 | TOM BARRETT
Began his career as an outstanding right-handed pitcher and strong hitting catcher with East Akron youth teams including Champion Annunciation CYO and Post 209 title teams. He also developed skills at first base and the outfield while at St. Vincent High School. Tom went from All-Star pitcher to All-Star Catcher after a stint in the Giants Minor League system ('57 right out of high school) and then he played for Borden Autos, 3 Steps Cafe, and Krispy Kreme Teams. He turned to a successful coaching career in 1969 and board member in Cuyahoga Falls Little League play and moved up to class D and AA action with strong D.B. Johnsen's A's teams and champion Crocker's Restaurant teams.
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 | ROOSEVELT CHERRY
Developed outstanding skills as an invielder, primarily at shortstop and third base in East Akron Youth Leagues and then at East High School where his hitting and base stealing abilities were magnified in All-City performances. Rossevelt was a three-time All-Star and batting champ in Class AA action while playing for Carmen Studio, Clark Excavating, and Krispy Kreme teams.
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 | CHET FOLTZ
Managed and helped sponsor the famous National A.C. teams from 1924 through 1960. One of the most beloved managers in Akron baseball hitory as a strict disciplinarian with an aura of class that his players carried with them through their own lives. Many of those years, Chet sponsored teams on four age levels, "D-C-B-A" and won numerous championships.
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 | DR. RUSS HARRIS
A strong, talented righthanded pitcher who led Springfield High to three straight Metro League titles (1938-40). His lone defeat in those years came against Canton McKinley in the '40 state championship game. Russ moved into the AA League while at Kent State University and played for New Havens, West Chevrolet (14-3 record, '41), East Akron Merchants '42, striking out 19 Borden Auto batters in his last game before joining the Army. Played with 20th Corps Artillery '45; came home to pitch for and manage Canton Road Furniture. Taught history at the University of Akron, was a thoroughbred racing columnist, earned a PhD in history at Lehigh at age 75 and becomes a member of GABHOF at age 79.
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 | LARRY LOCASCIO
Learned to play all positions on the sandlots of North Akron and developed into an outstanding catcher, pitcher, and infielder while making All-City at North High. He became an All-Star receiver with Acme Ash and Akron Insulating in AA play and an All-American and pro prospect at St. Xavier Chicago where he was NAIA-CCAC All-Conference three times while hitting .351, .310, and .338. Larry played three years with Batavia and Waterloo in the Indians Minor League system. He closed his career playing World Class Fastpitch in Pueblo, Colorado and Louisville, Kentucky, and back in Akron in the Roy Hobbs Baseball League. The number three hole was made for a hitter like Larry, as he became known for his versatility by playing wherever his team needed help, clutch hitting, consistent high average and a difficult batter to strike out.
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 | RALPH LATTIMORE
After youth baseball in Marion, Ohio, he started his pro career as a shortstop with Dallas Texas in 1907 and became manager as well in '09. Then came stops at East Liverpool (Ohio Penn), Columbus (Amer. Assoc. second base), Akron (Central League), Cleveland (Federal League with Cy Young), Nashville, Newport, KY, Grand Rapids, Topeka (Western League hitting .289, .248, .300). Back in Akron in 1916 he bacame a well-known player, organizer and promoter of amateur and semi-pro baseball. He put together a team called Akron Numatics that was later called Akron Gaylords to keep semi-pro action alive in Akron after Judge Mountain Keneshaw ruled that Akron's International League Team would be awarded to Newark, N.J. Because of his baseball ventures, the field now known as Summit Lake was named Lattimore Field before becoming Orphans Field. With the exception of Akron's Greates Hall of Famer, George Sisler, Ralph was the best known and most popular of Akron-area players in the first quarter of the 20th century. He passed away at the young age of 47 in 1931.
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 | JOHN ALEXANDER - "BID" MCPHEE
Was inducted into Major League Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2001. He was a top-notch second baseman for the 1881 Akron Independents, considered the best baseball team in the country at that time. Bid played 18 pro years with Cincinnati Amer. Assoc. and National League and managed the Redlegs in 1901-02. He had a .271 lifetime average including .305 ('96), .304 ('94), .301 ('97). Bid is still in top ten of major league defensive categories: Putouts - 1st - Total; Chances - 2nd - Most; Assists - 3rd - Most; Games - 5th - Double; Plays - 7th.
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 | WALT MITCHELL
One of the hardest throwing righthanders in Akron baseball history. Began his career in the South Akron Youth Leagues and developed into an All-City and All-Ohio hurler while leading his Garfield High School Presidents team and Akron Yanks Legion team to many wins and titles. He pitched for Borden Autos coming out of Garfield and then signed as the highest bonus baby the New York Yankees had inked until that time. Walt spent six years hurling for Yankee and St. Louis Cardinals minor league teams before returning home and helping the Autos, Krispy Kreme, and Tramonte Black Label teams to winning championships.
