Daily Mining Gazette file photo John ‘Topper’ Ricci and son, Brien, are seen in a picture from a CCHA game in the 1990s. John was inducted into the U.P. Hall of Fame for his exploits in softball and hockey.

HANCOCK — Fast-pitch softball has not been played officially in our area for some time, but there are many sports fans who remember the players who starred in the sport.

John “Topper” Ricci of Hancock was one of those players. Playing for the famed Bosch Brewery team, he established records that were never close to be eclipsed.

“Topper was the top power hitter in our area,” late softball historian Gordy Schaaf said. “And there weren’t many players in the Upper Peninsula who were close.”

For the record, Ricci walloped an estimated 369 homers in a 21-year career. And that did not count a few more while competing for other teams in tournament play.

“The figure is probably well over 400,” Schaaf said. “There were quite a few that weren’t officially counted.”

Softball played a big role in his being voted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame a few years ago, but Ricci was also a standout in other areas.

In high school, he had been a football and track standout for Hancock High. In 1954, he accounted for a then-Copper Country Conference record 18 touchdowns.

That was enough to leave him just a point short of Chuck Greenlund of Stambaugh for the top spot.

He scored his final TD in the annual Copper Bowl game versus Houghton on a snowy field.

Those accomplishments earned him a spot on the All-U.P. team.

“He (Ricci) was very fast,” said Jerry Parker, later a good athlete himself, football coach and athletic director at HCHS. “He set several records in track as a sprinter and a hurdler.”

Topper played hockey as a youngster for Laurn Grove in the CCHA ranks. He later played for the Portage Lake Pioneers under coach Tony Bukovich.

He also began officiating in the sport. But more on that later.

After playing baseball for the Hancock Merchants for a couple of seasons, John switched over to fast-pitch softball after being asked to play for Seven-Up in the 1957 U.P. regional tournament.

“I never realized there were state fast-pitch tournaments until then,” Ricci said. “I became hooked on the sport because it was faster …. and required more individual skills.”

In his time in fast-pitch, he played primarily with the powerhouse Bosch teams.

“We had some good teams, but also some very good players,” he said. “Pitchers like John Vencato and Tommy Rozich were very good. And great hitters like Paul Coppo, Ralph Hurley, Hank Turcotte and Clay Willman.”

His hockey officiating career began on the local scene with high school and senior hockey games.

He soon moved up to working games in the WCHA and later the CCHA, drawing praise as “one of the top officials in our league” from Michigan Tech coach John MacInnes.

He also had the chance to work some CCHA games with son, Brien.

“Working a game with Brien was an awfully big thrill for me,” he said. “Seeing one of your children out there means so much.”

He also saw Brien work as a replacement official when the NHL referees went on strike a few years ago.

“Just hearing Brien’s name announced before the game was really a big thrill for me,” he said.

After playing a few years in the Over 35 Softball League, Topper now gets in a few rounds of golf during the summer.

But he looks back fondly on his athletic career.

“I had the chance to meet some great people and have some great teammates. I have no regrets.”