NPF Akron Racers

Racers Impact Honorees Set to be Unveiled Beginning March 8th

Published on March 3, 2016 under National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Akron Racers News Release


AKRON, OH - The Akron Racers are preparing to kick-off their 13-week promotional campaign in celebration of their 15th Season of Play. Beginning on March 8, the first of 30 players to receive the Racers IMPACT Award will begin the three-month campaign culminating on June 3 when the final selection will be announced.

The 30 players selected include a star-studded, rock-solid collection of the players who have defined professional softball's oldest existing franchise. In fact, ESPNW famed writer, Graham Hays noted in 2014 that the Akron Racers are one of the longest existing women's professional sports team in sports history. Therefore, it is most fitting to catalogue the players who have had the greatest IMPACT on the franchise dating back to May 14, 1999.

The 30 athletes were selected from a group of 152 former Racer players that have proudly worn the Racers red and black and contributed to 346 regular season victories, 11 postseason victories and one NPF Cowles Cup Championship in 2005.

From 2006-Present, 27 Racer players have accumulated 35 All-NPF honors. Ten Racers appeared on NPF All-Star rosters 12 times in 2004-2005. Overall, 34 different players have been named All-NPF or an NPF All-Star 47 times. The Racers have earned numerous league-wide awards including two NPF Player of the Year Awards, five NPF Offensive Player of the Year Awards, three NPF Defensive Player of the Year Awards, one NPF Pitcher of the Year Award and one NPF Homerun Champion.

A six-person panel of judges dating back to 1999, reviewed historical records and statistics in determining the 30-player list of honorees. The idea of IMPACT and defining the Racers organization was a critical factor in their final selection of the class of 30.

The Impact honorees will be announced one at a time beginning on Tuesday, March 8 over a 13-week span, leading up to the final announcement being made just days before the Racers take the field at Firestone Stadium for the first time in 2016 on June 8th against the Pennsylvania Rebellion.

The apex of this year's season-long celebration of the Racers' history will occur July 15-17, when the Dallas Charge visit Akron. The highlight of the weekend's festivities will be the presentation of the IMPACT honorees on the field, where they will receive a commemorative jersey with their name and number as worn while members of the Akron Racers. Invitations will be extended to all 152 players, coaches, umpires and staff that have been a part of the growth of not only the Racers but the professional game as it is today, 15 seasons later.

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