Inaugural Class of 1997 

Don Allen	Joe Altobelli	Johnny Antonelli	Carmen Basilio	George Beahon
Bob Bradley	Dick Buerkle	Roger Bunce	Al Butler	Dave Chamberlain
Joe Crozier	Joe Cullinane	Bob Davies	Luke Easter	Bill Farrell
Jerry Flynn	Rich Funke	Jody Gage	Harold "Shifty" Gears	Jean Giambrone
Walter Hagen	Les Harrison	Don Holleder	Millie Ignizio	Trent Jackson
Lord Johnson Jr.	Phil Kahler	JoAnn Keyser- Armstrong	Bob Matthews	Carlos Metidieri
Ed Nietopski	Oak Hill Country Club	Bill O'Rourke Sr.	Pete Pavia	Don Quinn
Morrie Silver	George Sisler Jr.	Jay Stalker	Bob Thomas	Nick Urzetta
Sam Urzetta	Frankie Verna	Bobby Wanzer
Don Allen Amateur Coaches, Inducted 1997  One on Rochester's all-time great golfers; won the New York State Amateur a record six times; won Rochester District Golf Association title six times; has qualified to play in every USGA event males are eligible for.
Joe Altobelli  Professional Athlete , Inducted 1997   (bottom) Altobelli at the Frontier Field Altobelli statue unveiling, September 2010. Rochester's "Mr. Baseball"; popular Red Wings slugger in the mid-1960s; managed the 1971 Wings to the International League regular-season and playoff titles, then beat Denver in the Little World Series; Manager of the Year with the San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles; led the Orioles to the 1983 world championship. Joe Altobelli baseball statistics Bio, Rochester Red Wings Hall of Fame
Johnny Antonelli Professional Athlete , Inducted 1997 (top) Celebrating Antonelli's 20th victory in 1954, with Sal Maglie (left) and Larry Jansen (right). Rochester's most successful major leaguer of the modern era; stylish left-handed pitcher; a hero of the 1954 World Series for the New York Giants with a victory and a save in the final game; star at Jefferson High. Johnny Antonelli baseball statistics
Carmen Basilio Professional Athlete , Inducted 1997 (top) Tagging Sugar Ray Robinson, (below) Knocking out Tony Demarco Former welterweight and middleweight boxing champion; one of the most popular fighters of the 1950s; twice packed Yankee Stadium; 1957 Hickok Belt winner, beating out Lew Burdette and Ted Williams; Canastota native and longtime Rochester resident. Carmen Basilio boxing statistics Photo Gallery
George Beahon Media, Inducted 1997 (bottom) Beahon during his television stint for WOKR-TV. He signed off his sports commentaries with: "And that's as far as I go." The dean of Rochester's sportswriters has chronicled sports in this city for six decades; a two-time winner of the Charlie Wagner Award for sportswriting excellence; a popular beat writer for the NBA Royals and Red Wings and a long-time columnist.
Bob Bradley Amateur Coaches, Inducted 1997  Longtime McQuaid track and field and cross country coach; Mike Connor, Eric Kendrick and Tom Horton were among the top runners he coached; director of the McQuaid Ivitational, for many years one of the most popular and prestigious high school cross county meets in the East.
Dick Buerkle Amateur Sports, Inducted 1997   (middle, left) Steve Prefontaine chases Buerkle. (middle, right) At RIT, August 1973: Buerkle is on the way to winning the mile in 4:00.6. On the left is Dave Wottle, to the right is Barry Brown. Dick Buerkle - Set world indoor mile record of 3:54.9 in January 1978, then beat Filbert Bayi in the Wanamaker Mile in the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden; made cover of Sports Illustrated for those feats; member of 1976 and 1980 U.S. Olympic teams. Dick Buerkle Olympics statistics Greater Rochester Track Club Hall of Fame induction Sports Illustrated, Dick Buerkle, Miler
Roger Bunce Amateur Coaches, Inducted 1997 Bunce, while coaching at Rochester's West High School in 1969. Longtime high school coach, athletic director and administrator at West, Jefferson, Irondequoit and McQuaid; Section V and state high school football chairman and a pioneer advocate of the state playoff system; began athletic programs for students in wheelchairs at Jefferson in the 1960s and coached Rochester Wheels in national competition.
Al Butler Amateur Sports, Inducted 1997 Butler, while playing at Niagara  Voted Rochester's all-time greatest high school basketball player; the East High product went on to star at Niagara University and enjoyed a successful NBA career with the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics. Al Butler basketball statistics
Dave Chamberlain Amateur Coaches, Inducted 1997  Record-setting baseball coach at Monroe Community College; started the program in 1964 and led the Tribunes to four trips to the Junior College World Series; his MCC teams won 735 of 967 games; member of Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame; pitching coach for 1985 Junior Olympic team.
