Between 1960 and 1974, Bill Cole helped Detroit teams win a pair of Major Slow Pitch National titles, 1966 (Michael’s Lounge) and 1970, (Little Caesars) and finish runner-up three times. He batted .603, smashed 335 homers and drove home 1,001 runners from 1962-1974. Four times Cole, who was born February 25, 1937, was named an ASA All-American (1962, 1969, 1970 and 1971) and in 1962 he earned the tourney’s MVP award after batting . 758 to lead Eastside Sporting Goods to a runner-up finish in the national tourney. It was one of 12 national championships Cole participated in. Nicknamed “Hummer” because he could “hum” or spray the ball to all fields, Cole wasn’t a “stone” glove either playing first, third and the outfield. One of the qualities that made Cole such an outstanding player was his ability to adjust to field conditions, according to his former manager Roy Lombardo. “Some players are strictly pull hitters and if the wind is blowing in, they can’t hit it out. Cole could adjust and hit to any field. And when he didn’t hit it over the fence he would get his singles.” Retired from the Chrysler Corporation, Cole was born February 25, 1937.
