Linde was double-trouble to softball teams. Not only could he beat an opponent on the mound but at-bat as well. Linde has the distinction of being a member of five ASA national championship teams: the Ke-Nash-A’s of Kenosha, WI (1934), Deep Rock Oilers, Tulsa, OK (1942), Hammer Field Raiders, Fresno, CA (1943-44) and Dow AC’s, Midland, MI (1951). Linde started his career in 1930 hurling for the Ke-Nash-A’s (61-8) and as a teenager combined with Bill Penick (2-0) and Harry Kraft (1-0) to lead the team to the national title. In the national tourney, Linde allowed only one run and four hits in winning two games, fanning 36. He also batted .400. Between 1935-1938, Linde starred for teams in Iowa, including Schukei Motors of Waterloo (1935-36), the Boone Nitehawks (1937) and Iowa Packing (1938) before playing for the Phoenix Lettuce Kings (1939), Deep Rock Oilers and the Hammer Field Raiders. After a stint in the service, Linde finished his career with the Dow AC’s and in eight years (1946-1953) won 119 games and lost only 39. He helped Dow win the 1951 ASA national title batting .393 (11-for-28) and earning the first of his two All-America selections. Two years later he was again named an All-American outfielder, batting .357 in the national tourney. It is estimated that in his career Linde hurled 120 no-hitters, 25 perfect games and struck out more than 15,000 batters. On April 29, 1991, Linde passed away at age 76.