Joe Crozier Professional Sports Inducted 1997 (top left) Amerks Coach Crozier confers with Don Cherry. (top right) As Amerks coach in 1983-84. (bottom left) Playing in the Quebec Hockey League in 1954-55. (bottom right) with the NHL and Toronto, 1959-60. Coach and general manager during the Amerks' glory years in the mid-1960s; guided Rochester to Calder Cups in 1965, 1966 and 1968; career Amerks coaching record 250-155-30 in the regular season and 39-27 in the playoffs. Joe Crozier hockey statistics Bio, American Hockey League Hall of Fame Youtube, Joe Crozier 2012 AHL Hall of Fame Induction ceremony Bio, Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame Buffalo Sabres, Joe Crozier to be inducted into Sabres Hall of Fame
Joe Cullinane Media, Inducted 1997 A generation of Red Wings fans grew up listening to this dedicated radio announcer call the games from 1962-1974, including the incredible 1971 season, when the Wings won the Junior World Series over Denver.  WROC-FM, Joe Cullinane, Wings defeat Denver to win the 1971 Little World Series
Bob Davies Professional Sports, Inducted 1997   Click on the black and white photo for a larger image The Rochester Royals' marquee player; one of the best ball-handling guards; perfected the behind-the-back dribble; member of the NBA's 10-player Silver Anniversary Team in 1970; Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer. Bio, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Bob Davies basketball statistics
Luke Easter Professional Sports, Inducted 1997   Legendary slugger and one of Rochester's all-time baseball heroes; acquired from Buffalo in 1959 and spent six seasons delighting Red Wings fans with his tape-measure home runs and magnetic personality. Bio, Rochester Red Wings Hall of Fame Bio, SABR Luke Easter baseball statistics
Bill Farrell Contributors/Administors, Inducted 1997 The most successful promoter in Rochester sports history; chairman of Section V basketball during the tournament's biggest years; as president of Rochester Community Baseball, he helped Red Wings get back on solid financial footing; helped save the annual LPGA event at Locust Hill as tournament chairman.
Jerry Flynn Media, Inducted 1997 Rochester's most popular toastmaster; served as master of ceremonies when the Hickok Belt Dinner was the nation's most prestigious sports dinner; proud graduate of Aquinas and Notre Dame; has battled cancer with customary humor and grace.  USS Enterprise, Account Gilda's Club Rochester, Jerry Flynn Children's Classic golf tournament
Rich Funke Media, Inducted 1997 Channel 10's sports director is a six-time winner of the Lowell MacMillan Award for sportscasting excellence; respected as a "big-time" talent in a mid-sized market; began the Eddie Meath All-Star Football Game.  Bio, Section V Basketball Hall of Fame Bio, WHEC-TV
Jody Gage Professional Sports, Inducted 1997 with Amerks President/Owner Steve Donner "Mr. Amerk" the all-time Amerks scorer; team leader in games, goals, assists and points; 1987-88 league MVP; many-time AHL all-star; one of three AHL players to score 500 goals. Bio, Rochester Americans Jody Gage hockey statistics
Harold "Shifty" Gears Amateur Sports, Inducted 1997 Shifty Gears - National Softball Hall of Famer, one of two original unanimous selections; legendary pitcher for Kodak Park's world champions in 1936 and '40; was 866-115, with 373 shutouts, 61 no-hitters and 12,244 strikeouts. Bio, Rochester Senior Slowpitch Softball Association Hall of Fame Bio, National Softball Hall of Fame
Jean Giambrone Media, Inducted 1997 For 42 years with the Democrat & Chronicle and Times-Union; Rochester's "First Lady in Sports" was a pioneer in the coverage of high school and college women's sports; also covered golf and bowling; first woman to cover The Masters.  Bio, University of Rochester Athletic Hall of Fame
Walter Hagen Professional Sports, Inducted 1997 "The Haig" probably was the most prominent pro athlete Rochester has produced; one of the first great international golfers and America's first superstar golfer; won 11 majors; won the U.S. Open in 1914 and 1919; the first American to win the British Open, and he did it four times; served as captain of U.S. Ryder Cup team a record six times.   Bio, World Golf Hall of Fame Bio, statistics, Wikipedia Walter Hagen Family Home Foundation
