By:  Gordon L. Wise - - - ISC Information Officer

October 5, 2002

There’s just no denying it - - - the name Van Dine and the I.S.C. just go together.

There are no fewer than THREE GENERATIONS to prove it!

And the record book of outstanding achievement in the International Softball Congress clinches it!

Check ‘em out:  Grandfather, Father, and Son - - - Van Dines all - - -  and the I.S.C. link is firmly in place.

By name, the Van Dine three-generations include Grandfather Bill, Father Mike, and Son Mark.

Grandfather Bill Van Dine holds a distinction which will never be eclipsed.  For NINE consecutive years (1961  1969) he was the tournament director (spelled “heart and soul”) of the International Softball Congress World Tournament when the event was held in Rock Island, Illinois.  He also served the ISC as Florida Area Commissioner from 1989  1993.  He was inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame in 1992. It was this kindly gentleman who introduced the author to the I.S.C. well over 20 years ago.  Retiring in the late 1980’s to the Sunshine State, Bill and his wife Marie have recently moved back “home” to the northern Illinois area where they spent so many happy and productive years.

Son Mike Van Dine was an outstanding catcher and hitter during his fastball career which included 23 seasons with Ashland (O) Faultless Rubber after earlier service in Rock Island and with the Aurora Sealmasters  He was twice chosen to the ISC All-World Tournament team as a catcher (1981 and 1984).  During that memorable 1981 tournament, Van Dine put his name in the World Tournament record book by blasting TWO triples in the same game.

Grandson Mark, a 24-year-old second baseman for Ashland Coor’s is following in Dad and Grandad’s footsteps.  A lefthanded hitter, Mark found himself on the threshold of joining his dad in the record book.  Facing Fargo, ND, in pool play in the 2002 World Tournament in Kitchener, Mark drilled a triple.  When he approached the plate for his final at-bat in the game he admits to thinking about the opportunity confronting him,  “I couldn’t help thinking that Dad had once hit two triples in the same game in the World Tournament, and now I had a chance to tie him”.  The storybook ending would have had young Mark crashing another three-bagger to tie his father - - - but alas, he had to settle for a base hit.  A college baseball player (Ashland University where he played left field) the youngest ISC  Van Dine connection graduated and took a teaching job in Mansfield where he taught junior high school physical education classes.  His play with Ashland Coor’s helped them to the ASA “B” national championship in 2001. 

Today Mike and Mark Van Dine are teammates - - - not on the ball field, but in business.  The elder Van Dine is the owner of a sporting goods operation in Ashland (MVD Sports, of course) and son Mark is a sales rep, spending much time on the road courting customers.  For Mark Van Dine, the road ahead in fastball appears wide and bright as he follows in the family tradition with the sport, and with the I.S.C.

There must be some other three-generation stories in the annals of I.S.C. competition; and there might be an instance of two or more generations making their way into the organization’s record books.  But for the Van Dine family, the game of fastball has been a way of life for nearly half a century - - - and the International Softball Congress has benefited from that commitment to the sport.

mailto: sgwise@woh.rr.com