His efforts put softball on the map in Connecticut and made the Raybestos Brakettes and Raybestos Cardinals household names to softball fans. Made Stratford, CT the mecca of men’s and women’s fast pitch softball. Sponsored Raybestos Brakettes, women’s fast pitch team, for 28 years, with team winning 11 ASA national titles. Sponsored the Raybestos Cardinals for 25 years with the team winning men’s national titles in 1955, 1958, 1969, 1970, 1972 and 1976. Under his leadership, the facilities at Raybestos Memorial Field in Stratford were built and dedicated in 1946. The field was the first lighted facility for softball in Connecticut. The field hosted 12 ASA nationals, including 10 women’s and two men’s tourneys. In 1974, it hosted the third ISF Women’s World Fast Pitch Championship. It was the first time the championship had ever been held in the United States. Simpson was born July 20, 1916 and passed away January 21, 2006.