Les Harrison Professional Sports, Inducted 1997 Harrison in 1980, shortly before his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Rochester's "Mr. Basketball", one of the early high school stars at East; founded the Rochester Royals with his brother, Jack; coached the Royals to the NBA championship in 1951 (Rochester's pro "Team of the Century"); promoted the Kodak Classic, one of the nation's top holiday tournaments; member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.  Bio, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Don Holleder Amateur Coaches, Inducted 1997   Holleder (16) and General Douglas MacArthur (far left) celebrate 14-6 Army victory over Navy, November 26, 1955 Aquinas and West Point football hero; led Cadets to a memorable 14-6 upset over Navy as emergency quarterback his senior season; volunteered to fight in Vietnam and was killed in action Oct. 17, 1967; buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors; member of National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame; in 1973 Aquinas Stadium was rededicated as Holleder Stadium in his honor.  Memorial, Arlington National Cemetary Army Greats
Millie Ignizio Professional Sports, Inducted 1997 One of the all-time great women bowlers; only three-time winner of the prestigious Queens title; became the seventh and youngest member of the Women's International Bowling Congress at age 28; first Rochester woman to bowl a 300 game. Bio, United States Bowling Congress
Trent Jackson Amateur Sports, Inducted 1997   (top) With Franklin, about to challenge Jim Boeheim, left, then playing for Lyons Central High School (bottom right) High school senior photo at Franklin, 1961 Probably Rochester's all-time greatest three-sport high school athlete; football and basketball star and sprinter for Franklin; ran 9.4 in the 100-yard dash on June 3, 1961, to equal the long-standing national high school record set by Jesse Owens; football, track and baseball star at Illinois; made 1964 U.S. Olympic team but pulled up lame after winning first heat; played in NFL with Philadelphia and Washington; longtime Franklin basketball coach.  Trent Jackson Olympics statistics Trent Jackson football statistics Trent Jackson Memorial Trent Jackson Clippings
Lord Johnson Jr. Amateur Coaches, Inducted 1997 Has devoted himself to inner-city youth athletic programs for decades at the Baden Street Settlement; 1948 Franklin High grad; has organized youth boxing programs and is coordinator of the Niagara District Junior Olympic boxing program.
Phil Kahler Amateur Coaches, Inducted 1997   Click on photos for larger versions. Record-setting women's basketball coach at St. John Fisher; the winningest coach in Division III women's basketball history with 561 victories; began the program in 1974, when the school had only 11 women on campus. It was his only losing season (2-10); his 1988 team was 30-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country before losing to Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.) in the championship game.  St.John Fisher College, Phil Kahler Retires
JoAnn Keyser-Armstrong Amateur Coaches, Inducted 1997   (top right) Keyser-Armstrong (left) representing the United States at the 1972 Wheelchair Olympics in Germany. A paraplegic since birth and one of Rochester's all-time best wheelchair athletes; won many medals, including four golds, in a wide variety of sports at the Paralympics in Israel (1968) and Germany (1972); held many national wheelchair records; set international record in the 60-meter dash.  Jo Ann Armstrong: Champion For Adaptive Sports
Bob Matthews Media, Inducted 1997   The first winner of the Charlie Wagner Award for sportswriting excellence and the only three-time winner; the only winner of both the Wagner Award and the Lowell MacMillan Award for sportscasting; the catalyst behind the building of Frontier Field.  Bio, WHAM radio
Carlos Metidieri Professional Sports, Inducted 1997   Click on 1971 Lancers road jersey for larger size. "Mighty Mouse" led Rochester Lancers to 1970 North American Soccer League championship; two-time NASL Most Valuable Player and scoring champ (in 1970 and '71). Bio, Wikipedia Carlos Metidieri soccer statistics, photos, jerseys
Ed Nietopski Amateur Sports, Inducted 1997     The dean of Section V coaches; legendary basketball and baseball coach at Cardinal Mooney and Bishop Kearney; more than 1,000 career victories in the two sports; had brief stint as Red Wings infielder in 1950.   Article, Catholic Education Foundation Ed Nietopski baseball statistics
Oak Hill Country Club Chairman's Choice, Inducted 1997 Oak Hill's Clubhouse (top) and (bottom) Oak Hill East's No. 13 One of the world's greatest and most famous golf courses has put Rochester on golf's international map; site of the 1956, 1968 and 1989 United States Open Championships, the 1949 and the 1998 United States Amateur Championship, the 1984 United States Senior Open Championship, the 1995 Ryder Cup, the 1980 and 2003 PGA Championships, the 2008 Senior PGA Championship and the future site of the 2013 PGA Championship. Web site
Bill O'Rourke Sr. Amateur Sports, Inducted 1997 Soft-spoken longtime Webster High basketball coach for 28 years (340-191); basketball star at St. Lawrence University; 1961 Webster team beat Franklin in one of the most anticipated championship games in Section V history (both teams were 20-0 entering the title game).
