Dan Bean

 ASA Playing History

2008-2011 USSSA Playing History

2004-2008 USSSA Playing History 

Major Watch List

2010 Interview

Why do you like the game of softball?
The competitive nature of playing any sport is what drives each of us.   The game of softball brings that to the forefront in the upper levels.   Most importantly, softball has given me the opportunity to meet new people from many different backgrounds and regions across the country.

What position do you play?
I would like to consider myself a Pitcher primarily.   I have also been fortunate enough to play 1B, Catch, and Outfield on various teams.

What is your nickname in softball?
With my last name being Bean, I’ve been called a multitude of things.   One of my favorites though was Frijole from my teammates on the West Coast.

Who is the best softball player you have ever seen play?
The best I’d have to say is Todd Joerling.   Seeing him play SS for the best teams in the country for years and then transition to 3B and still be one of the best is quite impressive.   One of my favorite teammates though would have to be JC Phelps and seeing his dedication to hitting.

 Wh ere do you call home?
I live in St. Charles, MO. A suburb of St. Louis.

 What do you do for a living?
 I currently work for Wells Fargo as a Business Analyst in their IT Department.

Did you play sports in High School / College / Pro?
I played football, wrestled, and baseball in High School.   I also played 4 years of College baseball.

How did you get your start in softball and how did you get to the upper level?
I started playing softball with some friends.   We played in a tournament in February and got demolished by a team with upper level players.   I talked to them and asked what it took to get to that level and they helped me get there.   After 3 years, I got an opportunity to play in a NSA Major tournament because a team was short and never looked back.

What is your favorite sports team?
St. Louis Cardinals

What is your favorite sport other than softball?
Baseball

What is your most memorable softball moment?
Winning the NSA Super B World Series in 2009 with the St. Louis Swing.   I’ve never played in a tournament where we stayed up for over 40+ hours and had to overcome mental and physical exhaustion to that extreme.   Started playing the tournament at 12:00 midnight on Sunday and ended about 8:30pm that night after driving about 100 miles from the original location of the tournament.

Is slow-pitch softball a sport or a game?
Softball is more of a game to me.   Baseball was more like a sport because it was about 90% physical talent and 10% mental.   Softball is more like 80% mental and 20% physical.   It makes it much more of a “game” to play against yourself more than the other person or team.

 What is the best improvement upper level softball could make?
 Costs somehow have to be decreased.   There is too much travel that has to be done each year for the upper levels.   Sponsors are decreasing each and every year due to costs, and no one has the extra disposable income to sponsor teams.   Regional events instead of national events each weekend makes more sense so that more teams don’t have to travel as far.   This may bring more upper level teams back to the fields and not dropping down and playing C, D, E tournaments due to costs.

What is your favorite non-World tournament?
Dudley or Smoky Mountain Classic

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