RAY DEMARINI

ELECTED: JANUARY, 2001

PETERSBURG, VA

INDUCTED: NOVEMBER, 2001

DAYTONA BEACH, FL

RAY DEMARINI HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR INDUCTION INTO THE USSSA HALL OF FAME IN THE SPECIAL CATEGORY.

IN THE EARLY 1980’S RAY DEMARINI WAS A 5’6”, 165-POUND UNDERSIZED SOFTBALL PLAYER OBSESSED WITH IMPROVING HIS GAME. IN 1988 HE ASKED BE ESPN TO DO AN INSTRUCTIONAL HITTING VIDEO. FROM 450 VIDEOS IN IT’S CLASSIFICATION, IT TOOK FIRST PLACE AT THE AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL.

THE FOLLOWING YEAR HE TOOK HIS PROFITS THAT HE HAD RECEIVED FROM THE VIDEO ALONG WITH HIS ENGINEER FRIEND AT FREIGHTLINER, MR. MIKE EGGIMAN, AND CREATED DEMARINI SPORTS. THE MISSION OF DEMARINI SPORTS WAS TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVERY SOFTBALL PLAYER TO OWN A CUSTOM FACTORY BAT.

IN 1990 RAY RAN HIS FIRST ADVERTISEMENT IN USA TODAY. HIS FIRST CUSTOMER WAS DR. ROGER CLAY OF DALLAS, TEXAS, WHO CALLED AND ORDERED A CUSTOM BAT AND THEN ASKED RAY, “HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAN COMPETE AGAINST THE GIANT BAT COMPANIES.” RAY RESPONDED AS THE OBSESSIVE COMPETITOR THAT HE WAS BY ASKING, “HOW DO YOU THINK THOSE CUMBERSOME GIANT COMPANIES CAN COMPETE WITH ME.”

BY 1992 RAY AND MIKE EGGIMAN HAD CREATED THE FIRST HIGH PERFORMANCE MULTI-WALLED BAT, THE DEMARINI DOUBLE WALL,; THE GAME OF SOFTBALL WAS CHANGED FOREVER.

RAY CONTINUED THE MARKETING FLAIR THAT HE HAD FIRST SHOWN ON THE ESPN HITTING VIDEO. HE CREATED THE SLOW PITCH TV SHOW “ULTIMATE SOFTBALL.” HE WAS ALSO ABLE TO HOST THE USSSA MEN’S MAJOR WORLD SERIES ON THE ESPN SHOW. AS A PROMOTER AND INNOVATOR HE IS COMPLIMENTED AND FEARED BY HIS PEERS AND COMPETITORS.