DENVER — The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame (CSHOF) has announced the organizations which will receive proceeds from the CSHOF “Championship Saturday,” CSHOF Induction & Awards Banquet and the  CSHOF Golf Classic. The donations are being made in partnership with CSHOF sponsors Gatorade, King Soopers/City Market, AT&T Mobility, Wells Fargo, Sports Authority, Denver Broncos Football Club and The Denver Post.

The youth sports and donation committee of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame selected 20 organizations for receipt of the charity donations, as listed below:

  • Colorado High School Activities Association, the governing body for all high school activities throughout the state of Colorado.
  • Gold Crown Foundation, educating youth and community through sports enrichment programs.
  • Sportswomen of Colorado, promoting educational opportunities for girls and women involved in sports within the state.
  • National Football Foundation-Colorado Chapter, contributing to youth, high school and college football programs throughout the state.
  • National Sports Center for the Disabled, teaching a variety of summer and winter sports to individuals with physical or mental disabilities.
  • Special Olympics Colorado, providing year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
  • Rocky Mountain State Games, providing scholarships / entry fees for deserving youth in metro Denver to participate in the RMSG.
  • Denver City LAX, providing inner city youth in North Park Hill the opportunity to learn and play lacrosse.
  • Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives, providing sports equipment for alternative after school sports programs for at-risk metro Denver youth.
  • Runyon Field Sports Complex, providing baseball and football programs for over 2500 youth, 14 and under, in Pueblo and Southern Colorado.
  • Colorado Golf Foundation, providing funding for youth golf programs throughout Colorado including the Colorado Golf Association, Solich Caddie Academy and Hale Irwin Elite Player Academy at CommonGround Golf Course.
  • Latin American Education Fund, for the Pat Cortez Endowed Scholarship, helping Latina women attain their educational goals leading to future accomplishments as they begin their desired careers.
  • Porter-Billups Leadership Academy, providing academic and leadership training to at-risk inner city students.
  • Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation, promoting the physical, emotional and social development of all youth through the game of tennis.
  • Love, Sweat & Gears, providing bikes and helmets to deserving Denver Public Schools 3rd grade school children.
  • Colorado PGA Reach Foundation, supporting Drive, Chip & Putt, Get Golf Ready and Golf In Schools programs.
  • Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, preserving the rich history and legacy of golf in Colorado.
  • Global Down Syndrome Foundation, supporting Dare to Play programs for Down Syndrome youth.
  • Eddie’s Kids Foundation, providing sporting events tickets to deserving children, teachers, and military servicemen and women.
  • Denver Public Schools Foundation, supporting Junior High School athletic programs.

Over the past 10 years, the CSHOF has donated over $900,000 in cash and in-kind to youth sports programs in Colorado, including over $600,000 to the Colorado High School Activities Association.

“All of these organizations meet our mission of helping youth sports and education in Colorado, and we are happy that we can impact so many programs,” said Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Chairwoman Kim Carver. “Our goal was to have an impact on as many youth sports groups as we could to further the goal of the Hall of Fame in improving youth sports in our state.”

For more information about the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, a 501-(c)(3) non-profit organization, please call 720-258-3536, or visit www.coloradosports.org.

2015 Annual Conference

The 2015 ISHA conference will be held in Williamsport, Pa., hosted by the World of Little League Museum.

Click here for the 2015 conference brochure

An invitation from Williamsport

2015 Sponsorship Form

Click here for a 2015 ISHA conference video.

Getting to Williamsport

williamsportThe World of Little League Museum is proud to be hosting the 2015 International Sports Heritage Association Annual Conference this October.

Although Williamsport is not a very populous city, it is well known. Each August, Williamsport (population 29,349) welcomes tens of thousands of fans from around the world to the Little League Baseball World Series.

We’d like to allay any concerns you might have about getting here.
C7 SqNameRedWe have played 68 Little League Baseball World Series tournaments here, hosting hundreds of teams from dozens of countries and 35 U.S. states. In that time, only one team that qualified was not able to make the trip: A team from Berlin, West Germany, during the worst days of the Cold War.

williamsport 3So, we’re confident that if teams of 12-year olds from Uganda, Venezuela, Czech Republic, South Korea and Australia can get here (as they have in just the past few years), you can too.

