The fans have spoken! As part of the ISC’s 80th-anniversary celebration, the votes for the Best Team of the 1980s have been tallied, and the powerhouse Pay ’N Pak from Bellevue, WA, has claimed the top honors.
Securing a dominant 43.9% of the vote, Pay ’N Pak beat out other legendary squads including Penn Corp of Sioux City, IA (34.7%) and the Camarillo Kings (10.2%).
The Gold Standard of the 80s
During the mid-80s, Pay ’N Pak wasn’t just a team; they were a juggernaut. They reached the pinnacle of the sport by winning back-to-back ISC World Championships in 1985 and 1986. Their roster was a “who’s who” of fastpitch royalty, featuring legendary All-World talents like Billy Boyer, Jimmy Moore, Bruce Beard, Randy Burnside, Greg Van Gaver and Chad Corcoran.
Dominating the Circle
While the decade saw incredible parity, the 1985 and 1986 seasons belonged to Bellevue. A major key to that success was the arm of Jimmy Moore, who was recently voted by fans as the Best Pitcher of the 1980s.
In 1985, Moore was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher while leading Pay ‘N Pak to the title. He repeated the feat in 1986, a year where he threw an incredible two perfect games in the World Tournament. Having the Decade’s Best Pitcher at the height of his powers is a major reason why Pay ’N Pak remains the gold standard for 1980s fastpitch.
Legacy of Excellence
The Bellevue, WA-based squad defined an era of professional excellence and high-stakes winning. Their back-to-back titles and the sheer number of Hall of Fame caliber players on their roster make them a deserving choice for the Team of the Decade.
Congratulations to the players, coaches, and fans of Pay ’N Pak!
