 | MIKE BOSCO
Soccer is the big sport in his native Yugoslavia, but Bosco adapted well to the sport of baseball after moving to Akron at the age of seven. He played with various teams in his youth, developing into a hard-nosed third baseman. In 1928, he joined Speed Bosworth's General Tire team. After a brief stint with the Boston Braves organization, he rejoined Bosworth with the Yellow Cabs. While with the Akron Guards in 1930, the team played under the lights for the first time ever in Ohio. That July 30th occasion saw better than 2,000 fans in attendance. Later, Bosco played third base for the Akron Tyrites in the Mid-Atlantic League before closing out his brilliant career with the Killian Celtics.
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 | ART BOYES
Through the 1930's and into the 1950's, Boyes established himself as one of the greatest left-handed hitters in Akron baseball history. Besides being able to ride the ball a long way, he excelled on the mound, at first base and in the outfield. His career began with Farewell Billiards. He also played for St. Martha, West Chevrolet, State Champion Atlantic Foundry, Killian Celtics, Tallmadge Kramers, Smith Sheriffs and Krispy Kreme. Boyes had a stint in the Cincinnati Reds organization - guiding Elizabethtown, TN to the 1940 League Title while batting .400. He returned to Akron to help the Sheriffs win the 1941 City A crown. He continued as a player and manager until 1958 when he directed Krispy Kreme to the League title. A short time later, at only age 47, Art died of a heart attack.
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 | WILLIAM "TINY" DIMENNA
From the sandlots of Jennings, Rhoades, Lakemore and Buchtel fields, "Tiny" left an indelible mark of honesty, class and competitive spirit on many young ballplayers he introduced to baseball. That influence began in 1934. Tiny's first experience with A ball began with the Lakemore Nite Club and Army-Navy Post# 273, before he joined forces with Speed Bosworth to form the successful Tiny's Orphans team of the late '40's. After the Orphans disbanded in 1953, Tiny started over again - guiding a group of players, who stuck together for 14 years, from Little League to Akron U, and then into AA ball. As a manager, sponsor, or business manager, Tiny is one of many unselfish men who laid the groundwork for many a team and kept baseball alive in the Akron area.
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 | DICK FLETCHER
An outstanding football-baseball athlete at Barberton High School, Fletcher became best known as a pitcher who "loves trouble" and responded to the pressure by becoming a bulldog on the mound. He began playing in the A League with Farber Clothes and had successful seasons with Canton Road Furniture and Smith Sheriffs. After a stint in the U.S. Army, "Fletch" became a workhorse relief ace in the White Sox, Senators and Orioles Minor League systems. However, arm trouble ended that career in 1960. He returned to the Akron sandlots to help Black Label win eight championships. Later, "Fletch" coached at Akron U and managed several championship teams, including the Red Peppers, Forest City, Acme Ash and Akron Insulating.
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 | LINCOLN HACKIM, SR.
After long leadership in Greater Akron and Ohio baseball, Linc was elected President of the American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC)--the largest amateur baseball organization in the world. In 1966 he brought the AABC's national office to Fairlawn. In his 17 years of direction, the AABC's membership grew to a record-breaking 7,414 teams. During his regime, the AABC grew from two age divisions to five divisions. Linc was generous to all teams on all levels who needed help. One could count on him to provide anything necessary to afford youth the opportunity to play baseball. He was instrumental in keeping the Akron AA League alive and molding it into a hotbed of competitive play. Linc's devotion to the AABC and amateur baseball came to an end at his passing on February 1, 1983. However, his record is known nationwide, especially in making the AABC a viable asset to American Youth and the amateur sports scene.
