| BILL AYLWARD He first put on the "tools of ignorance" at age nine and one year later was in the Class C League with Fairlawn AC. His teams for the next five years were recognized as one of the best in Class C and D, winning a number of championships during that span. From National A.C., Bill spent 1938 and 1939 as a bullpen catcher with the Montreal Royals and Albany Senators. He missed a shot at a contract with Springfield of the Eastern League in 1940 because of a hand injury and stayed home to join A champion Sohio A.C. The 1941 Sohio A.C. team was pegged a St. Louis Cardinal Gashouse type team that traveled the midwest, won the A title and the A-B title. Bill had his most productive year that season, hitting at a .345 clip and made the All-Star team. After a stint in the Army, Bill returned home for some action with Maple Valley and then began a successful career with the Akron Beacon Journal. |
| KARL BORDEN A top-flight sponsor of the powerful Borden Auto teams of 1946-57 that captured eight City titles, seven State championships, and numerous National, District and Regional titles. Included in that timespan was the outstanding 1948 team that finished runner-up in the American Amateur Baseball Congress and National Amateur Baseball Federation tournaments. Karl helped to sponsor many youth teams as well. He is now retired and living in Florida. |
| BILL CROCKER, SR. A 6'3", 190-pound first baseman out of West High who helped the powerful Borden Auto teams to numerous Local and State tournaments. An 11-year A League veteran, Bill was named to six local All-Star teams and twice received All-Star honors on the national AABC team. Bill had the uncanny ability to drive the low and outside pitch consistently to right field, which helped him produce a career batting average above .300 every year. He enjoyed his best hitting season in 1950 when he led the A League with a .464 batting average, most RBI's, and most homeruns. His 15 hits in the 1950 AABC Tournament stood as a record for 15 years. |
| RICK HANDY Rick began his AA career as a senior out of South High, after an outstanding career in the youth leagues, and established himself as a topnotch shortstop and later second baseman in the field, and a strong clutch hitter at the plate. He played his rookie season for Azar-Denholm before joining the Tramonte Black Labels for nine years, champion Wayne Knolls Farms for two years, and closed out his career with the champion Akron Insulating teams. Rick was named the AA League's Frank Garcia Outstanding Player in 1964, and he managed the Labels to the League title in 1969. Handy had a career batting average of .320 and was named to the All-Star team every year he played. |
| FRANK KOVAC After an outstanding youth career, Kovac established himself as an All-Star shortstop in the old Akron A League from 1925-42. An East High grad, Frank began his A career with the champion St. Martha team and champion Sacred Heart team. He then gave pro ball a try with a stint in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system in Hot Springs, Arkansas under manager Roger Hornsby in 1933-34. Frank returned home to help the Killian Celtics win a couple of championships and the Goodrich Local #5 teams capture championships. A premier fielder, Frank was named to 11 All-Star teams and had a career batting average of .322. |
| PAUL LANG A 6'4", 220-pound center fielder with a strong and accurate arm, Paul was a North High grad who made an instant impact when he moved from youth baseball into the A League. He played two years with Tiny's Orphans and three years in the St. Louis Browns minor league system before being inducted into the service. Afterwards, he spent two years in California semi-pro ball. Paul returned home to play with the Orphans, champions Canton Road Furniture in 1951, and closed out his brilliant career with the champion Borden Autos. Paul passed away in November of 1983. |
| DICK "BULLDOG" NORTON You name the position and "Bulldog" Dick Norton would perform the job you needed done. An East High grad, Dick moved into the AA League in 1953 with Old Dutch Beer and established himself as a power hitting and versatile player. An outstanding catcher, Dick was also called on to fill in at all positions during his 20-year career. Dick was selected to the All-Star team nine times during his playing days with the Akron Politicians, Brimfield, Weather Seal, Winding Bar and Erhart Kramer teams. Always among the League homerun and RBI leaders, Dick had a career batting average of .321. |
| CARL RAKICH A "Pete Rose" type player who had an outstanding career in the youth leagues, including All-City performances at Central High. Carl was a versatile player who could and did handle all positions well, but was more comfortable at second base. A four-year starter at Akron U and the only player to win consecutive MVP awards, Carl moved into AA League action in 1965 with Azar-Denholm. In 1966 he won the coveted Frank Garcia Award and followed that with All-Star performances for Barberton Weather Seal and the champion Red Peppers. Another highlight occurred in 1967 when he was drafted by the Black Labels as they won the State tournament and went to the AABC finals in Battle Creek. Following his playing days, Carl sponsored the championship Custom Trophies team in 1975-76. |
