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Sports Hall of Fame
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 The Manchester Sports Hall of Fame, located in
the Old Manchester Museum at 126 Cedar Street, became
a reality on September 18,1980, when eight men and one woman were officially inducted in
the Silk Town sports shrine. More than 100 individuals were screened that first year and
the current list of nominees is still around the 100 figure.
Today, over 150 honorees have met the criteria for induction. Any person who
has resided in Manchester for at least five years and who has made
significant contributions to sport over that period of time is eligible.
Honorees have come from 18 different sports, plus one in the
"sponsor" category, the late Matt Moriarty. Members represent the
ranks of baseball, basketball, football, track, golf, bowling, archery,
softball, boxing, soccer, horseshoes, tennis, swimming, billiards,
wrestling, horse racing and hockey.
The town’s best includes the first unanimous choice and the first man
singled out in 1980, Joe McCluskey. McCluskey, Bill Masse, and Peter
Close all were Olympians wearing USA colors. McCluskey gained a bronze
medal in the steeplechase event in 1932. He also represented his country
in the 1936 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Masse brought home a gold medal as an outfielder with the USA’s 1988
Olympic baseball team. Close competed in the 1,500 meters in the 1960
Games in Rome after winning All-American honors in track at St. John’s
University.
Professional Major League baseball players listed on the elite local
shrine list include Herman Bronkie, Tony Lupien, Moe Morhardt and Tom
Kelley.
Dave Hayes and Jerry Faye made the grade in the National Football
League and Leo Katkaveck was in both the pro Basketball Association of
America and the National Basketball Association.
Pat Bolduc’s background included a stint with the world Champion
Raybestos Cardinals in fast pitch softball.
Eric Hall gained world championship status among the archers.
Charlie Robbins gained 11 national long distance running titles, a
total topped only by McCluskey, who won 24 during his long career in
track. Only World War II prevented Robbins from being an Olympian.
Golfer Ron "Red" Smith competed twice in the U.S. Open.
Geno Auriemma has been tabbed as the No. 1 women’s college basketball
coach and earned a meeting at the White House.
Mike Crispino has made it big time as a sportscaster in New York.
Duckpin bowler Cathy Dyak was the only female in that first year
class of the Hall of Fame. In fact, Dyak was the only woman elected in
the first 10 years.
Proof that women have made their presence felt is the fact that in
the second decade, nine women were elected, headed by long-distance
swimmer Marcy MacDonald, the first American woman to swim the English
Channel both ways in the same sequence.
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