Williamsport does have an airport: the Williamsport Regional Airport (IPT). There are three or more flights each day to and from Philadelphia, via US Airways. The flight to/from Philadelphia is about an hour, and is normally aboard a 32-seat, twin-engine, medium-range, turboprop airliner.

The airport is located about four miles from Little League International, and three miles from downtown Williamsport. There is a free shuttle provided by the Genetti Hotel, but arrangements should be made in advance. The car rental agencies located in the terminal are Budget, Avis, and National. Others are available off-site.

williamsport2Other airports with regular scheduled jet aircraft flights in close proximity are in State College, Pa. (SCE – 55 miles), Elmira, N.Y. (ELM – 70 miles), Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (AVP – 70 miles) and Harrisburg, Pa. (MDT – 75 miles).

Major “hub” airports within about 3-4 hours driving distance are: Philadelphia (PHL), Newark (EWR), Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Reagan/National (Washington – DCA), Dulles (Washington – IAD), Pittsburgh (PIT), LaGuardia (New York – LGA), and Kennedy (New York – JFK).

You may find that flying into one of the smaller, closer airports (even Williamsport) is not much more expensive than flying into a major hub. Often, it depends upon timing – and the earlier you make plans, the better your chances at a good deal.

If you plan to drive here: The Conference hotel, the Genetti Hotel and Suites, is located at 220 West Fourth Street, Williamsport. Parking for hotel guests is free.

PrintThe World of Little League is located at 525 U.S. Route 15 (known as Montgomery Pike on some GPS systems), 18 miles north of Exit 210 on Interstate 80, in South Williamsport.

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (February 5, 2015) – The World of Little League®: Peter J. McGovern Museum and Official Store has a sweet surprise in store for educators in February.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the museum has announced “World of Little League Museum Loves Teachers.”

Educators at any level showing teaching identification receive free admission to the museum throughout the month. Up to two guests also are free for a total value of up to $15.

The education event is in conjunction with the Williamsport Loves Teachers program sponsored by the Lycoming County Visitors Bureau, Feb. 13-23. However, the museum has opened its doors to educators at no charge for the entire month.

“This is a great way for teachers, from pre-school through college, to learn what our museum has to offer,” said Lance Van Auken, Little League Vice President and World of Little League Executive Director. “We’re glad to provide a benefit to educators who do such important work for our community, commonwealth, and nation.”

Several of the members of the museum’s Hall of Excellence are educators, including Pennsylvania resident Michael Pladus, who was named the 1999 National High School Principal of the Year. Dr. Pladus was principal of Interboro High School, Prospect Park, Pa., when he received the national award for his dedication to students and his drive to help them succeed.

Dr. Pladus retired as superintendent of Upper Dublin School District (Ambler, Pa.) and was praised for his accomplishments and impact on students and those with whom he has worked, according to an article in the Ambler Gazette on Dec. 17, 2013.

A member of the Shenandoah North (Pa.) Little League, Dr. Pladus said, during his induction to the Hall of Excellence, that “Little League provided me with more than positive recreation; it provided me with opportunities to learn lessons from which I have benefited throughout my life.”

Dr. Robert Stratta was inducted into the Hall of Excellence in 2000. Now Professor of Surgery and Transplantation at Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, N.C., he played for North Roseland Little League of Chicago. He considers pitching in the 1967 Little League Baseball World Series one of the high points in his life.

Dr. Stratta, who attended college on a baseball scholarship, isn’t shy about crediting Little League and the sport of baseball with enabling him to accomplish so much in life. “I played baseball for the competition and sheer joy of the sport. But in the end it allowed me to travel around the country, paved the way for my higher education, and taught me how to effectively compete in the ‘game’ of life.”

A 1996 Hall of Excellence inductee, Dr. Robert Sloan, was like many children, playing Little League for “something to do.”

But Little League became one of the forces that drove him to success. The graduate of Western Little League in Abelene, was President of Baylor University in Waco, Texas, when he was inducted.  Now he is President of Houston Baptist University.

“In a way, all the basic elements of life are in baseball and Little League,” said Dr. Sloan. “You have to show up at a certain time. If you’re late, you let the team down. And just like life, there are isolated individual performances that stand out. But in the end, it’s what the team did that really matters.”

Dr. Sloan, a Little League coach from 1984 to 1990, has authored two books and more than 50 articles.

