Although he never realized his dream of being an NFL quarterback, Anquillare had an outstanding career against the best of men’s fast pitch in 18 years of fast pitch competition. Convinced to give fast pitch softball a try after starring as a college baseball player at the University of New Haven, Anquillare was an immediate hit with the renowned Raybestos Cardinals. He led the team in batting (.296) in 1966 and two years later (1968) broke the Cards’ all-time one season hitting mark by two points with a .432 average. Anquillare twice more batted .400 or higher in his career with a .426 average in 1971 and a .400 average in 1972. Eight times he led the Cardinals in hitting and finished his career with a .345 lifetime batting average. In 1,017 games, Anquillare scored 632 runs, hit 158 doubles, belted 67 homers, and drove in 492 runs. He had a .513 lifetime slugging percentage and earned ASA All-America honors seven times in 13 national tourneys and twice was the MVP in the national championship (1970 and 1983). He also played (.318 BA) in the 1984 ISF World Championship in Midland, MI as the USA won a bronze medal after winning the 1983 ASA National Tourney in an upset. Anquillare was born March 31, 1942.