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 | HAROLD "LEFTY" HEINEMAN
"Lefty" was one of the best pitchers for more than 15 years on Akron sandlots. The bulky southpaw also hit over .300 consistently. Born and raised in Cuyahoga Falls, the Kent State grad made his mark on area sandlots with the Ravenna Eagles, Lustig Shoes, Goodyear Wingfoots, Akron Orphans and Smith Sheriffs. Some of Lefty's highlights include the 1949 season with the Sheriffs when he racked up 12 straight wins and fanned 129 in 96 innings during which the team won 60 of 67 games. In tourney action he added two more wins. On one occasion, Lefty struck out 25 in a 12-inning affair and in 1945 helped the Akron Orphans win the NABF National Championship. He also had a taste of pro ball with the Akron Yankees, and in the White Sox organization. His biggest thrill, however, was striking out 19, including the immortal Jackie Robinson in an exhibition game in Youngstown, featuring the Lustigs versus the Kansas City Monarchs.
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 | JERRY JOHNSON
Long, lean and sizzling was the way the "thinman" Jerry Johnson came at batters for 10 years while pitching for Kent State and in the AA League for such teams as Weather Seal, Flexi-Grip, Wadsworth A.C., Red Pepper and the Akron Insulating teams. The slender right-hander with blazing speed and excellent control was named to the AA League All-Star team on seven occasions. Johnson's super season came in 1970 when he led the Red Peppers to the League crown while winning 12 of 15 games. That performance earned him the coveted Frank Garcia Award. Just as he was reaching his prime, bursitis put an end to his career. He attempted a couple of unsuccessful comebacks in the late 1970's and now maintains his link with baseball as a manager in American Legion play.
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 | JOHN JOYCE
The career of this Hall of Famer blossomed while attending Hower Vocational High School, where he excelled in baseball and basketball. He then followed his brother, Pete, to stardom in local amateur baseball. Joyce, a power hitting catcher who could also handle the duties at first base and in the outfield, was consistently among the leaders in homeruns and RBI's on any level he played. For four seasons he gave pro ball his all, toiling in the St. Louis Cardinal's organization. In 1941, he led the Northeast Arkansas League in homeruns, RBI's and slugging percentages. Following a stint in the armed services, Joyce returned home to help lead the Smith Sheriffs to the 1946 A League Championship. He was also an All-Star and helped lead Goodyear and the Borden Autos to League titles later in his career.
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 | DON LOMBARDI
A small guy in size only, Lombardi came up with the big plays and big hits for better than 15 years on the Akron sandlots. Emulating his brother, Dick, a charter member in the Hall of Fame, the talented, durable and spirited Lombardi began his AA career with Chester's Diner. Seasons with Krispy Kreme and Zoff Heating followed, before joining the Black Label squad that dominated the League throughout the 1960's. As a catcher, he handled pitchers with remarkable efficiency. Lombardi was named to the All-Star Team 12 consecutive years. That career was highlighted in 1960 when he batted .428 and earned the Frank Garcia Award. During his AA years he never hit under .300 and he never missed a regular season game on any level in his entire baseball career.
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 | GLENN "BO" MESSNER
Back in the early 1920's when "Bo" Messner and "Bam" Sadler of Epps Army-Navy hooked up in a pitching duel, it was always a classic. His professional playing experience began in Fulton, Kentucky in the Kitty League. The smooth-fielding clutch hitting shortstop moved to Terre Haute in the Three I League in 1926, then to the Mississippi Valley and Western Leagues. Disenchanted with his plight, he returned to Akron to play with General Tire and the Massillon Agathons, before joining Casey Stengel's Toledo Mud Hen team in the American Association. From there he went to Providence of the Eastern League and then spent three years at Allentown. Again returning to Akron, Messner finished up his baseball career with the Rasnick Majestics and Atlantic Foundry teams.
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 | GEORGE POPP
Colorful sports figures like George Popp are welcomed anywhere they travel. And in George's case, his career has seen a lot of traveling-- as one of the best baseball umpires to ever come out of the Akron area. In the early years, Popp sparkled in baseball, track and football at Akron's Garfield High and got his first taste of A League Ball for Michael A.C. However, umpiring is Popp's claim to fame. He says he got into the profession by accident. Evidently he and lifelong friend, Hermie Ziruolo, took a wrong turn when they ended up at McGowan's Umpiring School in Florida. George was appointed to the Tobacco State League, but eventually rose through the ranks to be the best in the Southern League--one step below the majors. In 1956 he became the first pro umpire to strike for better wages and returned to Akron to take up officiating on the local level. His career has been highlighted with a thousand zany stories, no doubt precipitated by his flair for showmanship, his quick wit and marvelous sense of humor.