The Williamsport Loves Teachers program is open to all teachers, school district employees and teachers union retirees. There is no charge for registration and it may be made by contacting the Lycoming County Visitors Center in downtown Williamsport near Wegman’s. Each instructor will receive a Very Important Teacher’s pass. The passes include discounts on dining, shopping, attractions and entertainment.

Education is important to Little League and to the museum, which offers group rates for field trips and has lesson plans available in several subjects, including reading, world cultures and mathematics. The lesson plans were developed through the Education Departments at Bloomsburg University and Mansfield University. Additional information is available from Janice L. Ogurcak, Director of Public Programming and Outreach at 570-326-1921 ext. 2280.

Rates for pre-registered groups of 20 or more people are as follows: $1 for children 12 and younger; $3 for those 13-61; and $2 for anyone 62 or older. Otherwise rates are $2, $5 and $3, respectively.

Additional information about the county program is online at  http://www.vacationpa.com/HomeEvent.php

The World of Little League, 525 Montgomery Pike (US 15), is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. with the exception of Monday, Jan. 19. General admission is $5. It is $2 for children (ages 5 through 12) and $3 for senior citizens (62 years and older). Children four and younger are admitted free of charge.

More information about the Museum is available at LittleLeagueMuseum.org or you can contact the Museum at 570-326-3607. Follow World of Little League on Facebook (facebook.com/LittleLeagueMuseum) and Twitter (twitter.com/LLBMuseum).

Photos of About Little League®

Little League® Baseball and Softball is the world’s largest organized youth sports program, with 2.4 million players and one million adult volunteers in every U.S. state and more than 80 other countries. Founded in 1939, more than 35 million people around the world, from a U.S. president to community leaders to professional athletes, can call themselves Little League graduates. And every year, millions of people follow the hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship that the Little Leaguers display at our nine baseball and softball World Series events, the premier tournaments in youth sports. For more information, visit LittleLeague.org, or follow Little League on Facebook (facebook.com/LittleLeague), Twitter (twitter.com/LittleLeague), and Instagram (Instagram.com/LittleLeague).

The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame’s newest exhibit, Legends of the Hardwood: State Championship-Winning High School Basketball Coaches in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, is now on display in the museum’s rotunda.  Featuring team photos, state championship trophies, and basketball uniforms, the exhibit highlights such legendary Georgia high school basketball coaches as Vienna High’s Joe Jenkins, Lanier High’s Selby Buck, Perry High’s Eric Staples, Taylor County’s Norman Carter, and Southwest (Macon) High’s Don Richardson.  Legends of the Hardwood: State Championship-Winning High School Basketball Coaches in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame will remain on display through April.

St. Marys, Ont. – Three of them starred on the field for the Toronto Blue Jays, one of them was the longest-serving manager in Montreal Expos history and the other has covered both the Blue Jays and the Expos during his storied writing career.

Former Blue Jays Carlos Delgado, Corey Koskie (Anola, Man.) and Matt Stairs (Saint John, N.B.) will be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, along with long-time Montreal Expos manager Felipe Alou and legendary scribe Bob Elliott (Kingston, Ont.) in a ceremony that will take place on June 13 in St. Marys, Ont.

“Each of our 2015 inductees has made significant contributions to the history of baseball in our country and they continue to be great ambassadors for the game,” said Scott Crawford, the hall’s director of operations. “We’re proud and excited to celebrate their careers in St. Marys this June.”

The induction ceremony will be part of a festival of events that will also include a Downtown Family Baseball Street Festival, celebrity slo-pitch game and home run derby, a London Salutes Canadian Baseball breakfast and the Hall’s 19th annual celebrity golf tournament.

2015 Inductee Bios

Carlos Delgado

Born in 1972 in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, Delgado was signed as an amateur free agent by the Blue Jays in 1988. After beginning his professional career as a catcher followed by a short stint as an outfielder, he was moved to first base and evolved into the most productive offensive player in franchise history. On his way up to the big leagues, the left-handed-hitting slugger collected MVP Awards in the Class-A Florida State League (1992) and Double-A Southern League (1993), before receiving his first big league call-up at the end of the 1993 campaign.

Delgado became a regular with the Blue Jays in 1996 and would star with the club for the next nine seasons. During that stretch, he had eight consecutive, 30-home run campaigns, was selected to two all-star games (2000, 2003), won three Silver Slugger Awards (1999, 2000, 2003), a Hank Aaron Award (2000) and was named The Sporting News Major League Player of the Year (2000). He also finished second to Alex Rodriguez in the American League MVP voting in 2003. Not only did Delgado lead the Blue Jays in numerous offensive categories, he also topped the American League in doubles (57) and total bases (378) in 2000 and in RBI (145) and on-base plus slugging percentage (1.019) in 2003. On September 25 of that same year, he also became the first Blue Jay – and 15th player in major league history – to belt four home runs in a game.

