Hall "Remember your leaders." 2-10-09
864 - TOURNAMENTS
524 - LEAGUES
1,396 - Events from 1982 to 2010
8 - Current Leagues in 2010Awards for over 18,000 CHAMPIONS!
Direction and leadership for more than 1,000,000 PARTICIPANTS!
"Climbing the mountains of accomplishment means more when you take others to the top with you." Ralph Hall 1-25-09
"Great games are never over because they leave twin legacies of SPORTSMANSHIP and CHARACTER." Ralph Hall 1-25-09
45 years as an umpire
28 Years as a Tournament or League Director at 29 locations and on 66 different Fields."This is our game. Softball History is spoken here." Ralph Hall
"A man's credentials are not found as much in his history as they are found in his heart." Ralph Hall 8-30-07
Where Champions Belong To History!
Click here to see the names of the 1989-1999 & 2004 Texas Softball Hall Of Fame World Series Champions"When you look back, will you know that you have lived a life worth remembering? The courage to live it passionately does not come from the absence of fear. It comes from the absence of selfishness." Ralph Hall 1-19-2009
"I do not believe that God ever counts my trophies or my championship t-shirts, but I do believe he counts our scars, our tears, and our prayers." Ralph Hall 7-30-09
1949 - On the night of September 8th, Elizabeth Jane Hall and Ralph Hall gave birth to their first born son. His dad was playing softball earlier that night. DAD was more famous for his State of Texas Championship Golden Gloves in boxing and was not really a power hitter, but he actually did hit a home run that night.
1956 - The first softball game played by Ralph Hall, Jr. was at 1826 Basse Road, San Antonio, TX. He was 6 years old, in the first grade, and played right field that day. He did not make any defensive put-outs, but he got on base every at bat with either hits or walks. His favorite part of the game was running the bases. The snow cones from the refreshment stand after the game were good too. Who could have imagined then, that he would celebrate his 54th year as a softball player and 44th year as an umpire in 2010? A small lump of coal would be transformed into a shinning diamond.
1956 to 1969 Ralph Hall played on numerous City Championship Youth and Adult softball teams in San Antonio, TX.
1966 - Ralph Hall coached his first boys softball team in San Antonio, TX, and umpired his first games at Wilson Fields.
1967 - Ralph Hall coached his first League Championship Team in San Antonio, TX.
1968 - Ralph Hall coached his First City Championship Boys softball team in San Antonio, TX. He was also selected to the City-Wide All Star Teams in both Fast Pitch as a second baseman and as a shortstop in Slow Pitch softball in San Antonio, TX.
1969 - Ralph Hall repeated as coach of the boys softball City Champions in San Antonio, TX.
1970 - Ralph Hall umpired his first Collegiate level softball in San Marcos, TX.
1973 to 1974 - Ralph played in Championship league and tournament play in Springfield, Illinois.
1975 - Ralph Hall played in Galveston, TX.
1978 - Ralph Hall played on the City Championship softball team and umpired in Seguin, TX.
1979 to 2008 Ralph Hall played in Mo. City, TX, and numerous League Championship and Tournament Championship teams in the Houston, TX, area.
1980 - Ralph Hall was elected as Softball Commissioner in Mo. City, TX, and served as U. I. C. for Leagues.
1981 - Ralph Hall began his USSSA umpire career at Softball Country Club, Houston, TX.
1982 - Ralph Hall served as U. I. C. for the Mo. City, TX, Annual Softball Tournament.
"What causes us to be in the right time and the right place in softball history is the grace and favor of God." One touch of HIS grace gives us a life. One touch of HIS favor does more than we can do in a lifetime of our own efforts. Ralph Hall 6-12-07
RENTALS AND OTHER MILESTONES:
1982 - Turtle Creek, Mo. City, TX
Quail Green West, Mo. City, TX,
1982 to 1987 - Fondren Park, Mo. City, TX1983 Ralph Hall introduced and popularized MEN'S ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENTS in the Houston area.
Stafford City Park, Stafford ,TX
Ralph Hall initiated the CUSTOM of AWARDING T-SHIRTS instead of Trophies for Championship teams.
Ralph Hall made a major decision with Earl Moats that SPORTSMANSHIP would be his primary goal in the development of players.
