Cropper, Randy

Randy Cropper from Bowling Green, Kentucky lost his battle with cancer in 2010, but won the hearts of every softball player, coach, fan, or colleague he ever came across.

"Crop Dawg", as he was affectionately known, was awarded Softball Manager of the Year in 2008 at the USSSA Major World Championship and earlier in 2006, was honored as the All-Tournament Coach at the prestigious Worth USSSA Major NIT.

Besides those monumental achievements, Randy was instrumental in the success of several other national championships as a coach, manager, bookkeeper, travel agent, or whatever-was-needed friend.

Randy's brother, Chris, sums it up this way, "My brother, Randy Cropper, loved the game of softball more than anything. Our father coached girls' softball as we were growing up, and I guess that is where he got the bug. When he became associated with the teams on the upper level (Menosse, Dan Smith, Chase, Benfield) I used to think he was crazy to do the things he did for softball. He would leave work on Thursdays or Fridays and usually go to the airport and fly out to wherever the tournament was for the weekend and not get home until the wee hours on Monday morning and then go to work. On top of that, he would play a couple of times a week and umpire the other two days. Even when he was home, he was constantly on his cell phone with someone trying to figure out a player to pick up, or get travel squared away for someone else, or do whatever he could for the upcoming tournament."

According to brother Chris and Randy's mother, "Randy got to enjoy what he loved most--softball--even up until his last days. He made it to virtually every tournament except the really long flights when he just wasn't able to go that long distance."

Randy began his softball career as a player, and his roots at Lampkin Park in Bowling Green were certainly some of his fondest memories. He had a close knit group of Bowling Green Merchants that played leagues together at least twice a week before venturing out to weekend tournaments where they won the ASA "B" State Championship in 1993. HIs ASA "C" State title in 1983 with Doodles Boys was his first taste of success, and from that point on, success and fun followed Randy throughout his playing days and through his coaching and managing days. His ten plus national and world titles are a testament to his winning ways on the softball diamond, yet the testimonies of others after his passing proves he was a winner not only on the field but especially off.

One close softball buddy and confidant, Herb Price ( a member of Indiana's Softball Hall of Fame) said of Randy, "I have met many great people around the country because of my softball travels, and Randy was truly one of the finest. We (Pat and I)will dearly miss him." Mr. Price's sentiments about Randy were echoed many times over on the Old Scout's message board in 2010. It is certain that "Crop Dawg" is smiling down at us today, and the heavenly field of dreams is in the most organized and caring of hands possible.