As the CEO of Innovative Senior Living, Inc., in Tucson, Klaus Axen supervises an assisted-living company that provides personal care in a residential setting. Outside of work, Klaus Axen enjoys reading, spending time with his family, and coaching softball.
Although it is natural to think that softball is derived from baseball, that is not the case. Softball was introduced at a Harvard-Yale football game on Thanksgiving Day in 1887. When a Yale alumnus heard that Harvard had won the game, he threw a boxing glove at a Harvard supporter, who responded by swinging at the glove with a stick. This simple action developed into an impromptu “softball” game that ended in a score of 41-40.
George Hancock, a reporter who participated in the game, is credited with creating the earliest rules and equipment for softball, which was known by other names at the time, including mush ball, cabbage ball, and kitten ball. As a sport, softball gained popularity throughout the 20th century.
The Amateur Softball Association, now called USA Softball, was founded in 1933 and standardized rules based on age groups. In 1996, the game was further legitimized when it became an Olympic event. Although it was dropped from the Games in 2012, softball will make its return to the Olympics in 2020.
