David Dickenson played on and captained the University of Virginia tennis team and in 1962 moved to Cleveland. He became the Greater Cleveland Men’s Champion in 1962, 1963 and 1964, and the Ohio State Claycourt Champion in 1962. He coached the Northeastern Ohio Junior Davis Cup Team in 1963 and 1964. David won the National 50’s Claycourt Championship in 1989 and has played in numerous national and international tennis competitions. He and his wife Francis are a nationally ranked senior mixed doubles team.
Born in Pennsylvania, Ralph Caraffi came to Cleveland in 1925 to play soccer for the American Hungarians and scored three goals in his first appearance to signal what was to be an exceptional career spanning several years. His team reached the Western Finals of the National Challenge Cup two out of three years, won the Ohio State Cup competition in 1926, 1927 and 1929, and was National Runner-Up in 1930. Ralph was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1959.
Drafted out of Illinois by the Cleveland Browns in 1971, Doug Dieken became a stalwart member of the team, at one point playing 203 consecutive games and starting the last 194; both Browns records. He was the Offensive Captain in 1976, 1977 and 1982 and was voted Offensive Player of the Year by the media in 1975 and 1983. Doug was a Pro Bowler in 1980. He currently does radio and TV sports.
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.
Kenneth Carter was the national Tumbling Champion in the 1930s, and was considered one of the top flight gymnasts of his day, having made the USA Olympic Team in 1940. He toured the United States and Europe with an acrobatic group which gained extensive notoriety.
Rated one of the greatest catchers in the history of the sport, Ann Smith Downs was equally renowned for her hitting, her throwing arm and her ability to handle pitchers. She played on the Cleveland area’s finest teams, ending her career with the National Screw & Manufacturing Co. team that won the World Girls Softball championship. Ann also became one of the top women basketball players in Cleveland.
Marge Kelley Cook starred for the Favorite Knits, Fleming Furniture and Blepp-Coombs teams during the period from 1922-1930, when those teams were perennial international champions. A righthanded fastball pitcher, she also played the outfield because of her outstanding ability as a hitter. Marge frequently pitched successfully against men’s teams.
Ron Annotico played in eight softball World Championships, beginning in 1956. Selected as All-World center fielder three times in those championships, every team on which he played from 1956 through 1962 won its league championship. Ron was recognized by his peers as Cleveland’s finest softball player of that era.
Ranked as one of the nation’s top pitchers during the 1930s, Frank Brauer competed for some of Cleveland’s best teams, including Weaver Wall from 1935-38 and Nickel Plate Grill in 1939.
An All-American collegiate basketball player, Frank Baumholtz’s exceptional talent allowed him to play both professional basketball and baseball at the same time. He starred for the Cleveland Rebels and the Youngstown Bears in the pro basketball league that was the forerunner of the NBA as well as playing baseball for ten years in the National League with the Reds, Cubs and Phillies. His lifetime batting average was .291.