Pete Pavia Amateur Sports, Inducted 1997   (top) Villanova University basketball coach Rollie Massimino and Pavia at the Pete Pavia Annual Sports Celebrity Dinner at Camp Good Days and Special Times. In the center is CGD founder, Gary Mervis. Outstanding athlete at Aquinas; one of the nation's best college basketball referees, working several NCAA Final Fours; won the prestigious Golden Whistle in 1990 as "the national sports official who best exemplifies his profession;" died of cancer in 1992.
Don Quinn Amateur Sports, Inducted 1997 Longtime East Rochester football and wrestling coach and athletic director; always put teaching young athletes good morals above victories, but few high school coaches anywhere were as successful in two sports as he was. Bombers often were outmanned and undersized but usually came out on top; chosen national Wrestling Coach of the Year by his peers in 1985.
Morrie Silver Contributors/Administrators, Inducted 1997 January 1957, Silver signs the purchase agreement allowing the fans corporation to buy the Rochester ballclub for $525,000. At left is St.Louis Cardinals General Manager Bing Devine, who served from 1949-54 as the Red Wings GM. When St. Louis pulled out of Rochester in 1956, this local businessman organized a successful stock sale to purchase the Red Wings from the Cardinals; served several stints as unpaid Red Wings president; Red Wing Stadium was renamed Silver Stadium in his honor in 1968.
George Sisler Jr. Professional Sports, Inducted 1997 When St. Louis pulled out of Rochester in 1956, the son of Hall of Famer George Sisler decided to stay on as general manager; many-time executive of the year in the International League for Rochester and Columbus; brought Luke Easter and Joe Altobelli to Rochester; when he became president of the IL, he moved the league office to Rochester.   Bio, International League Hall of Fame Obituary, Associated Press
Jay Stalker Contributors/Administration, Inducted 1997 Director of the Red Wings Knot Hole Gang for the last 23 years of his life and an official in the program for almost a half century; loved baseball and youngsters; extremely active in children's charities until his death in 1992 at age 85.
Bob Thomas Professional Sports, Inducted 1997 Former McQuaid and Notre Dame place-kicking star; his field goal helped beat Alabama in Sugar Bowl; No. 3 all-time scorer for NFL Chicago Bears (1975-84) with 629 points, behind only Kevin Butler and Walter Payton; now a circuit court judge in Chicago area.   Bob Thomas football statistics Bio, McQuaid Jesuit High School Athletic Hall of Fame NY Times, For ’77 Bears, Giants Stadium Was a Special Place
Nick Urzetta Amateur Sports, Inducted 1997 Has spent a lifetime supporting amateur sports in his native East Rochester and throughout the community; ER's first pro athlete as a pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals organization; a tireless worker for Section V and longtime official in every major sport.   Nick Urzetta baseball statistics
Sam Urzetta Amateur Sports, Inducted 1997   (above) Photos from Urzetta's days at St. Bonaventure College (below) Urzetta (left) after defeating Frank Stranahan (right) in 39 holes to win the 1950 U.S. Amateur tournament. Nick's brother is one of the main reasons East Rochester is known as the "Home of Champions"; upset heavily favored Frank Stranahan on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the 1950 U.S. Amateur Golf Championship; St. Bonaventure basketball and golf Hall of Famer, set NCAA record in 1948-49 by making 93.3 percent of his free throws; spent 37 years as pro at the Country Club of Rochester.   Profile, Western New York Section Hall of Fame Youtube, Sam Urzetta wins 1950 US Amateur Golf Championship
Frank Verna Amateur Sports, Inducted 1997 Verna in 1988, with boxer Aaron Pryor at Rochester's Bayden Street Settlement gym. Arguably the most popular boxing figure in Rochester sports history; "The Fighting Wildcat" had only nine losses in 416 amateur and pro fights from 1923 to 1939 and was a trainer for 75 years.
Bobby Wanzer Amateur Coaches, Inducted 1997 (bottom) Coaching at St.John Fisher College. Six-time NBA all-star guard for the Rochester Royals; Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer; teamed with Bobby Davies to form one of the top five backcourt combinations in NBA history; outstanding college basketball coach for 24 years at St. John Fisher, retiring with a 311-239 record. Bio, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Bobby Wanzer basketball statistics Walk of Fame website contact, photo credits