 | ROY BATES
The legendary coach at West Salem Northwestern High School in Wayne County whose teams racked up an amazing 297-14 winning record from 1951 thru 1960, including a 1959 Class A State Championship.
As a righthanded pitcher himself in his youth, Roy hurled seven no-hitters with United Presyterian Wooster Legion and at West Chester High. He went on to Wooster College before suffering a serious arm injury that curtailed his pitching to occasional stints in summer leagues. In the last game he pitched, Roy, at age 40, hurled a 4-0 shutout, allowing only four hits while striking out 15 in a Labor Day Tournament in 1946.
Roy was in charge of high school sectional district State tournament games for 35 years in Wayne County and has been honored as an inductee in the Ohio Coaches Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.
Roy's Northwestern High Basketball teams also posted a fantastic 201-22 record and a 1965 state title.
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 | PAUL BROWNLEE, JR
One of the best hitting shortstops ever from Summit County and Tallmadge, Ohio, Paul began his career in the Tallmadge Little League and played for Nick Anthe's State Championship team in 1966. Later at Tallmadge High, Paul garnered All-Metro, All-District, and All-State honors before continuing his success at Fairmont State College (W.Va) in 1976-77 where he became the school's all-time 2nd leading career hitter. He was a WVIAC, 2nd team NAIA All-American and won the Rawlings "Big Stick" 7-State Regional Hitting Award (.444) at Fairmont. Paul was also All-League in basketball at Tallmadge and Fairmont.
After a two-year stint in the Cubs Organization, Paul returned home to begin a youth coaching career that saw his teams win many titles, including three State championships with the Manchester A's in the '90's.
Paul currently runs his own baseball school, teaching all techniques to young players.
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 | DON CROSKEY
A hard hitting outfielder from the Firestone Park area, Don played on a pair of Class E South Akron Cubs title teams and GABF "D" teams while at Garfield High, 1963-66. He led the Rams to the '65 City Title while making the All-City and All-District teams.
Don was a 5-time All Star in AA League action while playing for Nino's Lounge '66-67; Dairy Queen '68-69; Eaton Corp. '70-74. Played on two Eaton title teams and received the Frank Garcia Award in 1972.
At Akron U, Don was awarded Freshman of the Year Award '72.
Don was an outstanding rightfielder with a very strong arm and defensive abilities. He was a power hitter who was always among league leaders in homeruns and RBI's.
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 | DICK DUNCAN
Began his career playing for champion Amerst, Ohio youth teams as a righthanded pitcher and catcher. Was a team captain, All-League and All-County All-Star at Amherst High '75-78.
Dick became a third baseman and complete power hitter when he moved into A and AA and college ball (Akron U). Played and led numerous summer teams tot titles including Amherst A's and Canton Budweiser and helped lead Copley of Akron AA to C.A.B.A World Series runnerup in 1992. Was on seven All-Star teams.
At Akron U, Dick set career homerun and RBI records while playing four years for the Zips. Was All Ohio Valley Conference in 1982.
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 | JIM GAMBOL
An outstanding defensive catcher and handler of pitchers, Jim began his career in the Firestone Park area in 1956 in Little League action, South Akron Colts and Firestone Park "D" teams ('63 champs).
A three-year starter at Garfield High, Jim helped the Rams to city titles in 1963 and '64.
In AA play he was an excellent receiver for Airmatic Valve; Barberton Weather-Seal (1969 NABF World Series finalist in Buffalo); Dairy Queen 1970 (drafted by Nino's Lounge for NABF World Series, Louisville, KY); '71 Flexi-Grip; '72-73 Eaton Sports Pride AA champs, where he made the All-Star team.
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 | DAN KORMUSHOFF
An outstanding hitter and fine fielding shortstop from the west side who was an W.A.B.L. All-Star early in his career that continued at Firestone High where he made All-City in 1976.
From the preps, Dan moved on to Akron U (1977-81) where he led the Zips on offense while serving as team captain, '80-81, and Zip "MVP" '80-81.
Always a consistent .300 plus hitter and RBI, and homerun leader, he moved into AA ball while with the Zips.
Dan played and was a leader for Hudson Mohawk Chiefs, Humiston Appliance, Champion Akron Insulating, Oakwood Bar, Genesee Beer, and Champion Wadsworth Cinema teams while making four All-Star teams.
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 | GEORGE LAMB
His 30-year career began in 1956 in the Uniontown Little League, and then with Greentown American Legion Post 436 and Schnelling Class D teams.
He continued as an outstanding infielder at Springfield High 1963-65 and was the Spartans MVP in '65.
George advanced to A ball in the Portage County League before handling primarily the shortstop spot for AA teams: Nino's Lounge, Magic City Lanes, Acme Ash, Akron Insulating, Forest City, Oakwood Bar, Genessee Beer, Atlanta Georgia AAA City and District Champs ('73-74).
An outstanding hitter and fielder, George played on five Akron AA championship teams and was named to two All-Star teams.
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 | JOSEPH M. "MARTY" LAPIN
A versatile player from the youth leagues on up, Marty was an outstanding third baseman, excellent catcher, had many good outings as a starting pitcher, and even more success as a relief pitcher, especially in the AA League. He played for numerous North Hill youth title teams including Hot Stove G Yankees, 1955 State and Tri-State champs, St. Martha '58 champs, E champs '60.
He won four letters at Hoban High '59-62, making All-City '60-61.
In AA ball, Marty helped league runnerup Krispy Kreme get to the NABF World Series, Louisville, KY '63; was an All-Star for '64 Winding Bar; played Nino's '65; was All-Star for '66 Blatz Beer and finished career with Airmatic Valve. A "workhorse" and team leader of all his teams.
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 | BOB POPE
Began his outstanding career as a left-handed pitcher, first baseman, and outfielder in the Springfield Youth leagues and grew into one of the best players in Summit County while at Springfield High School.
Bob sparkled on the mound for the Spartans as a crafty lefty and blasted out .400 plus batting averages while leading Springfield to Metro League Championships in 1954 and 1955.
Bob became one of the top pitchers in AA League play for Zoff's Heating, Krispy Kreme teams, and as a draftee for tournaments by the Black Labels. His best seasons came from 1957-59 when he posted a 39-6 pitching record, 2.90 ERA and .310 batting average. In between AA action, Bob had great success pitching and batting the Paris Island Marines to service league championships.
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 | DAN RIZZO
Son of the legendary softball Hall of Famer "Buster" Rizzo, Dan made a name for himself in baseball circles starting in Ellet Youth League as a speedy hard-hitting centerfielder and greedy base stealer.
At Ellet High he was All-City in 1979 and moved into AA action with champion Akron Insulating after a stint with Hudson Mohawk Chiefs. Dan won the Frank Garcia Award in 1986 with champion C&P Sales and was MVP of the Akron-Canton All-Star game. He played on four more C&P Title teams in the next eight years and made four other All-Star teams as a hustling centerfielder, great leadoff hitter, and base stealer.
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