While suiting up for the Blue Jays, Delgado rewrote much of the club’s record book and is the team’s all-time leader in several statistical categories, including home runs (336), RBI (1,058), doubles (343), runs (889), total bases (2,786), slugging percentage (.556), extra-base hits (690) and walks (827). He also ranks second all-time amongst Blue Jays in on-base percentage (.392) and games (1,423). For his efforts, he was added to the Blue Jays Level of Excellence in 2013.

After leaving the Jays following the 2004 season, Delgado extended his string of consecutive 30-home run seasons to 10 with the Florida Marlins and New York Mets. He finished his career with 473 home runs (31st all-time) and 1,512 RBI (52nd all-time) in 17 big league seasons.

Off the field, Delgado was very active in charitable endeavors. In 2001, he formed a non-profit organization called “Extra Bases” to assist youth and underfunded services in Puerto Rico. While in Toronto, he supported several charities, including the Special Olympics and Easter Seals. In 2006, he was honoured with Major League Baseball’s Roberto Clemente Award, which is given out annually to the player who best exemplifies humanitarianism and sportsmanship.

“I’m very honoured and humbled to be selected into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame,” said Delgado. “This is unbelievable news! I always say that you do not play the game for the awards, but if at the end of the day, you get that recognition from your fans and peers, it means a lot. And this is extra special to me because of the relationship that I have with the Toronto Blue Jays and their fans all across Canada.”

Corey Koskie

Born in Anola, Man., in 1973, Koskie was a multi-sport star in high school, excelling in baseball, hockey and volleyball. After choosing to focus on baseball, he honed his skills at the National Baseball Institute in Surrey, B.C., in 1993 before he was selected in the 26th round of the 1994 MLB amateur draft by the Minnesota Twins.

The 6-foot-3 slugger played parts of five seasons in the minors prior to making his big league debut on September 9, 1998. He became a regular with the Twins the following season when he hit .310 and belted 11 home runs in 117 games – a performance that earned him a spot on the Topps’s 1999 All-Star Rookie team.

But his true breakout season would come two years later, when he scored 100 runs, socked 26 homers, collected 103 RBI and swiped 27 bases to become the only third baseman in American League history to record at least 100 runs, 25 homers, 100 RBI and 25 stolen bases in the same season. For his efforts, he was named co-winner (with Larry Walker) of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Tip O’Neill Award. In the ensuing three campaigns, he never hit less than 14 home runs in a season and he helped the Twins to three consecutive playoff berths.

On December 14, 2004, he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and would slam 11 homers in 97 contests for the Canadian club in 2005, prior to being swapped to the Milwaukee Brewers in January 2006. He had 12 homers in 76 games for the Brewers in 2006 before sustaining a concussion on July 5 that eventually ended his career.

In all, in nine big league seasons, Koskie suited for 989 games – more than any other player from Manitoba – and ranks seventh all-time amongst Canadians in home runs (124) and on-base percentage (.367) and eighth in slugging percentage (.458). He also played more big league games at third base than any other Canadian and ranks first among Canuck third basemen in batting average, home runs, RBI and on-base percentage. He also competed for Canada in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics.

For his efforts, he was elected to the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

During his career, Koskie was also involved with numerous charities and he continues to support fundraising activities for the Twins Community Fund. In 2001, he was the recipient of the Twins’ Carl R. Pohlad Award, which is handed out by the club to a player, coach or manager for outstanding work in the community.

“Wow! I’m not sure what to say or think,” said Koskie when told of his upcoming induction. “I know the standard thing to say is, ‘What an honor,’ but that doesn’t communicate what I’m feeling right now. It’s much more than that.”

Matt Stairs

Born in Saint John, N.B., in 1968, Stairs was hoping to become a professional hockey player until he sustained a serious knee injury in high school. When he recovered, he decided to focus on baseball and he honed his skills at the National Baseball Institute in Surrey, B.C. and with Canada’s junior national team. In 1988, he competed for Canada in the Olympics and hit .362 at the Baseball World Cup and was named the tournament’s top shortstop.

