In college Bruce Meade was a javelin and discuss thrower. The last thing on his mind was playing slow pitch softball. But friends urged him to play. “I’d tell ’em that’s a girl’s game. No way,” said Meade. The persistence of Meade’s friends paid off and eventually he ended up playing slow pitch softball. “I hit the ball pretty good that first year,” said Meade. “Pretty soon one thing led to another.”More than two decades later, Meade left behind a record of accomplishments that will be difficult to match, let alone surpass.They include:• Hit the longest home run on record in slow pitch softball, 510 feet in 1978 in Amarillo, TX.• The first person to hit a softball into the upper deck of the Astrodome in Houston, TX.• Hit more than 3,500 homers during his career including a career best 247 in 1981.• Earn ASA All-America honors 11 times (seven first teams and four second team) plus twice named MVP in the national championship, 1977 and 1982. Led the Super National championship in batting three times (1982, 1984 and 1985).In 1982, Meade also led the ASA Super National in home runs ( 12) and batting average .703 (26-for-37) with 32 RBIs. In 1984, he batted .775 and in 1985 hit .815 in the Super National Championship. In 1977, Meade and Herman Rathman shared the home run trophy in the Major national championship with 22 each, with Meade and Craig Elliott the co-MVPs. Meade was a member of four national championship team and played in 16 ASA nationals. He retired after the 1993 season. Participated in the 1989 U.S. Olympic Festival in Oklahoma City where softball made its Festival debut. Meade batted .735 in the Festival and hit 14 homers. • Was a consistent .700 hitter throughout his career. He batted .711 in 1976 with 131 homers, .764 in 1977 with 225 homers, .720 in 1978 with 175 homers, .693 in 1979 with 163 homers, .757 with 207 homers in 1980,.767 in 1981 with 247 homers, .705 in 1982 with 102 homers, .738 in 1983 with 138 homers, .696 in 1984 with 229 homers, .746 in 1985 with 200 homers, .711 in 1986, .729 in 1987, .645 in 1988 with 33 homers, .670 in 1990 with 52 homers, .675 in 1991 with 131 homers, .649 in 1992 with 81 homers, .638 in 1993 with 79 homers and .641 in 1994 with 67 homers. Participated in 16 ASA nationals and two ASA-Winston Slow Pitch All-Star Series. During his career, Meade played for some of the nation’s top slow pitch teams, including Warren Motors of Jacksonville, FL, Nelson’s Painting of Oklahoma City, Dave Carroll’s Skoal Bandits of Sherrills Ford, NC, Jerry’s Catering of Miami, FL, Elite Coatings of Gordon, GA, Smythe Sox of Houston, TX, Steele’s Sports of Grafton, OH, Starpath of Monticello, KY and Vernon’s of Jacksonville, FL. Besides his tremendous hitting, Meade was without question the most recognized player of his era . Standing 6-feet-6 inches tall and weighing in excess of 260 pounds, Meade was an easy person to spot on or off the field with his handlebar mustache. Meade played in his last ASA Super national in 1993 and was named a second-team All-America, batting .727 with 10 homers and 19 RBIs. Since retiring, Meade has remained active in softball, playing games to raise money for charities and continuing to work for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office in Bradenton, FL as warrants officer.