| DEL RAUSCHENBERG He started out with a bang. In his first game ever, as an 11-year old in Rittman Legion ball, Rauschenberg initiated a triple play on his first fielding chance and continued throughout his career to establish a reputation as a solid fielder. Del was an outstanding second baseman and later shortstop for the Killian Celtics, Sterling Maibachs, Slovene Center, Ohio Boxboard, Moore Wrestlers, Canton Road Furniture, Smith Sheriffs, Hoover Sweepers, Akron P.O.C. Beer, Erhart Kramers, and the Borden Autos in a career spanning 1936-1960. He was named to 11 All-Star teams and won two batting titles while averaging .360 for his career. |
| HAROLD "SID" ROLPH Sid was a a 5'4", 135-pound scrapper at second base and shortstop during the heydays of the outstanding Akron Orphans teams that garnered several championships from 1930-45. A package of dynamite at the plate, Sid connected for a career batting average of .350. He was named to six All-Star teams and closed out his playing days with the 1945 NABF National Champion Orphans. After that, Sid coached 10 years in the youth leagues, including a couple with the Akron Yankee Juniors championship teams. |
| MARION "MADEO" ROSSI In 1946 as a junior at Garfield High School, Rossi played for the Moore Wrestlers in the A League. He joined the Smith Sheriffs in 1947, and then spent the 1948-49 seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds minor league organizations. "Madeo" returned to the Sheriffs as a top-notch shortstop, but also played at second and third base. While performing for the Sheriffs and later Howe Construction, Krispy Kreme, and the Tramonte Black Label teams, Rossi was named to the league All-Star team six times. He continues to be active on the local sports scene as athletic director and baseball coach at Garfield High. |
| DICK "SCHOONY" SCHOONOVER A lanky right-hander out of East High where he had three no-hitters for the championship Oriental teams, Dick joined the Moore wrestlers in 1947 as a junior at East and started spinning wins with a 9-1 record. He joined the Borden Autos in 1948 and responded with a 13-3 record before spending three years with the Philadelphia A's minor league system and two more with Cincinnati. After a long bout with tendonitis, "Schoony" joined the Black Labels for six years before closing out his career as player/manager in directing Akron Insulating to a couple of League championships. Despite hurling many fine games, one of his most talked about games was in 1966 when he "scattered" 16 hits while shutting-out a Nino's team. Schoony has also been called upon by youth, high school, and local college teams for his expertise in teaching young pitchers. |
| HAROLD "BUSS" SIMPSON For nearly 50 years, "Buss" has been part of Akron baseball history, playing and/or managing over 20 championship teams. He began his career as a shortstop with Milton Service and became one of the very best at that spot. Buss was also a superb bunter, constantly challenging opponents defenses with his uncanny ability of dropping bunts down anywhere. Besides champion Borden Auto, Canton Road Furniture, Smith Sheriffs, Goodyear, and Airmatic Valve title teams, Buss also played or managed for Union Foods, Cuyahoga Falls Moose, Simpson's Market, Krispy Kreme, Dairy Queen, Bolin Oil, and Triner Sports. In addition, Simpson, who is still managing, has coached numerous youth league teams, and also at Walsh College. |
| RUBEN "RUBE" TERRY He started playing baseball at age 14 in Morehead, KY in 1918. Relocated to Akron in 1920, "Rube" soon established himself as an outstanding second baseman for Evans A.C. and Akron-Wooster Coach Lines. Beginning in 1930, because of his leadership qualities, Rube became a player/manager for Jackrabbit Bus Lines, Akron Pure Milk, Goodrich Local #5 (1941 A Champs), Moore Wrestlers, and Snyder Lumber. Rube retired as player/manager in 1947, but remained active on the diamond as an umpire for five more years. Terry, more than anything, is extremely proud of the lifetime friends he has accumulated during his 32 years on the baseball fields. |
| CARL "DUTCH" WATERS "Dutch" was active in baseball for better than 50 years. He was founder and past president of the Greater Akron Baseball Federation, a member of the Board of Directors of the Ohio Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC), past president of the Akron Class A and AA Baseball Leagues, and served as chairman of the GABF Class E League. As a player, Dutch was a fierce competitor, a hard-hitting outfielder who came to play at 120 percent. As a 15-year-old, Dutch moved into the A League with Hensals and then with O'Neils in the early 30's. After four years in the Mid-Atlantic League, Dutch returned home for action with the champion Killian Celtics, Akron Orphans, and Smith Sheriffs before lending his expertise, guidance, and leadership qualities to maintaining and organizing youth and adult baseball leagues. Dutch passed away in July, 1976. |
| HERMAN "HERMIE" ZIRUOLO A West High baseball, basketball, and golf star who went into the service after high school. Hermie continued his prowess as first baseman/outfielder during three years of service ball. Returning home in 1946, Hermie played two years for Gabbys Nine in the A League and two years fast pitch softball. In 1950 Hermie began a colorful umpiring career that continues today, highlighted by working all levels, from professional action for three years, to major amateur tournaments, to the youth level. Hermie bas been on the scene officiating football, basketball, baseball, and softball for the past 25 years. He has been classified as a "player's umpire" because he so enjoys the game and wants those playing to do so as well, and get the most out of every contest played. |