His international success helped convince the Expos to sign him as a free agent in 1989. After parts of four seasons in the minors, the stocky Maritimer made his big league debut with the Expos on May 29, 1992. Over the next four seasons, he split time between Triple-A, the Expos, the Chunichi Dragons of the Japan Central League and the Boston Red Sox, before inking a deal with the Oakland A’s on December 1, 1995.

After belting 10 home runs in 61 games with the A’s in 1996, Stairs walloped 27 homers and posted a .386 on-base percentage the next campaign. He followed that up with 26 and 38 home runs in 1998 and 1999 respectively and drove in more than 100 runs in both of those seasons to become the first Canadian to register back-to-back 25-home run, 100-RBI campaigns.

The left-handed hitting slugger was traded to the Chicago Cubs after the 2000 season and over the next 11 seasons, he suited up for 10 different teams, including the Blue Jays in 2007 and 2008. During that time, Stairs developed into one of the best pinch-hitters in big league history. For his career, Stairs clubbed a major league record 23 regular season, pinch-hit home runs. His most famous pinch-hit home run, however, came in the post-season. With two out in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the 2008 National League Championship Series, Stairs blasted a two-run homer off of Los Angeles Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton that put the Phillies ahead in the game and shifted the momentum of the series. The Phillies later won the World Series.

In all, Stairs’ career spanned 19 big league seasons (the most by any Canadian position player) and he hit 265 homers, the second-most by a Canadian (Larry Walker hit 383). He also ranks second all-time amongst Canadians in games (1,895) and walks (717) and third in RBI (899) and doubles (294) and is just one of four Canadians (along with Shawn Hill, Denis Boucher and Rob Ducey) to play for both the Expos and Blue Jays. He also suited up for Canada at the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics.

For his efforts, he was elected to the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. Since retiring as a player, he has served as a studio analyst for the Boston Red Sox and is currently a TV analyst for the Philadelphia Phillies. He continues to be very active in charitable endeavors, including organizing an annual golf tournament that raises money for the Fredericton Minor Baseball Association and the Fredericton SPCA. He also volunteers his time as a baseball and hockey coach.

“I’m very proud and truly honoured to be in great company with the members of the Hall of Fame,” Stairs said of his upcoming induction.

Felipe Alou

Alou was part of the Expos organization as a player, instructor or manager for 27 of its 36 years of existence. The highly respected baseball man joined the Expos as an instructor following a successful 18-year playing career – that included a 19-game stint with Montreal in 1973 – in which he hit .286, collected 2,101 hits and was selected to three all-star games.

Born in 1935 in Bajos de Haina, San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, Alou developed into a star in the Expos’ coaching ranks shortly after he was hired in 1976. Following managerial stints with the Expos’ Class-A and Double-A affiliates in 1977 and 1978, he was promoted to Dick Williams’ big league staff in 1979 and 1980.

Alou returned to the minors in 1981 to manage the Expos’ Triple-A Denver Bears to a league title and when the Expos shifted their Triple-A affiliate to Wichita the following season, Alou moved with the team. After another coaching stint with the big club in 1984, Alou served as the dugout boss of the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in 1985 and the Class-A West Palm Beach Expos from 1986 to 1991. After leading the latter club to a Florida State League championship and being named the league’s top manager in 1991, Alou was hired as the Expos big league manager on May 22, 1992.

In accepting the position, Alou became the first Dominican manager in major league history. In parts of 10 seasons as Expos manager, he accumulated a franchise-record 691 wins and led the budget-conscious club to three second-place finishes (1992, 1993, 1996) and had the Expos sitting in first-place in 1994 when the season was cancelled due to a players’ strike. For his efforts, Alou was named National League Manager of the Year in 1994 and the manager of the National League All-Star team in 1995.

After leaving the Expos, Alou worked as a bench coach with the Detroit Tigers in 2002, before serving as manager of the San Francisco Giants from 2003 to 2006. In 2006, he became the first Latin manager to win 1,000 games in the big leagues. Since 2007, he has worked as a special assistant to Giants general manager Brian Sabean. The 2015 season represents his 60th in professional baseball.

“I’m very honoured to be included in this great class,” said Alou on his induction.