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 | DOMINIC "DOM" SACCONE
In 37 years on the Akron sandlots, beginning with State Championship American Legion teams, Saccone left the memory of a hard-hitting, hustling, hard-nosed player in the minds of long-time Akron area baseball players and fans. Dom's baseball experience started early as he traveled with the older teams. From Legion ball, Saccone was a catcher on three City Series title teams at Akron's Garfield High, and he began his illustrious A League career with the Killian Celtics at the unbelievable age of 14. Upon leaving Garfield, Dom spent two seasons with the Cleveland Indians minor league system and then joined the U.S. Army for four years. He returned home to become part of several championship teams while catching for Borden Autos, Smith Sheriffs, Souvenir Beer, Canton Old Dutch, North Canton Hoover and Black Label teams. For four decades, the 30's through the early 60's, Saccone's play landed his name on many league All-Star teams.
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 | TONY SAMS
If you wanted to mass produce gifted infielders who could make the play from anywhere on the diamond, come up with the clutch hit when needed or give 120 percent, you would use Tony Sams as a model. Sams' play could be categorized as, "He might have been the best." Tony is best remembered for his All-Star style of play while helping the Borden Auto teams of the late 1940's and 50's to League titles. Sams first came to Akron in 1939 when the New York Yankees assigned him to their Class C Akron Yankees team in the Mid-Atlantic League. He was a fan favorite for two seasons in Akron, and moved up to Binghamton, N.Y. in 1941. After an injury, he was moved to Norfolk, VA. His professional experience had included exhibition games with big leaguers. He considered Lefty Gomez the greatest he had faced, but he noted that he had played on the same field with Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey, Charlie "King Kong" Keller, Frankie Crosetti and others from the New York Yankees glory years.
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 | GEORGE SISLER
After starring for 4 years at old Central High, Barberton B&W in the A League, and 4 years at the University of Michigan, George Sisler skyrocketed to baseball immortality by batting .407 in 1920 and .420 in 1922 as a first baseman for the St. Louis Browns. He was one of only three players to ever hit over .400 twice during their career. His lifetime major league average was a fantastic .340. As a result, Sisler was elected to the "Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown" in 1939. In 1957, he was inducted as a charter member in the "Summit County Sports Hall of Fame." In 15 years in the major leagues, he only hit under .300 twice. He played for the St. Louis Browns from 1915-1927; the Washington Senators, 1928; and the Boston Red Sox, 1928-30. Sisler finished his career hitting .326 in the National League and .344 in the American League. In 1922 he became the first player ever named "Most Valuable Player" in the American League. He got 59 of the 64 votes. He was born March 24, 1893 and died March 26, 1973.
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 | FRANK STEFKO
Born on Christmas Day, 1902, this Hall of Famer began playing baseball in Scranton, PA. He put nearly 20 years of pro ball in the Yankee chain, and then came to Goodyear. After 10 years with Goodyear, Frank played with the Yellow Cabs, Akron Guards and Philco teams. In 1945, at the age of 42, Frank was an important cog in the Akron Orphans drive to the NABF National Championship. Newspaper clippings tell us that Stefko could really drive the ball far, had a whip arm to throw out runners from his outfield post, and had excellent control on the mound.
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 | JACK TRAMONTE
Through his interests in amateur sports, and personal influence, Jack Tramonte, along with his brother, Don, and the Tramonte Distributing Company, sponsored the powerful and tremendously successful Black Label teams of the 1960's that have been a model of excellence for the Class AA League. Along with winning eight championships in nine years, the Labels became one of the strongest and most feared teams on the State and National levels. Jack Tramonte not only provided his own teams with everything they needed to display their winning style of baseball, but could always be counted on to help other teams keep the AA League alive.
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