Dale Prince

Class of 2012
Pitcher, Outfielder
Tilden Terrors 1962-64; Tilden Tigers 1965-73, 75-76

The possessor of marksman like control, a barreling fastball, and a razor sharp slider, Dale Prince toed the rubber in Tilden for over 10 seasons to become one of the most successful left-handed pitchers in CRBL history.
In his first year of league play in 1962, Dale was an immediate winner, leading the Chippewa Valley League with an .857 winning percentage due to winning 6 of 7 decisions for the 9 and 3 North Division champion and WBA qualifying Tilden Terrors.
A reliable and durable pitcher, Dale logged over 60 innings in each of his first six seasons, with a league leading total of 90 in 1964. His workhorse effort of 1964 enabled him to tie for the Chippewa Valley League lead in wins (8), winning percentage (.800, 8 and 2) and shutouts (1) while posting a 2.60 ERA with 89 strikeouts. His 8 wins that year accounted for each of the 8 and 3 Tilden Terrors’ victories as they won a Western Division title and again made it to the WBA tourney.
With the return of the Tigers moniker in 1965, Prince had his most dominant season pitching for Tilden. Slinging a career best 90.1 innings that year, the lefty led the C.V.L. in wins with 7, strikeouts with 140, and became only the 14th pitcher in league history to throw a no-hitter when he blanked the Elk Mound Mounders 14-0 in a 15 K, 1 walk performance on August 15th, 1965. This 1 shutout also tied for the league lead in that category for that year.
Dale’s other league leading efforts were 117 strikeouts in 1966, 3 saves in 1969, 1 save in 1970 (co-leader), and 2 saves in 1971. Prince’s emergence as an effective relief pitcher helped the Tigers claim C.R.B.L. titles in 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1971. Throwing a handful of innings in 1972, Dale remained a regular in the line-up for a Tilden team that won its league record-tying fifth consecutive title that season.
When he wasn’t pitching, Prince could typically be found patrolling the outfield for the Terrors and the Tigers. Offensively, Dale collected 181 hits, 113 RBI’s, hit 14 homeruns, and scored 139 runs.
A participant in four all-star games, Prince competed in the era prior to All-CRBL awards becoming an annual right. Fittingly, Dale’s highest all-time rankings can be found off the mound. Upon induction, he shares a spot in the categories of saves (10th place) and wins (13th place), while standing alone in strikeouts per nine innings (11th place), strikeouts (12th place), and innings pitched (15th place).