Bob Elliott

Born in Kingston, Ont., in 1949, Elliott was introduced to baseball by his father, Bob, and grandfather, Chaucer, both of whom were superb athletes. A second baseman who discovered early in his teens that he couldn’t hit the curveball, Elliott turned his attention to baseball statistics. His career in journalism began when he started compiling box scores for Kingston’s senior team and submitting them to the Kingston Whig-Standard – a job that paid him $100 a week. When he was 17, he was offered a job as a sports reporter by the paper.

His mother burst into tears when he asked if he could accept the position. She wanted him to attend Queen’s University, but Elliott pleaded with his father who eventually brought his mother on side. His dad told him he could take the job on two conditions: one, that he finished Grade 12 and two, that he wouldn’t be like one of those Boston writers who didn’t vote for Ted Williams for the American League MVP in 1941 because they didn’t like him.

But it was until 12 years later, when he was writing for the Ottawa Citizen, that Elliott would receive his first major league assignment – the Montreal Expos’ 1978 home opener. The hard-working scribe quickly became a widely respected reporter and news breaker and a regular in the Expos press box until he joined the Toronto Sun as the Blue Jays beat writer in 1987.

Though he’s broken numerous stories about the Blue Jays and Expos, Elliott is best known in the Canadian baseball fraternity for shining the spotlight on homegrown talent. He is the founder of the Canadian Baseball Network website (www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com) which tracks the top Canadian draft candidates, college players and minor league players.

In his close to five decades in journalism, Elliott, now the Toronto Sun’s baseball columnist, has also penned three books, including the bestseller Hard Ball about George Bell in 1990, The Ultimate Blue Jays Trivia Book in 1993 and The Northern Game: Baseball The Canadian Way in 2005.

He has also served as a volunteer baseball coach and was on the staff of the Georgetown, Ont. squads that won Canadian championships at the Pee Wee and Bantam levels in 2007 and 2009 respectively.

In 2010, Elliott was honoured with the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Jack Graney Award and he was the first Canadian recipient of the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s J.G. Taylor Spink Award in 2012. He has also been inducted into the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians Hall of Fame (2009), the Kingston Sports Hall of Fame (2013) and the Okotoks Dawgs/Seaman Stadium Hall of Fame (2014).

“I’ve had some very wonderful honours the previous few years,” said Elliott, when informed of his induction. “As a writer, I don’t think my uniform from the Kingscourt Little League Pirates in Kingston or myself belong with these guys – these guys could play. I saw all four play. I’m humbled. I feel like that one thing on Sesame Street that doesn’t belong with the others.”

Notre Dame hired Dimensional Innovations to create an unforgettable Experience Center at Notre Dame Stadium. By telling the ND story through environmental graphics, technology and signage, DI was able to help the organization create an emotional connection to dedicated fans that will drive revenue and garner excitement around the Campus Crossroads Project (a multi-building renovation centered around the stadium). The space also provides a venue for premium seat offerings at the school’s $400 million stadium expansion.

The consistent use of high-end materials, cutting edge technology, fine finishes, graphic style and language complement other areas of the facility to help seamlessly integrate the new space.

One of the biggest project challenges was creating a unique and on-brand experience that fit within a tight budget and timeline. DI delivered just that – on time and on budget.

In the spirit of the Campus Crossroads Project, the Experience Center is open to the general public for all to experience the rich history and traditions of the Blue and Gold.

The Board of Directors of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the Class of 2015 for induction into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.  The accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers tabulated the votes by the statewide selection committees.

The newly elected Inductees for the Class of 2015 are as follows:


Jay Barker
Chris Gray
Evander Holyfield
Bobby Hunt
Derrick McKey
Tommy Neville
Tony Richardson
Ennis Whatley


The newly elected eight inductees will bring the total of all Inductees since 1969 to 329. 

The 2015 Induction Banquet and Ceremony will take place in the Birmingham Ballroom, at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, on Saturday, May 16, 2015.  Reception and Banquet Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Museum.

Class of 2015

JAY BARKER / FOOTBALL – Born July 20, 1972, in Trussville, AL.  He played collegiately at the University of Alabama.  He quarterbacked the Tide to a National Championship in 1992.  He received the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (1994).  He was named to the Academic All-SEC Team (1994).  He was named Birmingham News SEC Offensive Player of the Year and The Nashville Banner named him their SEC Player of the Year (1994).  In 1994 he was First Team ALL-SEC (Coaches, AP, and Birmingham News).  He played briefly in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers.  He also played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League; and finished his career with the Birmingham Thunderbolts of the XFL.

