Hall of Fame Profile: Cathy Wylie
10/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Oct. 18, 2005
Oct. 19 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Cathy Wylie (Softball)
Oct. 20 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Shelby Root (Gymnastics)
Oct. 21 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Brian Pruitt (Football)
Oct. 24 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Gary Lee (Basketball)
Oct. 25 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Terry Carey (Football, Track, CMU Administrator)
Oct. 28 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Larry Lamphere (Baseball)
Today's softball pitchers should be thankful for their own safety that Cathy Wylie played in an earlier era.
Wylie, considered the greatest power hitter in Central Michigan University softball history, played in the early 1980s, an era dominated by pitchers.
"If she would have played with today's bat and ball, and the technology used now, all her records would be untouchable and she might have hurt somebody," head coach Margo Jonker said. "She hit unbelievable home runs then, I can only imagine how far they would go now."
Despite playing in a time when the bats had less "pop," Wylie still ranks in the career record book in many offensive categories. Her 16 home runs are tied for the most in school history and she ranks second in career RBI (120), third in batting average (.338), fourth in hits (214), tied for seventh in doubles (34), and seventh in runs (112).
She was a three-time first team All-Mid-American Conference selection at first base and twice was named to the all-region team.
For her efforts, Wylie will be inducted into the Central Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 28, in a ceremony at the Holiday Inn in Mount Pleasant. Tickets are $30 per person and may be purchased by contacting the CMU Athletics Ticket Office at 1-888-FIRE-UP2. The honorees will also be recognized at halftime of the CMU-Toledo football game on Saturday.
Cathy Wylie was a three-time first team All-MAC selection at first base.  | |
Being inducted into the Hall of Fame as well are Terry Carey (football, track, staff), Larry Lamphere (baseball), Gary Lee (basketball), Brian Pruitt (football), and Shelby Root (gymnastics).
Wylie becomes the sixth CMU softball player to be enshrined with the other Chippewa greats.
"Cathy was a great athlete with an outstanding arm," Jonker said. "She had good lateral movement, power, and a feisty competitiveness. Put all that together and it makes an excellent softball player."
"Looking back now, she was such a great athlete that she could have played shortstop for us, or third base. You don't normally see someone as athletic as her playing first."
Wylie helped the Chippewas to two MAC titles and three trips the NCAA Tournament, including CMU's 1987 appearance in the Women's College World Series.
In 1988, Wylie posted one of the top statistical seasons by a Chippewa when she hit .385 with 38 RBI, 14 doubles, and five homers -- all marks that still rank on the CMU single season charts.
Following her playing career, Wylie continued to play in the USA Softball system and for the famed Raybestos Brakettes.
Wylie is originally from Flint, Michigan, where she attended Northern High School. She now resides in Flushing.