Pulliam, William R. "Bill"

BILL PULLIAM STARTED HIS CAREER IN FAST PITCH SOFTBALL IN 1929 AT AGE 13. HIS FIRST 4 YEARS WAS WITH THE Y.M.C.A. TEAM WITH A BATTING AVERAGE OF .333; THEREAFTER, HE PLAYED ON MANY DIFFERENT TEAMS WHO WANTED TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. BILL WAS ACTIVE IN SOFTBALL 27 YEARS. HE PLAYED IN 366 LEAGUE GAMES, WINNING 256; LOSING 110; .701. HE WAS SELECTED FOR THE ALL-STAR TEAM 12 TIMES AND WAS IN THE CITY PLAYOFF 11 TIMES—HIS TEAM WON THE CITY CHAMPIONSHIP 3 TIMES, WAS RUNNER-UP 4 TIMES, AND 3RD PLACE 3 TIMES. BILL’S LIFETIME BATTING AVERAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY .300.

IN 1954 AT AGE 38, HE SET A RECORD IN ONE GAME WHICH HAS NOT BEEN BROKEN, HAVING 7 CONSECUTIVE HITS AT 7 TIMES AT BAT.

IN 1945, BILL PLAYED THIRD BASE FOR THE 1469TH ENG. E.T.O. IN PARIS, FRANCE, AND HIS TEAM WON THE 10TH CORPS. AREA TITLE.

HIS GREATEST THRILL IN SOFTBALL WAS AUGUST 3, 1939 WHEN THE FRANKFORT ALL-STAR TEAM BEAT NICK CARRS’ BOOSTERS 1939 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 4-1. NORBERT “CYCLONE” WARKEN, PITCHER FOR THE BOOSTERS WITH HIS BLINDING SPEED, HAD 15 STRIKE OUTS. IN THE 8TH INNING WITH 2 ON BASE, PULLIAM HIT A DOUBLE OVER 2ND BASE AND TWO RUNS SCORED WINNING THE GAME.

BILL WAS ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THE CAPITAL CITY SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION, WAS DIRECTOR FOR 8 YEARS. HE SERVED AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR TWO YEARS AND PRESIDENT FOR THREE YEARS. BILL DEVOTED MANY HOURS OF FREE LABOR CONVERTING STATE STADIUM INTO THE FINEST FAST PITCH BALL PARK IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

AFTER COMPLETING HIS CAREER AS A PLAYER, HE UMPIRED FOR 6 NIGHTS EACH WEEK DURING SOFTBALL SEASON FOR 6 YEARS. BILL IS RESPECTED BY HIS MANY FRIENDS, SOFTBALL PLAYERS, AND SOFTBALL FANS. HE PARTICIPATED IN ALL PHASES OF THE GAME OF SOFTBALL.