THE YEAR OF THE OLD SPORT : FORNEY BASHMAN : At 57, Softball Pitcher Has Won 812 Games

After he won his 800th game last summer, Forney Bashman began thinking about retiring from amateur softball.

Bashman, 57, has been one of the nation’s top pitchers for 34 years. He was recently selected for induction into the Amateur Sports Hall of Fame in Johnstown, Pa.

“This is the first year I’ve thought about it (retiring),” Bashman said from his home in Stockton. “I’ve never once before admitted that I was ready to quit.

“But playing is pretty time consuming. It takes a lot of time to play and go to in tournaments. I don’t think I’m going to be pitching 50-to-60 games a year anymore. If I pitch one game a week that’s plenty.

“All the pitchers I face are all younger. There’s no advantage to age except for the experience. If you learn good control you’ll be OK. I don’t think age is any big help.”

Bashman has compiled a record of 812 wins and 431 losses, with 36 no-hitters and 12 perfect games. He played on a national championship team in 1982.

“I started playing softball in 1948,” Bashman said. “I was playing semi-pro baseball guy and a guy that I worked with wanted me to play softball and basketball But I didn’t start pitching until 1952.”

Bashman, who played for a team sponsored by Robertson Homes, a construction company in Stockton, won his 800th game on June 25, 1986.

Bashman pitched four innings and left the game after his team built a 3-0 lead over Brannon Tire of Stockton. However, a relief pitcher lost the lead as Brannon tied it at 3-3 in the sixth inning.

“The coach asked me to go back in and finish the game and we beat them 4-3,” Bashman said.

“The team gave me a nice plaque after the game and Sports Illustrated sent a photographer out and put me in Faces in the Crowd.

“It (the 800th win) was really nice. But I wasn’t taking the 800th any different than the 700th.

“I’ve got a feeling there won’t be no 900. I don’t feel I want to go move down in leagues. I’ve competed in the top league since 1956. I don’t want to go down and play in a lower league.”

Bashman works as a supervisor for American Forest Products. Softball is just a hobby.

“I play because I enjoy the game,” he said. “I’ve had many days where I’ve pitched three games in one day. I pitched seven games in two days once.”

Now, Bashman says, it’s time to cut back a little bit.