Dan Valentine

Dan Valentine's slowpitch softball career lasted more than two decades, and he made the most of that time as a three-time world champion with People’s Church and multiple-time All-World honoree.

Born in Tacoma on January 11, 1956, Dan graduated from Clover Park High School in 1974. He played baseball and basketball in high school and extended his basketball career at Ft. Steilacoom College and Pacific Lutheran University. He actually continued to play Men's Rec basketball from 1977 until 2000, but his greatest achievements came on the slowpitch diamond.

Valentine played for Liberty Real Estate & Little Vic's from 1976-81 and capped his career with a long stint with People's Church, lasting from1982-97. He received numerous All-Star and MVP awards while winning tournaments at the Washington State Men's A & B classifications and the Men’s Church A level.

One particularly memorable stretch included finishing the 1992 season (league play, Men's A Church State, Men's A State and the Church World tournament) with an .820 batting average (82/100) as he drove base hits through third base-shortstop hole with uncanny precision.

Valentine initially planned to retire at the end of the 1996 season but with the unexpected death of longtime friend and teammate, Owen Shackett, who was the main pitcher on the People Church teams, Dan was coaxed out of retirement for one final season with the club. As a tribute to "Onie", Dan's only condition was that he bat 11^th, his friend's spot in the batting order.

In addition to being named the Ft. Steilacoom College Athlete of the Year in 1976. Dan was inducted to the USSSA Hall of Fame in 1997.

Commented Dan, "While it was an honor to be inducted into the 1997 USSSA Hall of Fame, this is even more special because it is where my slowpitch softball career started and ended."