To the Hall of Fame Selection Committee,

It is with great respect and enthusiasm that I submit this nomination of Charles Stufflebeem Sr.

for induction into the Fastpitch Softball Hall of Fame. Charles’s career represents an extraordinary combination of athletic excellence, longevity, national recognition, and lifelong service to the game of softball.

Charles began his fastpitch softball career in 1962 in Grinnell, Iowa, quickly establishing himself as a skilled and dependable player. After moving to Des Moines in 1964, he played for the Des Moines Mets through 1965, followed by a move to Ottumwa, where his contributions would become deeply woven into local and state softball history. Over the next several decades,

Charles competed at a consistently high level for numerous elite teams, including the Ottumwa

Mets, Appliance City, Hamm’s Beer, Morrell’s, Local 74, Ottumwa’s Local P-1, Miller’s

High Life, Reame’s Noodles, Western Lumber, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, Briles of Cedar Rapids, Head’s Up, Moulton, and Vans, retiring in 1988 after more than 25 years of competitive fastpitch softball.

Among his many accomplishments, Charles played a central role in one of the most historic seasons in Ottumwa softball history. In 1972, Ottumwa’s Local P-1 compiled a remarkable 65–19 record, qualified for its first-ever state tournament, and finished 5th in the state series. Charles was the team’s leading hitter, batting .341, leading the team with 86 hits, 68 runs scored, 13 doubles, and 20 home runs. His performance was instrumental in the team’s historic success.

He followed that season with another outstanding year in 1973, sweeping the team’s extra-base hit categories with 13 home runs, 15 doubles, and 8 triples, while again leading the team in hits with 68 hits in 204 plate appearances. These back-to-back seasons solidified his reputation as a powerful, consistent, and reliable offensive force.

Beyond league and tournament play, Charles’s talent and reputation earned him appearances with some of the most iconic exhibition and barnstorming teams in softball history during the 1970s. He appeared with the California Cuties, a nationally known barnstorming team formed in 1946; with The King and His Court, the original four-man team recognized for over 65 years as America’s premier softball entertainment; and with The Queen and Her Court, a professional exhibition team renowned for its exceptional skill and remarkable performances. These appearances reflected not only his athletic ability, but the high level of respect he commanded within the sport.

In the 1980s, Charles continued his contribution to athletics through coaching, serving as a baseball coach for his son, Charlie Jr., and as a softball coach for many years for his daughter, Candi, as well as other young athletes. He was widely regarded as an outstanding coach who combined deep knowledge of the game with integrity, discipline, and encouragement. Candi recalls her father as the finest of coaches, noting that he set high expectations that players genuinely wanted to meet. His coaching emphasized preparation, accountability, teamwork, and respect—values that extended far beyond the playing field.

Charles Stufflebeem Sr.’s legacy is defined not only by impressive statistics and championships, but by decades of dedication, state and national recognition, and lasting influence on players, teams, and the broader softball community. His commitment to excellence, sportsmanship, and the development of others exemplifies the very standards a Hall of Fame exists to honor.

For these reasons, I respectfully and wholeheartedly recommend Charles Stufflebeem Sr. for induction into the Fastpitch Softball Hall of Fame.

Sincerely,

Charles Stufflebeem, Jr and Candice York

Children of Charles Stufflebeem, Sr.

Minnie Stufflebeem, wife