Post Oak YWCA, Houston, TX1984 - Jane Long Field, Richmond, TX.
Windsor Village Park, Houston, TX
First Colony Athletics, Sugar Land, TX
Imperial Sugar, Sugar Land, TX
Texas Instruments, Stafford, TX
Four Seasons Park, Hockley, TXRalph Hall attended NATIONAL UMPIRE SCHOOL for ASA with Walter Sparks, Bernie Provato, and Glenn Smith.
Ralph Hall was the U. I. C. for the 1984 NSA STATE MEN'S CLASS D TOURNAMENT won by the Houston Hustlers.
Ralph Hall Founded and Served as the First PRESIDENT of the FORT BEND AREA UMPIRES ASSOCIATION.
1985 - Southwest YMCA, Bellaire, TX. Ralph Hall was appointed by Earl King to be a Houston USSSA AREA DIRECTOR.
Ralph Hall became the FOUNDER and continues to be the PRESIDENT of THE TEXAS SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME.
1986 - 2006 Tournaments or Leagues at Papa Blakely's, Fort Bend County, TX
1986 - Ralph Hall umpired a USSSA SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL GAME on National Television (ESPN) with Anthony "Corky" Carter, Silas Roberson, and Red Lantz.
Ralph Hall initiated and popularized the First DOUBLE HEADER LEAGUES in Houston area softball.
Ralph Hall became the FIRST Tournament Director to use the 1 PITCH tie-breakers GROUND RULES at the end of games.
Sugar Land Telephone Company, Sugar Land, TX
1987 - 2010 Cullen Park, Houston, TX
Nottingham Field, Houston, TX1989 - Memorial Park #4 & #5, Houston, TX
Ralph Hall received the Houston ASA TOP INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVER AWARD from John Robinson.
Ralph Hall designed and ordered the production of the infamous Flag T-Shirts as AWARDS for Championship awards.
Ralph Hall served as a Houston ASA DEPUTY COMMISSIONER.
Ralph Hall created and served as U.I.C. for the FIRST TEXAS SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME WORLD SERIES TOURNAMENT, which was hosted at Papa Blakely's.
1990 & 1991 - Softball Country Club, Houston, TX
1992 - Memorial Park #2 & #3, Houston, TX
Hartford Stone Field, Bayland Park, Harris County TXRalph Hall was the first in the Houston area to institute the Ground Rule of Short Count, (1&1).
1993 - Ralph Hall HIT HIS FIRST of 29 OVER THE FENCE HOMERUNS on APRIL 21st at Bayland Park. It was a grand slam.
1995 - Feld Park, Bellaire, TX
Ralph Hall served as the U. I. C. for 8 SENIOR WORLD SERIES TOURNAMENTS at Cullen Park, Houston, TX, hosted by HCSSL.
1996 - Springwood Field (Agnes Moffet), Houston, TX
Memorial Park #1, Houston, TX. + This is the RECORD YEAR for TOURNAMENTS *(62).1997 - Houston Sportsplex #1-6, Houston, TX
Ralph Hall goes parallel to the ground fully stretched out and catches Houston Astro's, Bob Abreu, first Major League Homerun in the Astrodome. Ralph was awarded ESPN's Major League Catch Of The Week.
Ralph Hall became the FIRST LEAGUE AND TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR to utilize and establish the 1 UP GROUND RULE for Home Runs.
Ralph Hall received Stephen Covey training, developed, and published the TEXAS SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME MISSION STATEMENT.
1998 - Ward Field, Bayland Park, Harris County, TX
Ralph Hall began writing the Ralphisms and Editorializing.
Ralph Hall played the Fall Season with the Harris County Senior Softball League. (HCSSL). He hit two consecutive 3 run Homeruns in the third game of that season.
1999 - Southwest Girl's Field #1, Bayland Park, Houston, TX, Southwest Girl's Field #2, Bayland Park, Houston, TX
Alief YMCA, Sugar Land, TXRalph Hall DESIGNED and became WEBMASTER of the TEXAS SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME WEBSITE, the first major Houston area softball website.
Ralph Hall served as a Houston NSA AREA DIRECTOR.
2000 - The new Ward Field, Bayland Park, Harris County Texas
Ralph Hall returned to Houston ASA as an Area Director with Metro Commissioner, Ron Waldrop.
