Outfielder Dick (The Rocket Man) Bartel participated in nine ASA national championships and was a member of three national championship teams, all with Howard’s-Western Steer of Denver, NC ( 1981, 1983 and 1984). “In the early 80s, he was the best player in the country,” said former Howard’s manager Randy Gorrell. “He’s the player I would want at the plate when you have to win a ball game. One of the most respected players, on and off the field.” Six times Bartel earned ASA All-America honors including 1976, 1980,1981-1984. With Howard’s, he had a .654 batting average, hit 580 homers and drove in 1,090 runs. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Bartel started playing slow pitch in 1972 in his hometown of San Antonio, TX before deciding to play for some of the nationally known teams including Howard’s-Western Steer and Campbell’s Carpets of Concord, CA. The two years Bartel played for Campbell’s (1979-1980), the team won a national title (1980) and was a national runner-up. Bartel retired as an active player following the 1985 season.
