Like home run swats from the legendary likes of Reggie Jackson, Carlton Fisk or Kirk Gibson in the World Series, one mighty swing by Jeff Berger changed everything back in 1987 for the Rizza Rockers.
While Berger’s blast may not have been the shot heard ’round the world-a distinction that belongs to former Giant Bobby Thomson-his 270-foot homer reverberated through the world of Chicago 16-inch softball symbolically proclaiming the rise of the Rockers.
Ironically, like his manager Lane Niemann’s penchant for proving people wrong (Niemann, coming off a 0-22 rookie season, formed the Rockers), Berger surprised Niemann as well.
“I wanted to play for the Rockers and my first game Lane told me to play left field,” said Berger, whose brother Jerry also played on the team. “I told Lane that I play centerfield, and if I hit one over the fence, he should play me in center. I was a cocky, young kid.”
The 19-year-old promptly homered, and through the years he’s developed chemistry with his skipper on and off the field as teammates and next-door neighbors.
In only their second year of existence, the Rockers, comprised of police officers and public works employees from North Riverside, won the 1987 North Riverside Summer League and finished fourth at the ASA Nationals in Indianapolis.
Along with Berger, now 41 and a 12-time All-American shortstop, the Rockers, courtesy of the skilled scouting eye of Niemann, brought in a ton of young talented players like former RB three-sport star Jim McCarthy, former Morton All-State pitcher Greg Ziegler (drafted by Atlanta Braves), and Tim Kutt. Niemann sprinkled in veterans like pitcher Chops Chiapetta into the championship mix.
Playing about 80 games per year, the Rockers won league titles in North Riverside, LaGrange and Cicero along with prestigious crowns like the 1993 Suburban Life Tournament and the 1998 Forest Park No Gloves Nationals.
“In 1998, my dream came true when we won Forest Park,” said Niemann, a police lieutenant for the North Riverside police. “We pulled off a pretty big upset beating Lettuce in the semifinals that year. They had only lost like three games out of 100 that season. I think that win played a big part of our team getting inducted into the [Chicago 16-inch Softball] Hall of Fame.”
On their way to the ’98 title, the Rockers knocked off a newly formed squad, Puglise, which had Berger and McCarthy on that team.
“It was a little bittersweet when we lost to [the Rockers],” said McCarthy, 35. “But, I was so happy for Lane. When I played for the Rockers, we were always the youngest team, but we would always play against the best competition. Lane developed players, and if guys moved on to other teams, he would always fill spots.”
Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, many rival squads took the most direct route to replicating the Rockers’ winning formula by recruiting some of their best players.
“Every year, it seemed like one or two of our best players would get picked off by other teams,” Niemann said. “That’s just kind of the way it was. If it was a good opportunity for one of my players, I encouraged them.”
Widely recognized as a player’s manager, Niemann and about 20 Rockers attended the Chicago Softball 16-inch Hall of Fame induction ceremony dinner at the Hawthorne Race Track in Cicero back in January.
“When we started, we never set out to make the Hall of Fame, but it’s a pretty nice honor and reward for all the guys,” Niemann said. “We weren’t the most talented team, but we were determined and resourceful. And we never ducked anybody.”