[5][6] The APSPL was formed in 1977 by former World Football League front-office executive Bill Byrne with former New York Yankees star Whitey Ford as commissioner.
Jay Friedman, owner of Erie Sheet Metal, launched the Cleveland Jaybirds in the inaugural 1977 APSPL season.
Stepien had opened a series of private dining rooms called Competitors Clubs in Cleveland and the team name was to promote the restaurants.
[15][16] Also in 1980, Stepien held a promotional event for the league in Cleveland in which he dropped softballs from the 52nd floor of Terminal Tower to be caught by outfielders from the Competitors.
[17] The balls were estimated to be traveling at 144 mph by the time they reached the street, damaging cars and injuring several spectators.
[23][24] They defeated Milwaukee Copper Hearth 2–1 in the first round of the playoffs before losing 2–1 to the eventual champion Detroit Caesars in the semi-finals.
Detroit would repeat as APSPL champions, defeating the Minnesota Norsemen 4–0 with series MVP Bert Smith hitting 15-16 (.940).
Instability in other markets and internal political fighting saw three teams (Fort Wayne, Cleveland and Milwaukee) leave the APSPL in 1980 to form the North American Softball League (NASL) under the leadership of Stepien.
[39][40][41][42] 1981 NSPC Championship Highlights The bulk of that 1981 Nationwide Advertising team would return to the professional ranks as the Cleveland Competitors for 1982 UPSL season.
[43] Cleveland had a stellar regular season in 1982, finishing 46-17 (.730), winning the Eastern Division and receiving a first-round bye in the playoffs.