National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame

July 4, 1984. Pitching for the New York Yankees, Phil Niekro strikes out Larry Parish of the Texas Rangers to become just the 9th pitcher in MLB history to record 3,000 strikeouts. Niekro was inducted into the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, and the MLB Hall of Fame in 1997. See http://www.polishsportshof.com/portfolio_page/phil-niekro/

July 3 -- Happy birthday Frank Tanana, born on this date in 1953 in Detroit, Ml. Tanana pitched 21 years in the major leagues with six teams. His career totals include a 240-236 won-lost record, a 3.66 ERA, and 2,773 strikeouts. Frank was the California Angels first-round draft pick in 1971. https://bit.ly/2IgjgW4

Happy birthday Bobby Hurley, born on this date in 1971 in Jersey City, NJ. As point guard for the Duke University Blue Devils, Hurley led the team to back-to-back NCAA championships in 1991 and 1992. He was drafted 7th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 1993. A near fatal automobile accident shortened his career, and he retired in 1998. Read more at: http://www.polishsportshof.com/portfolio_page/bobby-hurley/

Happy Birthday Len Ceglarski, born on this date in 1926 in Walpole, MA. Ceglarski coached college hockey for 34 years, including 14 years at Clarkson University and 20 years at Boston College, retiring in 1992. He also played on the U.S. Olympic team in 1952, winning a silver medal. He passed away in 2017.

June 27, 1976, APBA (American Power Boat Association) drive Tom D’Eath won the first of his three Gold Cup trophies. Tom was noted as a racecar driver as well as a hydroplane driver. Read more about Tom at https://bit.ly/2HUCKlq

George Szypula is born on this day in Philadelphia, PA. A graduate of Temple University, Szypula was the 1942 NCAA Men’s Tumbling Champion and a 4-time AAU Tumbling Champion As the first coach in Michigan State men's gymnastics history, Szypula led the Spartans into the national spotlight during his 41-year reign (1947-88), with 252 career meet victories, an NCAA Championship in 1958 and a Big Ten title in 1968, in addition to 18 individual NCAA and 48 individual conference champions. Read more about Szypula at: https://bit.ly/2I66hIg

Born on this day in Pittsburgh PA, Teddy Yarosz would go on to become one of boxing’s great middleweights. In a career spanning more than 13 years, Yarosz established an impressive record of 116 wins against only 18 losses. His career reached its apex in 1934, when he won the National Boxing Association World Middleweight Title, outpointing titleholder Vince Dundee. Read more about Teddy, and view the entire Yarosz-Dundee title fight at: https://bit.ly/2FSQCum

June 22, 1959 – Bowler Eddie Lubanski rolls two consecutive “300” games in an event from Miami shown on live television. That same year, Lubanski wins four American Bowling Congress tournaments and is named ABC “Bowler of the Year.” Read more about Eddie Lubanski at: https://bit.ly/2FOacq6

Alicja Karlic did a wonderful job of highlighting our 51st induction banquet last evening. Thank you Alicja!

June 21, 1969 – Pitcher Johnny Podres wraps up his brilliant 17-year MLB career, as he pitches his final game with the San Diego Padres. Podres would compile a 148-116 career record while pitching primarily with Dodgers, in both Brooklyn and Los Angeles, and earning four World Series Rings, in 1955, ’59, ’63, and ’65. Read about the 4-time All-Star at: https://bit.ly/2I97MVR

The induction banquet festivities have begun! Congratulations to all the inductees!

Today marks the anniversary of Mark Fidrych Night at Comerica Park in Detroit – a celebration that took place on June 19, 2009, the evening after Mark was inducted into the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame. Sadly, Mark was unable to attend, as he tragically lost his life just months earlier. However, Mark’s wife Ann and daughter Jessica attended, and were embraced warmly by the large crowd on hand, as well as by Tigers manager Jim Leyland. In a tribute to “The Bird,” Ann and Jessica stooped to manicure the pitcher’s mound, just as Mark so often did during his playing days. Representatives of the NPASHF were on hand to join in the celebration. Learn more about Mark at: https://bit.ly/2OJPpZ1

June 14, 1973 – The first National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame testimonial banquet is held at the Polish Century Club of Detroit. More than 400 guests gather to honor the first inductee of the NPASHF, legendary baseball great Stan “The Man” Musial. To learn more about the history of the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame, click here:
http://www.polishsportshof.com/about/

The NPASHF representing at Polish Heritage night – Jimmy Johns Park, Utica, MI

Happy birthday Ryan Klesko, born on this date in 1971 in Westminster, CA. Outfielder/1st baseman Klecko played 16 years with three teams: Atlanta, San Diego, and San Francisco. He helped Atlanta win the 1995 World Series in which he homered in each of games #3, #4, and #5. His career batting average was .279 along with 278 home runs.

