One of only three men to win a recognized college player of the year award twice, plus two men who led their teams to the World Series at both the collegiate and Major League levels highlight the 2015 National College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class.

“This class features players and coaches with some incredible superlatives,” said Mike Gustafson, executive director of the College Baseball Hall of Fame. “There are some unique and outstanding accomplishments by the individuals in this class.”

This year’s class, which will be inducted as a part of the annual celebration of college baseball on June 28-29 in Lubbock, Texas, is headlined by Lance Berkman, who led Rice to its first College World Series appearance before embarking on a stellar Major League career; and Frank Viola, the talented left-hander who led his St John’s club to Omaha in 1980 and went on to a 15-year Major League career that included winning the 1988 American League Cy Young Award.

The switch-hitting Berkman was named National Player of the Year by the NCBWA in 1997 on the strength of a .431 batting average, 41 homers and 143 RBI. His three years at Rice saw the Owls make their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1995, and their first College World Series appearance in 1997.

Viola registered a 26-2 career record at St. John’s, leading the Redmen to Omaha in 1980 where he opened the Series with a 6-1 victory over eventual national champion Arizona. However, it was another postseason win, a 1-0 12-inning thriller in the 1981 NCAA regional over Yale and Ron Darling for which he is best remembered.

Also included in the class are Joe Arnold, a two-time NJCAA All-American pitcher at Miami-Dade who also earned Most Valuable Player honors at the 1966 NJCAA World Series; former Lubbock Christian and Texas Tech Coach Larry Hays, one of only eight coaches at any level of college baseball with 1,500 wins; Al Holland, who shattered records in his four years at North Carolina A&T; Bill Holowaty, the 3rd winningest coach in NCAA Division III history; Mike Kelly, who was the consensus national player of the year in 1990 and winner of the Golden Spikes Award in 1991; and Rick Reichardt, who won the first recognized collegiate national player of the year award in 1964.

As a junior college player at Miami-Dade, Arnold played for the legendary Demie Mainieri. He is one of only two junior college players to be twice named NJCAA All-American as well as MVP of the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado. He later attended Arizona State where he won 11 games, finishing his collegiate playing career with a 40-5 record. He later enjoyed a stellar coaching career, leading Florida Southern to two NCAA Division II national championships before assuming the reins at the University of Florida, where he twice took the Gators to Omaha.

Hays coached Lubbock Christian to 695 wins and the 1983 NAIA national championship before moving across town to Texas Tech, where he assumed a program with a losing record throughout its history. In his 22 years on campus, he led the Red Raiders to 813 wins and all four of their conference championship titles, as well as their first nine NCAA tournament appearances. In 2008, he became only the 4th coach in NCAA history to win 1,500 games.

Holland rode a blazing fastball to a record-setting career in which he tossed four no-hitters and twice led the nation in strikeouts per nine innings. His microscopic ERA of 0.26 in 1975 also led the nation and is the 3rd best ERA in NCAA Division I history.

Holowaty led Eastern Connecticut State to four NCAA Division III national championships and was honored four times as the national coach of the year. His 1,404 wins trail only 2009 inductee Gordie Gillespie and 2013 inductee Don Schaly on the Division III list.

Kelly’s three years at Arizona State rank as three of the most illustrious in school history. He is on a list with 2006 inductees Robin Ventura and Brooks Kieschnick as the only NCAA Division I players to twice take home player of the year honors. He finished his career in Tempe with a .376 batting average, 46 homers and 194 RBI.

Reichardt was the first player in Big Ten history to repeat as batting champ. His 1964 batting average of .443 in Big Ten play earned him The Sporting News National Player of the Year recognition, plus All America honors from ABCA.

“Our voting committees consists of longtime college baseball media members, active and former coaches, retired umpires, past inductees, college baseball historians and in several cases they are also former players,” Gustafson said. ‘I commend them on another outstanding job.”

Tickets for the 2015 induction will be available in May on the Hall of Fame’s website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.

For more information, contact Mike Gustafson, College Baseball Hall of Fame President/CEO at [email protected].

The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, now the “Home of Canada’s Biggest Bat”, wishes to express sincere appreciation to the following individuals for donating and volunteering their time, talent, skill and effort in the  transportation, preparation of the site, and securing this huge baseball bat on the east side of the building at 292-22nd Street, Battleford, Sask.

