Oldest Softball Players in the World

Softball has been around since the late 19th century, and is known for its similarities to baseball. It is played by both men and women, and much like baseball, is commonly considered to be the classic American pastime. 

Over the decades, the world has seen multiple softball players come and go, and in this article, we’re going to look more closely at some of the oldest softball players today. Let’s get into it.

3 Oldest Softball Players

3. Cat Osterman

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

Cat Osterman is a retired softball player whose career has seen her achieve big at various tournaments. Her interest in softball began when she was in the first grade, but she actually quit the sport to play soccer and basketball. However, she went back to playing softball four years later. As she got older and began playing more seriously in high school, Osterman began setting state and national records.

Her professional career began when she joined the University of Texas. In her freshman year alone, she was named All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association Second Team. In the years that followed, she joined the Olympic team and deferred her studies, and won gold in Athens in 2004.

Did you know? 

Cat Osterman appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2002, making her the first softball player to do so.

2. Jennie Finch

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

Jennie Finch is another of the best and most powerful softball players of her generation. She began playing when she was only five years old, and began learning how to pitch when she was eight years old. Although she majored in communications at University, she also began her softball career as a student.

She was immediately a successful player, winning titles like First Team All-American and First Team All-Pac-10 by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Did you know? 

Jennie Finch was a part of the same Olympic team that Cat Osterman was on, and she also won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

1. Lisa Fernandez

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

Lisa Fernandez is a softball coach and a retired softball player located in Long Beach, California. She is known for being a three-time gold medal winner at three separate Olympic games. Fernandez’s career began when she joined UCLA. Although her interest in softball had begun when she was a child, her professional career started when she joined her college team.

She won the Pac-12 Player of the Year award three times, and also won the Honda-Broderick Cup in 1993, making her the first softball player to do so.

Did you know? 

Lisa Fernandes has won several gold medals throughout her career. She has also been honored by the Lakewood City Council for her achievements as a softball player.

Conclusion

In this article, we took a closer look at some of the oldest softball players in the world. These players are known for their achievements and contributions to the sport, and although they have retired from playing softball, their legacies continue to remain. We hope you enjoyed reading this article!