June 10, 1948 – Tony Zale defeats Rocky Graziano in the third and final fight of their epic trilogy of championship bouts. Zale lands a right to Graziano’s body, followed by a left hook to Rocky’s jaw, knocking him unconscious. With the victory, Zale regains the Middleweight Crown, and prevails in the classic three-fight series, two wins to one. Read more about Zale at https://bit.ly/2I8zPoo

June 9, 1974, Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder Richie Zisk hits for the cycle (single, double, triple, and home run) in a 14-1 romp over the San Francisco Giants. Read more about Ritchie at https://bit.ly/2TSvUyu

June 9, 1981 – Kelly Tripucka becomes the second, first-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in the 1981 NBA Draft. The 12th overall selection that year, Tripucka, son of another NPASHF Inductee Frank Tripucka, would go on to an illustrious 10-year NBA career. The Piston’s other first round selection that year? A pretty decent guard named Isiah Thomas, selected second overall. Read about Kelly Tripucka at: https://bit.ly/2Uvlau0

June 7, 1978, Basketball forward Mitch Kupchak contributed 13 points and 5 rebounds as the Washington Bullets defeated the Seattle Supersonics 105-99 in game seven of the NBA’s Championship Finals. To date this has been Washington’s only NBA title. Read more about Mitch at https://bit.ly/2FJPQOV

June 5, 1978 – National Polish American Sports HOF inductee Evan “Big Cat” Williams hits the pages of Sports Illustrated Magazine in an article entitled “The Whack of the Cat”. You can read that entertaining article at:http://www.si.com/vault/1978/06/05/822697/the-whack-of-the-cat-evan- big-cat-williams-can-bash-a-ball-a-quarter-of-a-country-mile--and-never- mind-where-it-comes-down-because-the-game-that-he-plays-best-is- suited-to-a-tee. Then find out more about “Big Cat” at https://bit.ly/2TSwGeK

June 3, 1895. Born this day in Toledo, Ohio, Johnny Crimmins became one of bowling’s all-time greats. Known for his fiery temperament, “The General” toured for more than forty years, and won the first ever BPAA All-Star Tournament in 1942, predecessor to the U.S. Open. Crimmins was voted “Bowler of the Year” that same year, and was elected to the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in 1962. Read more about Crimmins at: http://www.polishsportshof.com/portfolio_page/johnny-crimmins/

May 30 Norbert Schemansky is born on this day in Detroit, MI, and goes on to become one of the greatest weightlifters ever. Despite missing the 1956 Olympics with a back injury, Schemansky becomes the first weightlifter to earn medals in four separate Olympics; Silver in ’48; Gold in ’52; and Bronze in ’60 and ’64. Read more about “Mr. Weightlifting” at https://bit.ly/2FJJX4q

May 29 Tony Zale (born Anthony Florian Zaleski) is born on this day in Gary, Indiana. Largely considered one of the greatest middleweights of all-time, the “Man of Steel” is best known for his trilogy of fights with Rocky Graziano, with Zale emerging victorious in 2 of the 3 bouts. Read more about Zale at: https://bit.ly/2I8zPoo
The tragic theft of Zale’s Championship belts is described by his family at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/heist-championship-boxing-belts hall-of-fame-professionals_us_56cf460be4b03260bf75d834

May 28 Bob Kuzava -- Born on this day in Wyandotte, MI, Kuzava signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1946, and went on to a strong 11-year major league career that included three consecutive World Series Championships with the Yankees, in 1951,’52, and’53. Read more about “Sarge” at: https://bit.ly/2K1OAfl

May 24 Birthday wishes go out today to NPASHF Inductee Mitch Kupchak. Born in Hicksville, NY, Kupchak was the 13th overall pick in the 1976 NBA Draft and went on to a ten-year NBA career with the Washington Bullets and L.A. Lakers. Following his retirement as a player, he moved into the front office, becoming General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets- a position he holds today. Read more about Kupchak at: https://bit.ly/2FJPQOV

May 23 Jockey Tony Skoronski was born on this date. Tony won 2,244 races in his career, and while he competed mainly in the Chicago area his biggest triumph was aboard ‘Challenge Me” in the 1944 Arkansas Derby.

May 22 Baseball Hall of Famer Al Simmons (Szymanski) is born this day in Milwaukee, WI. Simmons played 20 years in the Major Leagues, establishing a life-time batting average of .334. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1953, and the NPASHF in 1975. Read more about “the slugger who made Milwaukee famous” at:
https://bit.ly/2YKI7ZF

May 21 Pete Banaszak is born on this day in Crivitz, WI. Known by his teammates as “Rooster,” Banaszak’s 13-year NFL career (all with the Oakland Raiders) was highlighted by Super Bowl appearances in 1968 (Super Bowl II) and 1977 (Super Bowl XI), where his two touchdowns would lead the Raiders to a 32-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Pete was among the 19 returning NPASHF Hall of Famers who joined us last year for our 50th Anniversary celebration. Learn more about Pete Banaszak at: https://bit.ly/2WJIoue

May 18, 1946 – Detroit fan favorite Barney McCosky is traded by the Tigers to the Philadelphia Athletics for 23-year-old third baseman George Kell. Both players would go on to outstanding MLB careers, with Kell eventually enjoying induction into the MLB Hall of Fame. Learn more about Barney McCosky at https://bit.ly/2udu40E

May 17, 1997 – Ground-breaking takes place on the new Tom Gola Arena in Philadelphia, PA. The arena is named in honor of LaSalle University basketball star Tom Gola, whose hardwood achievements would later earn him induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and of course, the NPASHF. Read more about the man selected by ESPN as one of the top college basketball players of all time.
https://bit.ly/2YKT51i