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Stratton Inducted into USA Softball Hall of Fame
 Nov 14 - Legendary Brakettes manager John Stratton was granted a long-deserved hero's welcome in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on October 28th, as he was inducted into the ASA/USA National Softball Hall of Fame.
Stratton, who recently turned 86, joined his wife, former Raybestos Brakette catcher Rosemary “Micki” (Macchietto) Stratton (1969), as the only husband and wife team to be inducted into the National Hall of Fame. Micki was the first of 24 Brakettes to be inducted into the Hall, while John became the third Brakettes manager (Vincent “Wee” Devitt in 1977 and Ralph Raymond in 1993) enshrined in Oklahoma City. (photo: John at Micki's exhibit (top) at the National Hall of Fame).
John was accompanied at the Hall of Fame Induction by his son, Jay (John Jr.) Stratton, who also led the Brakettes to a national ASA Women's Major National title. Jay co-managed the 2006 ASA champion Stratford Brakettes with Rich Roessner and served as his father's assistant coach for many years.
Coach Stratton gave a compelling acceptance speech to the delight of the 500+ people in attendance and received a thunderous ovation after closing out his address. He talked about his love for the game of softball and his players. Stratton also noted how much he misses those we've lost in recent years, including his wife, Micki, former Brakette/softball legend and Florida Atlantic University coach, Joan Joyce, and his longtime partner-in-softball, former Brakettes General Manager Bob Baird.
Current Brakettes GM Rob Baird (Bob's oldest son), Brakettes Assistant Coach Mark Dempsey and his wife, Barbara, also made the trip to Oklahoma City to honor Stratton. Fellow National Hall of Famer/Brakettes legend Diane “Schuie” Schumacher and Sharon Schmickley also attended in support of Stratton.
Schumacher's first year with the Brakettes was 1976, when Stratton replaced ailing manager Ralph Raymond and led the Brakettes to an unexpected ASA title with a young team. She said that Stratton's induction was like “the icing on the cake”, while reflecting on her former coach's lifelong career in softball. “I wanted to be here to properly honor John for his amazing contributions to the Brakettes and the game of softball. John is a tremendous coach, human being, and ambassador of the game… It's also remarkable to see him finally joining Micki in the Hall of Fame, as she was the very first Brakette to make it in”.
John was one of eight individuals in the 2023 Hall of Fame Class, which also saw the induction of the Sikorsky Aircraft Men's Slow Pitch Softball Team, also from Stratford. Both Stratton and members of the Sikorsky Team mentioned each other's successes in the game of softball and importance to Stratford, Connecticut. After the ceremony, Stratton mingled with some of the Sikorsky Aircraft players and other new inductees, taking pictures and sharing softball stories from yesteryear.
“I am just so very fortunate to have grown up in Stratford, Connecticut, and to have come to know of the Raybestos Brakettes and Raybestos Cardinals. If I had been born in Brooklyn, I wouldn't be here today,” said Stratton. “I am very lucky to have played and coached and lived softball for my whole life, to meet my wife Micki and later coach with my son Jay with the Brakettes, and now this… it is simply incredible.”
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John Stratton
National Softball Hall of Fame
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View Recording of
National Softball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Saturday, October 28, 2023
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| John's table in Oklahoma City at the October 28, 2023 USA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: Seated- Jay Stratton (left), John Stratton; Standing, from left- Rob Baird, Brakettes GM, Barbara and Mark Dempsey, Hall of Famer Diane Schumacher, and Sharon Schmickley |
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