2001 to 2003 - New Territory Sportsplex, Sugar Land, Texas New Territory West Sugar Land Little League Jr./Sr. Field, Sugar Land, Texas
2002-"Some dreams don't come true, but some dreams do. LET'S ROLL!"
2004 to 2006 - Papa Blakely's (Leagues) Ft. Bend County, Texas
2004 - 2010 Missouri City Community Park in Mo. City, Texas, Fields #2, #3, & #42004 Ralph Hall directed the RETURN OF THE CHAMPIONS WORLD SERIES TOURNAMENT.
2004 - Ralph Hall was awarded the RNC Certificate of Merit from Fred Meyer and President George W. Bush.
"Brad, one day you will be a World Series Champion. Thanks for the autograph and picture." Ralph Hall 12-16-2004
2005 - 2010 Missouri City Community Park in Mo. City, Texas, Field #1
2006 - Ralph Hall was honored with the ASA Lifetime Member Award from ASA (Amateur Softball Association) and from Ron Waldrop, Houston's ASA Metro Commissioner.
2007 - It's been an amazing three decades. "I love being part of it and I always will." Ralph Hall 4-9-07Ralph Hall was invited to be the Guest of Honor at the Houston Community College Northwest Athletic Awards Banquet.
Ralph Hall is recognized by the WIKIPEDIA - Texas Softball Hall of Fame - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ralph Hall's first and second YOU TUBE videos are produced. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=TXSHOF
Ralph supports our troops by contributing softball equipment to 2nd Battalion, Camp Blessing, in Afghanistan.
Ralph Hall is Honored by ****General Tommy Franks.
2008 - 47 LEAGUES is a new record for the number of Leagues played in one year.
Mr. Ralph W. Hall, Jr. is bestowed with a 2008 Presidential Commission from Tom Cole, Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
The name Ralph W. Hall, Jr. is included on the special George H. W. Bush Leadership Honor Roll to be permanently located at the George Bush Presidential Library, College Station, Texas. Thank you Governor Jeb Bush, Board Member, Lt. General Brent Scowcroft, President, and Roman Popadink, Executive Director. 11-4-2008
"Truly, the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself."
2-10-2009
"My dream is to keep investing my life by loving and leading all people to life change in Christ." Ralph Hall 12-29-08
"From the silent request on my knees to the last footstep crossing the plate, the destination has been worth the journey." Ralph Hall 12-29-08
"I hear a voice in the fields of promise and hope calling us to a new time." LET'S PLAY BALL!" Ralph Hall 12-29-08
2009 - The first Houston area softball dual language, English/Spanish, Home Page and many of the web pages on the web-site.
Over 500 Leagues - Celebrate a Milestone Moment - We Worked - You Played!THE BEST TIME IS YET TO BE - A time to be Field Tested, a time to celebrate over 500 Leagues, a time to wear the Game Day Shirt.
2010 - The first Leagues in the Houston area to protect the pitchers with the LINE DRIVE RULE and also to allow them pitch up to six feet behind the pitching rubber in ASA softball.
"With vision, courage, and skill we plan the games. With cooperation, commitment, and caring we lead the people." Ralph Hall 9-15-07
"These years, locations, fields, games, and relationships are a part of our past. They remind us of what our mission has been and enable us to envision what our mission will be." Ralph Hall 10-2-08
The next years, locations, fields, games, and the new relationships are a part of our future. They will challenge us TO BECOME the THRILLER B's. BE ONE. 6-20-06
What causes us to be in the right place at the right time is not luck, circumstance, or the brilliance of our own choices. What causes us to be in the right time and the right place in softball history is the grace and the favor of God. Ralph Hall 6-12-07
The Texas Softball Hall Of Fame is built slowly over a lifetime.Before you can BE in the HALL OF FAME, THE HALL OF FAME has to BE in you.
