Salvador Ganir, tough-as-nails Chicago softball player By Don DeBat 27-Nov-16 – Salvador A. Ganir, a Hall-Of–Fame 16-inch softball pitcher with a big personality, a winning smile, and distinctive style on and off the field, has hung up his spikes. Ganir, 74, passed away at Lutheran General Hospital in northwest suburban Park Ridge on Thanksgiving Day surrounded by his tight-knit, loving family.

“Buddy” Ganir was one of the most talented and colorful players from the 1964-1979 “juiced ball” era of Chicago softball. Sal was a force of nature, one of the most competitive sports personalities I ever played with or against.

“Dad was a competitor and a man’s-man kind of guy,” said his son, David Ganir, who played left field for the legendary Dwarfs, his father’s softball team.

“In 2002, we were playing in the Hamlin Park tournament,” Dave recalled. “A tall, muscular guy stepped up to bat and my Dad moved me back to second base – on the next diamond. The ball was crushed about 270 feet on a line [drive] and it’s a dancing knuckle ball. It was the hardest-hit ball I had ever seen. So, I reached up to catch it and the ball dislocated my pinky finger and went past me for a home run.”

Unfazed, Sal simply popped his son’s finger back into place, tossed him a roll of tape, and told him to go back to the outfield. Then, he turned and said, “Next time, catch the ball and you won’t dislocate your finger. You have to make that catch.”

“And then he hugged me,” David recalled. “The stud who hit the ball was a former Chicago Bear linebacker, Brendon Ayanbadejo, a 240-pound professional ringer the opposing team brought out for the tournament.”

Ganir played “A-league” softball for the mighty Dwarfs at Clarendon Park and Kelly Park, and starred in many local Chicago Park District and ASA National Tournaments. Between 1968 and 1973, Ganir pitched the Dwarfs to 25 park district championship titles. He also played third base and catcher. He was inducted into the 16-inch Chicago Softball Hall of Fame in 2012.