MERLIN POTTS, Leonardsville, Kansas

Inducted 1990

Player: Merlin was born February 15, 1927 and became the most prolific pitcher in Kansas history. He began pitching in the Kansas State Tournaments in 1946 and between the year 1964-1994, won 23 Kansas State titles. A farmer by trade, he began representing Kansas at the World Tournaments in 1966. He qualified for 22 appearances in the Men’s Championship Classes, achieving 342 wins with a career ringer average of 72.93%. Merlin had 4 top ten finishes and a high average of 79.1% in 1976. Merlin and his son Roger became one of the few Father-Son combinations in the Championship Class and accomplished the feat 4 times. He was the 1994 Senior Men’s World Champion. His accomplishments are even more impressive because as a young fast pitch softball player he was struck in the eye in a pre-game warm-up pitch and lost sight in his left eye.