People > Notable Norkans > Harvey Sterkel
Harvey Sterkel
Harvey Sterkel appeared at his first American Softball Association (ASA) national championship at age 16 and in the years that followed established himself as one of the greatest fast pitch hurlers of all-time.
Harvey's grandparents, Johannes Sterkel and Anna Margaretha Kern, arrived in New York on December 8, 1899 after emigrating from their home in Norka, Russia. Their second child, Henry, was just 11 months old at the time. Henry married Pauline Mohr and their oldest child, Henry (Harvey) Peter Sterkel, was born in Denver on May 19, 1934. Harvey attended Denver North High School and Aurora (Illinois) College.
Interviewed by the Denver Post in 2009, Sterkel stated:
Harvey's grandparents, Johannes Sterkel and Anna Margaretha Kern, arrived in New York on December 8, 1899 after emigrating from their home in Norka, Russia. Their second child, Henry, was just 11 months old at the time. Henry married Pauline Mohr and their oldest child, Henry (Harvey) Peter Sterkel, was born in Denver on May 19, 1934. Harvey attended Denver North High School and Aurora (Illinois) College.
Interviewed by the Denver Post in 2009, Sterkel stated:
"I grew up in Globeville and in those days that was at the edge of town. I played in the Oldtimers Baseball League, but really all we needed was a ball, bat and a glove and a few of us to get together, and we'd make up our own games."
Playing for Sealmaster Bearings of Aurora, Illinois, Sterkel twice hurled the Sealmasters to International Softball Federation (ISF) World championships in 1966 and 1968, and was undefeated (7-0) in ISF World competition.
During his 21 years as an active player in Aurora, he was the most dominant pitcher of his time, earning international acclaim. Between 1956-1969, Sterkel won 345 games and lost only 33. He hurled 2,599 innings, walked 415 batters and struck out 5,212. He hurled 60 no-hitters and 15 perfect games and his Earned Run Average (ERA) was 0.34. Between 1965-1968, he won 52 games in a row. Sterkel helped Aurora win four ASA national fast pitch championships. He compiled a 43-24 record in 22 ASA national championships and earned ASA All-America honors eight times. Twice (1956 and 1959) he was the MVP in the Men’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship.In the 1959 national, Sterkel lived up to his nickname of “The Horse,” by winning eight of nine games to pitch the Sealmasters to their first national title.
Sterkel pitching was a picture of controlled power and grace and he had tremendous control. He pitched anyplace, anytime, against any team with never a complaint, and he did it at times with an arm so sore that a less of a man would have thrown in the towel. Not Sterkel, who was respected for not only his abilities as a world-class athlete but as a world-class human.
After retiring as an active player in 1977, Sterkel continued to stay involved by giving numerous clinics or helping the Aurora fast pitch team where necessary.
Sterkel was inducted into the Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame in 1981 and the ISF Hall of Fame in November 2002.
On June 10, 2014, Harvey Sterkel Field was dedicated in Aurora, Illinois
During his 21 years as an active player in Aurora, he was the most dominant pitcher of his time, earning international acclaim. Between 1956-1969, Sterkel won 345 games and lost only 33. He hurled 2,599 innings, walked 415 batters and struck out 5,212. He hurled 60 no-hitters and 15 perfect games and his Earned Run Average (ERA) was 0.34. Between 1965-1968, he won 52 games in a row. Sterkel helped Aurora win four ASA national fast pitch championships. He compiled a 43-24 record in 22 ASA national championships and earned ASA All-America honors eight times. Twice (1956 and 1959) he was the MVP in the Men’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship.In the 1959 national, Sterkel lived up to his nickname of “The Horse,” by winning eight of nine games to pitch the Sealmasters to their first national title.
Sterkel pitching was a picture of controlled power and grace and he had tremendous control. He pitched anyplace, anytime, against any team with never a complaint, and he did it at times with an arm so sore that a less of a man would have thrown in the towel. Not Sterkel, who was respected for not only his abilities as a world-class athlete but as a world-class human.
After retiring as an active player in 1977, Sterkel continued to stay involved by giving numerous clinics or helping the Aurora fast pitch team where necessary.
Sterkel was inducted into the Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame in 1981 and the ISF Hall of Fame in November 2002.
On June 10, 2014, Harvey Sterkel Field was dedicated in Aurora, Illinois
Sources
Krieger, Jerry. "Harvey Sterkel, legendary pitcher and member of the International Softball Hall of Fame." Norka Newsletter, Autumn 2003.
Amateur Softball Association website (January 2015)
International Softball Federation website (January 2015)
"Sterkel relishes Colorado's summer days of softball" Denver Post, November 17, 2009
"'Harvey Sterkel Field' coming to Aurora" Daily Herald (Aurora, IL), June 4, 2014
Amateur Softball Association website (January 2015)
International Softball Federation website (January 2015)
"Sterkel relishes Colorado's summer days of softball" Denver Post, November 17, 2009
"'Harvey Sterkel Field' coming to Aurora" Daily Herald (Aurora, IL), June 4, 2014
Last updated July 7, 2018.