CHRIS GRAY / FOOTBALL – Born June 19, 1970 in Birmingham, AL.  He played guard and center at Auburn University. He was Academic All-SEC in 1992.  He was drafted in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. He played four years with the Dolphins, one year with the Chicago Bears, and ten years with the Seattle Seahawks. He holds the Seahawks franchise record for most consecutive starts with 121; and is 9th in total games 145. During his career with the Seahawks, he played every position on the offensive line. He was an integral part of the offensive line during the team’s five consecutive playoff appearances (2003-2007), including Shaun Alexander’s MVP year in 2005. That year the Seahawks made it to the Super Bowl.  (He was also on the 1999 AFC West Championship Seahawks Team).

EVANDER HOLYFIELD / BOXING – Born October 19, 1962 in Atmore, AL.  He is a former Undisputed World Champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.  He is the only five time World Heavyweight Champion, winning the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles in 1990, the WBA and IBF titles in 1993, the WBA title in 1996, the IBF in 1997 and the WBA again in 2000.  He was named Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year three times (1990, 1996, and 1997).  Ring Magazine rank him as the Greatest Cruiserweight of All-Time in 1994.  He was a bronze medalist in the 1984 Summer Olympics.  His record was 44 wins, 10 loses with 29 KO.

BOBBY HUNT / FOOTBALL – Born August 15, 1940 in Lanett, AL.  He played defensive back at Auburn University.  He was drafted by the Dallas Texans of the AFL in 1962 and also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals.  He was first team All-Pro his rookie year with the Texans.  During his nine year career he had 42 interceptions and returned one for a touchdown.  He was second team All-AFL in 1964 & 1966.  He was selected to play in the AFL All-Star game in 1964.  He played in Super Bowl I with the Chiefs.  After his playing career he was an assistant coach with the Buffalo Bills.

DERRICK MCKEY / BASKETBALL – Born October 10, 1966 in Meridian, MS.  He played basketball at the University of Alabama as a small forward; and was SEC Player of the Year in 1987.  He was second team All-American (UPI) also in 1987.  He was a member of the Gold Medal USA Team at the 1986 FIBA World Championship.  He was a first-round draft pick to the Seattle Sonics in 1987 (9th overall).  He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team (1988).  For two consecutive years he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1995 and 1996).  He played in the NBA from 1987-2002 for the Sonics, Indiana Pacers, and the Philadelphia 76ers.  For his career he had 10,266 points, 4,387 rebounds, and 2,254 assists.

TOMMY NEVILLE / FOOTBALL – Born August 12, 1943 in Montgomery, AL.  He played collegiately at Mississippi State where he was first team All-SEC two consecutive years (1963 and 1964). He was second team All-American in 1963 and Co-captain of the 1964 team.  He lettered two seasons as catcher for the MSU Baseball Team.  He played 15 years in the NFL with the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and the New York Giants.  He was named to the AFL All-Star in 1966.   He was named Co-Captain of the New England Patriots for four years.  He won the Frank Sargent and Jimmy Lee Hunt Awards for team spirit in 1977. The Patriots honored him with Tom Neville Day. He was selected to the New England Patriots All-Patriot 35th Anniversary Team in 1995. 

TONY RICHARDSON / FOOTBALL – Born December 17, 1971 in Frankfurt, Germany. He played collegiately at Auburn University. He played 15 seasons in the NFL with three different organizations Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Jets. He was a four-time AFC Pro Bowl Selection in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007 with the Kansas City Chiefs; a second team two-time All-Pro Selection (2004 and 2007); and an NFC Pro Bowl Selection in 2008 with the Minnesota Vikings.  He was the recipient of the Byron “Whizzer” White NFL Man of the Year Award.  He was named to the NFL 2000’s All-Decade Team.  He also has served on the NFL Players Executive Committee.

ENNIS WHATLEY / BASKETBALL – Born August 11, 1962 in Birmingham, AL.  He played collegiately at the University of Alabama.  He helped lead the Crimson Tide to the SEC Tournament Championship his freshman year.  He entered the NBA Draft after his sophomore season and was a first-round pick of the Kansas City Kings.  He played ten years in the NBA for seven teams.  His best year was 1986-1987 with the Washington Bullets, appearing in 73 games and averaged 8.5 points per game.  For his career, he scored 2,150 points, averaging 5.6 points per game.