THE STORY.
Formed in 1980 as part of the North American Softball League, the Huggie Bears followed the collapse of the American Professional Slo-Pitch League and represented Fort Wayne during the final season of professional softball’s first major push. The team played at the Tah-Cum-Wah Complex and was named after a lollipop produced by a local candy company—an identity that reflected both the era and the city itself.
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On the field, the Huggie Bears struggled against stronger competition, finishing the season with an 11–49 record. Still, players like Lou Banks and Cardell Collins earned All-Star selections, and the roster featured Fort Wayne native and former major leaguer Bruce Miller.
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The league folded after the season, bringing an end to professional softball in Fort Wayne just as quickly as it had arrived.
ARCHIVE COLLECTION
FORT WAYNE HUGGIE BEARS.
A short-lived but distinctive chapter in Fort Wayne sports—part of the final wave of professional slow-pitch softball in 1980.
THE DETAILS.
THE DETAILS.
LEAGUE
NORTH AMERICAN SOFTBALL LEAGUE
YEARS ACTIVE
1980
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HOME FIELD
TAH-CUM-WAH RECREATION CENTER
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NOTABLE FIGURES
BRUCE MILLER (Player / MLB Veteran)
"JUNGLE" JIM RIVERA (Manager)
MORE FROM THE ARCHIVE.
