Al "Oppie" Dorenkott

Induction Year : 1976

Sport: Basketball

One of Cleveland’s all-time great players, Al “Oppie” Dorenkott was a member of several of the city’s outstanding teams that won numerous Muny League titles in the 1920s and early 1930s. He was invited to join the famous Rosenblum-Celtics team in 1932, but declined. A guard, Oppie excelled in rebounding and was a superior play maker.

John Olszewski

Induction Year : 1976

Sport: Basketball

A gifted athlete at Cleveland East High School, John Olszewski starred for the Union Trust Bank basketball team which dominated the Cleveland amateur basketball scene in the 1920s, winning league, city, inter-city and national titles. An outstanding scorer and exceptionally fast, he later played professionally with the Rosenblum-Celtics. John was also a talented bowler and sandlot baseball standout.

Eddie Finnigan

Induction Year : 1976

Sport: Basketball Football Track & Field

Eddie Finnigan was an all-around athletic standout at Cleveland John Adams High School and Western Reserve University. He starred in three sports at WRU, achieving his greatest success in basketball, where he was a first team Little All-American. Eddie also earned Little All-American honors in football and starred in track, and garnered new fame as the head track coach at Baldwin-Wallace College, where he produced Olympic champion Harrison Dillard.

Willie Smith

Induction Year : 1976

Sport: Basketball

After starring with several Cleveland amateur league teams, Willie Smith was signed by the New York Renaissance in 1932 and played with them through the 1941-42 season. He started for the 1935 Rens team which set a pro record by winning 88 straight games, was picked as the top player on the 1937-38 team and played on the first World’s Professional Championship team in 1939. Willie was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1964.

Mel Riebe

Induction Year : 1976

Sport: Basketball

An outstanding high school (Euclid Shore) and amateur basketball player, Mel Riebe became a basketball pro at the age of 27 in 1943 and led the National Basketball League in scoring in 1943-44 and 1944-45 as a member of the Cleveland Chase Brass team. After a military stint, he played for the Cleveland Rebels in the Basketball Association of America in 1946-47, was drafted by the Boston Celtics and played two seasons with them.

Louis "Babe" Pressley

Induction Year : 1976

Sport: Basketball

A graduate of Cleveland Central High in 1936, Louis “Babe” Pressley signed with the Harlem Globetrotters in 1937 to launch a professional career that lasted until 1958, captaining and later serving as playing coach of the world-famous team. He was named Outstanding Player in the championship tournament of the 1940 World Professional International Tour and placed on the all-star team in the 1943-44 International Cup Tour.

Peter Amico

Induction Year : 1992

Sport: Basketball

A member of the East Tech and John Carroll Halls of Fame, Peter Amico went on to coach football, basketball and baseball for 25 years. He has officiated both football (45 yrs) and basketball (47 yrs) at the junior high school, high school and college levels. A rules interpreter of football and basketball rules for 25 years, Peter has received appreciation awards from The Cleveland Touchdown Club and The Basketball Coach’s Association.

Austin Carr

Induction Year : 1992

Sport: Basketball

Following a brilliant career at Notre Dame, Austin Carr was the first player taken in the 1971 NBA draft. A nine year career with the Cleveland Cavaliers concluded with records as the all-time leading scorer (10,265 pts) and field goals made (1,719). Austin is the Director of Community Business Development for the Cavs.

Clark Kellogg

Induction Year : 1989

Sport: Basketball

Clark Kellogg was an outstanding basketball player at St. Joseph’s High School, leading the team to the state finals in 1978, when he scored 51 points and hauled in 24 rebounds in a losing effort.  He went on to star at Ohio State, being twice chosen to All Big-Ten teams and in 1982 selected as the league’s Most Valuable Player. From there he went on to the Indianapolis Pacers of the NBA, where he played five seasons before chronic knee problems forced an early retirement.  Clark has gone on to be a featured part of the CBS team covering the NCAA March Madness tournament.

William Hann

Induction Year : 1989

Sport: Basketball

William Hann was one of the all-time basketball greats to come out of the Cleveland school system, where he was an All-Ohio pick twice and an All-American as a high school senior. At the University of Tennessee, he led the Vols to three consecutive 20+ win seasons while garnering honors which included All-NIT, All-Southeast Conference and All-American.