He was perhaps Indianapolis’ greatest fastpitch softball pitcher ever: A wicked rising ball at 100 mph
Jim Stonebraker would finish his workday at Riley Towers downtown, where he worked as a high-rise engineer. He would put on his Tom Wood Pontiac or Don’s Guns T-shirt, or whichever company’s T-shirt was the sponsor that particular season.
Traveling to North Sherman Avenue, he would enter the stadium field and change into “Stoney,” the most exceptional fastpitch softball pitcher the state had ever witnessed.
Other men would quit their careers as city police officers, industrial workers, doctors, railroad workers, mailmen, and lawyers to join Stonebraker after work for these boisterous, high-energy softball games.
Occasionally, over 400 supporters would also be present, consuming popcorn and hotdogs while applauding these regular guys—many of whom weren’t really regular on the field.
The sportswriters of the day were there to write about them for the newspapers.
However, Stonebraker was the one who caught everyone’s attention.
He was a fiery right-hander with a devastating rising ball that could spin and soar through the air. He could throw in the upper nineties, frequently reaching speeds of 100 mph. The majority of batters were out of luck.