The following individuals were acknowledged and recognized for their contribution to this project at the volunteer appreciation Christmas dinner, December 10th, at the Lions Club  Hall in Battleford.

——Larry Gabruch, Frisch Engineered Products Inc. Battleford

——Lionel Hawryliw, Frisch Engineered Products Inc. Battleford.

——Bill Halewich, Sky Tech Equipment, North Battleford.

——Dale Gidych, B&D Welding, North Battleford.

——Neil Good, NRG Efficient Homes, Battleford.

Battlefords Historical Lions Club was also recognized for hosting the pancake and sausage breakfast on August 16th, when the official unveiling of the bat was held.

As well, all the volunteers of the Hall were acknowledged for their many hours of volunteering for the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum throughout the year.

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have launched #FansToThePast, a social media-based fan photo promotion that encourages fans to share their favorite photos with the team for a chance to win a private tour of the Cardinals Museum with Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith. Fans are encouraged to post as many photos and memories as they want on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the designated hashtag #FansToThePast between now and April 5, 2015. Fan photos may be used within a #FansToThePast video, an online photo gallery or displayed at the Cardinals Hall of Fame & Museum at Cardinals Nation in Ballpark Village.

Before the Big Ten project began, when you walked into the conference headquarters, you might not have known where you were. Today, it’s impossible not to get a sense of ‘wow’ and feel pride of the conference permeating throughout the space.

As part of a world-class design team, DI helped bring the Big Ten’s storied academic and athletic history to life through a collection of interactive exhibits showcasing players, coaches and moments dating back to 1896, the year the conference was founded. A major attraction is The Big 10 Theater which gives patrons a behind-the-scenes, immersive audio and video experience featuring notable accomplishments on and off the field of play.

What’s now called the Big Ten Experience has become a fan destination giving all generations an opportunity to engage in rich university traditions, while at the same time celebrating current achievements.

To see more about how DI brought the Big Ten story to life in an iconic way, visit the Big Ten project YouTube video.

Each year five NASCAR legends are inducted in the NASCAR Hall of Fame and enshrined in history forever. Bill Elliott, Fred Lorenzen, Wendell Scott, Joe Weatherly and Rex White make up the sixth class to be inducted to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, adding their name to a list of now 30 NASCAR Hall of Famers. The Class of 2015 was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, which included representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, retired competitors (drivers, owners and crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders and a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com – which counted for the 54th and final vote.

 

The International Women’s Baseball Center is working with Baseball For All to put on a National girls 13 and under baseball tournament in Orlando, Florida. May 30-June 4. We need teams, fans and of course donations! Check out the link provided and please pass it on to anyone who might be interested in this great opportunity.

http://www.baseballforall.com/overview.html

 

The Indian Motorcycle Company

Working closely with the GMR Marketing team of designers and project managers, EDE produced and delivered signage, branded graphics and lighting enhancements for the newest member of the Indian line: Dark Horse. The entire project was envisioned, produced and delivered in just one week. With a hands-on team, EDE arrived at the Kaiser Tiger, event destination, and installed all components for branding the space, completing all elements in time for the riders to arrive and see the new motorcycle, the “star” of the show. That same night the EDE team uninstalled all branding so that Kaiser Tiger could return to their normal ambiance and Dark Horse could be sent home.

DESIGN: GMR Marketing

At EDE, we’ve been helping clients bring exhibit ideas to life since 1979. We’ve helped them tell their stories, breathe new life into their brands, and make the seemingly impossible – possible. Our diverse experience with marketers and architects enables us to see a broader picture in order to find the right solution to realize your vision. Discover why the most prestigious cultural institutions and corporations repeatedly turn to us for innovative trade show exhibits and architectural installations.

 

47th ANNUAL INDUCTION BANQUET

Saturday, May 16, 2015

 

INDUCTEES

Jay Barker

Chris Gray

Evander Holyfield

Bobby Hunt

Derrick McKey

Tommy Neville

Tony Richardson

Ennis Whatley

 

Birmingham Ballroom at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel

5:30 p.m. – Public Reception

6:30 p.m. – Banquet

Semi-Formal Attire

$150 per person; $1,500 for Table of 10

For More Information Contact the

Alabama Sports Hall of Fame

(205) 323-6665

[email protected]