The Hardhats came in 3rd place in the Eastern Division of the 1977 APSPL Eastern Division with a record of 17–37, 16.5 games behind the
Baltimore Monuments. Tom Miller (.544, 52 HRs, 124 RBIs) of the Hardhats made the 1977 all-pro team, Benny Holt of the
Chicago Storm won the league MVP with the
Detroit Caesars taking the first ever professional softball World Series title. Jim Nelson (81-166, .488, 41 HRs, 100 RBIs) of the Hardhats had a strong season as did Gary Smith (.419, 6 HRs, 37 RBIs), Lou Abel (.438, 1 HRs, 32 RBIs) and Greg Birko (.465 BA, 65 runs scored). Pittsburgh struggled again in 1978, finishing in 4th place in the Central Division, 29–35, and 11 games back of division winning
Cincinnati Suds. Hardhat Denny Brown (.608, 1 HRs, 46 RBIs, 101 runs scored) made the al-pro team and Ron Ford won the league MVP for the repeating champion Caesars Hardhats have a strong season included Roger Snatchko ( .578, 6 HRs, 81 RBIs), Barry Glaser (.550, 2 HRs, 59 RBIs) and Fred Ryan (.393, 21 HRs, 67 RBIs). Pittsburgh took a step forward in 1979 with a 33–31 record, advancing to the playoffs where they lost in the first round 3-2 (6-7, 0–4, 10–9, 10–3, 5–1) in a best of five series to the
Rochester Zeniths. Rick Weiterman of the World Series winning
Milwaukee Schlitz was the league MVP with the series being the first live broadcast on the start-up network
ESPN. Making the all-APSPL team in 1979 from Pittsburgh were Barry Glaser (.527 BA) and Denny Brown (.504 BA). First-baseman Joe Aversa made the mid-season All-Star team and Greg Birko (.478 BA) has another strong campaign.
Cleveland Stepien's Competitors, the
Fort Wayne Huggie Bears and Milwaukee broke away from the APSPL to form a new league (North American Softball League) in 1980, under the leadership of Cleveland owner
Ted Stepien, while the Hardhats continued in the reduced numbers of the APSPL. Stepien placed NASL teams in several APSPL markets, including Cincinnati, Kentucky and Pittsburgh, starting a team called the
Pittsburgh Champions. Stepien owned many of the NASL teams, including the Champions. The Champions played at LaRussa Field, Sokol Club in Lower Burrell, just outside of
Pittsburgh. The Hardhats owner Jim DiIorio brought a challenge in federal court in an attempt to prevent splitting the young professional sport. The Hardhats also brought a legal challenge against new Champions player and General Manager Roger Snatchko for
breach of contract as he had been under contract with the Hardhats previously. That lawsuit was withdrawn as a salary amount was not specified in the Hardhat contract. Snatchko would lead the Champions but tensions with Stepien remained as he tried to lure talent away from the APSPL teams, including the Hardhats. The Champions added Chuck Lazar, a local football stand-out from
Allegheny College, who had spent the previous two seasons playing with the Hardhats. Lazar would play briefly for the Champions before leaving for the
Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. Meanwhile, the Hardhats had their best season in 1980, finishing with a 44-19 (.698) record, trailing only the
Kentucky Bourbons. Pittsburgh upset Kentucky in the first round 3-2 (5-10, 7–5, 4-10, 5-14, 4–1) to advance to their first APSPL World Series, where they were swept 3-0 (2-3, 11–3, 12–9) by the
Rochester Express. Several Hardhats made the all-league team - Greg Birko (29-13 pitching), Jim Foxy Nelson (17 HRs, 68 RBIs), Denny Brown (.492 BA), Pat Benzing and
Randy Elliott (.470 BA). Bill Gatti of Kentucky was honored as league MVP in the last APSPL season. == The UPSL years ==