Ralph Hall 8-02-08
"For every wounded heart, there is a way out of the pain and into the fields of promise and hope. In these fields, the best is yet to be amazing indeed!" Ralph Hall, after his quadruple bi-pass surgery in April, 2000."There are 108 stitches on a baseball and there are a few on me. Tell them I am not through. For the love of the game, I'll be back." Ralph Hall
"IT IS BETTER TO DIE AT THE BALLPARK WITH A GOOD REPUTATION THAN TO LIVE ANYWHERE WITHOUT ONE." RALPH HALL
"If you respect our history and if you care about our presence, you may wear the trophy of honor in our future." Ralph Hall
BLACK HISTORY and
HISPANIC HERITAGE
+Texas Softball Hall of Fame does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. RALPHISM #54. "Color is only skin deep, but beautiful character lives on the inside."
"Inspiring others to live better lives is the accomplishment of leadership." Ralph Hall"A MAN CAN ACCOMPLISH MORE IN ONE DAY AT THE BALLPARK WITH GOD THAN IN A LIFETIME ANYWHERE WITHOUT HIM."
RALPH HALL
"WHAT'S WORKING ?" IS A FAR SUPERIOR QUESTION TO "WHAT'S NOT WORKING?" AND LISTENING TO THE ANSWER IS EVEN BETTER."The hard drive historian of my past, the passionate, articulate journalist of my present, and the contemporary, prophetic spirit of my future are the same thing, my attitude." Ralph Hall
"The enemy of our history, of our presence, and of our future is found between the ears and on the tongues of the pathological critics." Ralph Hall 5-13-06
"IF WE PROTECT THEM, THEY WILL PLAY!" Ralph Hall
"We are planning today for the games we will play tomorrow." RALPH HALL 2-15-07
"The base path of character is not the base path of compromise."
Ralph Hall 8-30-07
"To the softball world you might be just one leader, but for one person you were, are, or will be the leader of his softball world." Ralph Hall 9-3-07
"NO BALLVIATING! THAT'S MY JOB." and my Thanks to Bill O'Reilly.
"WE WORK; YOU PLAY." Ralph Hall
You Tube Video (Part-1)
You Tube Video (Part-2)
"Congratulations! Your hard work is paying off.................not just for you but apparently for many others! Blessings!"
D. R. Nelson President/CEO, Sovereign Wealth Management, LLP
"This looks good! Makes me proud to have been a part of your organization. Keep up the good work. I miss being around you and the guys." Steve Morris, Umpire"Well I see you have conquered film! However, I'm still waiting for your first book of quotes and jokes? Great clip! God Bless." Kevin Tucker
"That was great," Hugh Durlam - Account Representative, One Source Credit Reporting, LLC
"That was a very good clip! I think you should keep it!" Phillip McNeil, Houston Community College Northwest Campus
Associate Athletic Director
"Cool dude," Carol Tribble, Qualifiers Coed Team"Wow!! You are really moving up and on in the softball world....good going for you and the league!!!" Lynn Hill, Inspirations Coed Team
"I really enjoyed the footage that you put on the web site. Keep up the great job of providing us with a great and fun softball environment. I am thankful and privileged to be a part of the league." Tony Aguilar, Coach First Colony Church of Christ Coed Team
"The video clips are a great addition to your web site. Appreciate all your efforts to run a first class softball organization and to provide a quality experience for the players." Roger D. Leick, Marine & Arctic Engineering Manager, Exxon Mobil Development Company
Ralph, you have been an inspiration to so many people for so many years. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. God Bless. Mark Sartain, 2007 ASA Lonestar State Champion, (Da Bomb)
Ralph, you have always had the vision to make softball more than a game. You always encourage people to be better than they think they can. Your video interview is excellent. It was always a pleasure to work with you and for you. Keep up the great work. Corky Carter, State Director: Tennessee USSSA Slow Pitch
"My friends are like quiet angels who lift me to my feet." They know when this heart has the courage to move these legs in the right direction. Other legs will follow in the steps of sportsmanship. As the footsteps echo in the Halls of Honor and Honorable Mention I will ask a simple question. Are those your steps I hear, my friend? I'm listening. Ralph Hall 12-18-07
Ralph Hall, Jr. & ****General Tommy Franks,
Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
"We honor those who make softball history, not those who mock softball history."
Ralph Hall 2-17-08
YES, WE PLAYED !!!
"From the silent request on my knees to the last footstep crossing the plate, the destination has been worth the journey." Ralph Hall 12-29-08
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CALL RALPH HALL 281-342-0789
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Since 12/04