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 | GARY RIFE
Grew up in the Ellet youth leagues and became an outstanding defensive outfielder, clutch hitter and excellent base stealer. Was on title teams with Hoskins Olds, Rempel Deegees (Pony) Post 209 Legion champs and was All-City twice. He continued his fine play in AA with Border Autos, Bittinger Tires, 3 Steps Cafe, and Krispy Kreme. Gary averaged .280-.325 hitting and made the All-Star team as a Kreme. He also was All-Metro and All-District at Ellet and joins his dad Paul and brother Ed as GABHOF inductees.
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 | BILL ROUND
Another of the founding fathers of the famous Manchester A's baseball program. Bill was instrumental in helping to secure sponsors in the beginning when he, Kevin Dunn, and Jerry Vance started the A's. Some of the early sponsors who Bill recruited for financial or construction aid were: Jody Victor, Bob Seeley and Bob Lockhart of Lockhart Construction who all played a great hand in building Crown Field. Bill also helped a lot in producing the A's sketchbooks, as commissioner of Manchester baseball leagues, announcing games and generally doing whatever the A's needed as he would grind the millstone to aid in getting the job done.
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 | BOB SHAFFER
Outstanding righthanded pitcher and shortstop growing up in the Cuyahoga Falls youth leagues where he fired 10 no-hitters: In little league-5, F league-3, Falls High-2, and helped many youth teams to titles including the Braves, Civitan, and Wildcats traveling team. At Falls high his 21 wins are still a school record; he was All-Diamond conference, All-Ohio and became an outstanding centerfielder as well. Bob was a 4-year starter in center at Stetson University with a .297 average. In class AA, he was an All-Star for Hudson Mohawk Chiefs and champion Forest City and Crocker's teams.
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 | JERRY VANCE
Career as an outstanding right-handed pitcher and third baseman began in North Akron G-F-E teams and then at Hower High where he was an All-City hurler 1962-63. In '79, Jerry joined Kevin Dunn and Bill Round in forming the famous Manchester A's. From 1980-1993, Jerry's "E" teams posted an amazing 617-138 record, winning numerous titles including the 1990 NABF National Championship. He was Ed Robinson's pitching coach at Barberton High where the Magics posted a 72-18 mark in '91-'93, and were state finalists in 1993. He became Tim Ridgley's pitching coach at Massillon High in '94 (state finalist) and in seven years since, the Tigers have a 156-73 record. Jerry is extremely proud of the more that 150 A's players that went on to college with scholarship and who played pro: Ken Robinson Jr., Ty Kovach, Jeremy Schner, Craig Bush, and Jim Farrell.
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 | ART WELCH
Outstanding shortstop growing up in the youth leagues of Delta, Ohio before playing 12 years with five-time AA Champ Toledo Dunbar Drilling, including an appearance in the coaching ranks at Kunkle Ohio High where he was also head basketball coach and principal. He then went to Fayette High for six years and one year at Rockford Parkway before becoming and assistant varsity and head freshman coach at Kent State University in 1961. The same year he joined the Tramonte Black Label dynasty and was a seven-time All-Star, closing out his playing career in 1968 when he hit .414 with 17 homeruns. Art became Kent's head coach in 1972 and held the reins until 1981.
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 | BILL WHITE
A hard hitting, lefthanded swinging batter and an excellent infielder an catcher who grew up in Trumbull County youth leagues. He played two years at Green Center High. At age 13, Bill played ball with Benton Holmes County three-time league champion and Ravenna Elks before joining the service. '47-'49 was three-time All-Star with three time champion Sugarcreek; '50 Blackhorse Tavern; '1 title with Simons bar '51-'56. A line drive spray hitter who rarely struck out, he hit over .400 six times. In '49 with Sugarcreek, he went 53 games without a strikeout. Played short, third and caught second game of DH's. Helped coach hot stove Alliance All-Stars '90-'94. Being inducted into his sixth Hall of Fame: Summit County, Portage County, Tusky Valley, Tri-County and Portage County, Tusky Valley, Tri-County and Portage Counties bowling HOF's as Bill was also one of the area's best keglers and bowling proprietor. Joins son Stan (1991) as GABHOF inductee.
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 | HUDSON MOWHAWK CHIEFS
The Hudson Mohawk Rubber Company, now out of business, was a major sponsor of area baseball beginning in the early 1900's in the great Industrial League that flourished for over 20 years and was forerunner to the A-AA leagues. Mowhawk had two title teams and many highly competitive squads in those early years and came back under the guidance of general manager Ernie Zielasko to be a strong competitive force in the 1970's and 1980's.
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