16-inch softball has been played by tens of thousands of players in the parks and schoolyards of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs for the past century. To recognize this great sport and acknowledge its important history, the Chicago 16″ Softball Hall of Fame was founded in 1996 by Al Maag and Tony Reibel. It is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to preserving and honoring the history of 16-inch softball, and to fostering the growth of the game.