The South Hills Senior Softball League was established in 1992 but was born in the hearts of all of us that played this game on ballfields throughout Pittsburgh, PA in the late 50’s and early 60’s

In the spring of 1992, Dick Mummert, of Mt. Lebanon, PA, decided to start a softball league for players over the age of 55. He managed to recruit enough players to start a four-team league. The teams played at Mellon Field and Wildcat Field in Mt. Lebanon for the first eight years under Dick Mummert’s leadership.

Dick died in September of 2014 but his dream and his passion lives on with the players in the league today.

The league moved to a new home, Texas Field in South Park, PA, for the 2000 season. At that time, the league was led by co-commissioners Dave Sheridan and Bobby Wagler. Over the following years these two gentlemen along with many volunteers made upgrades to the field. The first improvement they made was to install French drains in the infield. The drainage system served the field well until they received a state grant to install a new clay infield. The next improvement was installing a four-foot-high outfield fence, funded by another state grant.

The league’s success has grown over the years under the leadership of commissioners Mike Dawida of Pittsburgh, PA, and Dave Sheridan of Whitehall, PA, who served until 2012. The following year Jim McGinnis of Castle Shannon, PA, took over and served until 2013. The torch was passed to Ernie Deitz of Upper St. Clair, PA, who served until the end of the 2015 season.

Doug Houston, of South Fayette, PA, served as commissioner until 2023 and expanded the league to 12 teams at one point. The league now is headed by the managers of the 10 evening teams, Commissioner Bob Hagerty and Assistant Commissioner Ron Sullivan. Jim McGinnis runs a morning section of the league with four teams playing Mondays and Wednesdays.

The league plays on fields in South Park, Baldwin, Pleasant Hills, Bethel Park and Pittsburgh.