Metro Szeryk grew up in Windsor, Ontario and began pitching for various local teams at the age of 14. Szeryk gave a hint of what fast pitch softball fans could expect in the ensuing years when, in 1959, he pitched Sudbury’s Inernationals to the Senior B Northern Ontario, Canada Championship. Szeryk posted a regular season record of 21-1 and won six of seven games in the playoffs, with four of the wins no-hitters. Szeryk eventually migrated to play in the United States and established himself as one of the top hurlers in the 1960s and 1970s playing for the renowned Raybestos Cardinals of Stratford, CT, Local 57 of Providence, RI, the Cajun Kings of Shreveport, LA, the Poughkeepsie Brewers of Poughkeepsie, NY, and the Mid-Hudson Merchants before returning to his native Canada to play until retiring in 1984. Szeryk won more than 400 games during his highlight-filled career, including almost 200 games with the Raybestos Cardinals. In an eight-year span (1965-1972) with the Cardinals, Szeryk won 198 games and lost only 31 for a winning percentage of .86 percent. In 1,634 2/3 innings, he fanned 2,732 batters and walked only 281, allowing 651 hits and 188 runs. His won-loss records with the Cardinals were: 1965 (33-6); 1966 (36-8); 1967 (22-3); 1968 (6-0); 1969 (23-2); 1970 (27-5); 1971 (24-2) and 1972 (27-5). Szeryk appeared in six ASA nationals, including four with the Cardinals, compiling a 14-3 record (.824 winning percentage), striking out 152 batters in 112 innings. He allowed only 79 hits, 25 runs and walked 14 batters. Szeryk joined the Cardinals after compiling a 26-6 record in 1964 for Local 57 of Providence, RI including a 4-1 mark in the national championship. That year Metro won 11 of 15 games playing in the Atlantic Seaboard League, one of the nation’s top men’s traveling leagues. With his 4-1 record, Szeryk earned second-team All-America laurels. After joining the Cardinals, Szeryk earned his second All-America selection in 1970 as the Cardinals won the national title. Szeryk was 3-0 in the national championship and 27-5 for the year. He also participated in the Men’s Major Fast Pitch All-Star Series that year and compiled a 1-1 record. In 1971, the Cardinals finished runner-up in the national tourney with Szeryk 2-1 in the national tourney. In 1972, Szeryk had one of his best seasons, winning four games in the national tourney and earning the tourney MVP award in leading the Cardinals to the title. He also was named an All-American for the third time. Between 1970-1973, Szeryk appeared in four Men’s Fast Pitch All-Star Series before leaving the Cardinals after the 1972 season to play for the Cajun Kings of Shreveport. Szeryk had a 3-1 record in the All-Star Series. In 1974 he joined the Poughkeepsie Brewers and also played for the Mid-Hudson Merchants before moving back to Canada to play for local teams until retiring for good in 1984. Szeryk, who was born August 1, 1938, now resides in London, Ontario with his wife, Carol. On November 24, 2002 Szeryk was inducted into the Connecticut ASA Fast Pitch Hall of Fame. Szeryk said the greatest thrill of his softball career was winning the three ASA national championships with the Cardinals, and noted that this was made possible by the world class teams behind him.
