During a 30-year career in which he has maintained an ABC average of 194, Daniel Toronski has bowled two 300 games and three 800 series. Won the City Singles title in 1963 and All-Events in 1968. Won the City Match Game title in 1964 and 1975 and was elected King of Bowlers each year. Won the Ohio Singles titles in 1857 and All-Events in 1964. Bowled on the ABC championship team in 1973. Elected to the Greater Cleveland Bowling Hall of Fame in 1973.
In the post World War II years, East Tech dominated the Cleveland high school track scene and Baldwin-Wallace was easily the kingpin among the local college thinclads. One of the key contributors to their dominance was Ted Theodore. Running the 440 and 880 and on record-breaking mile and two-mile relay teams for legendary East Tech Coach Ivan Greene, he captained the Scarabs to the 1946 city title and a second place finish in the Ohio state championships. The two relays completely dominated their competition, winning blue ribbons in the Cleveland Indoor Senate meet, the West Tech and Ohio Wesleyan Relays and the district meet en route to their pair of state titles. Theodore added to his high school laurels by winning the 440 at the National Junior Olympic Championships run at Municipal Stadium, and collecting additional gold as a member of the meet’s winning mile relay. Moving on to B-W, he would win All-Ohio championships in the 440, 880 and mile relay four straight years and captain the 1950 team. Entering the Army, he coached and captained the Ft. Knox team to two runner-up finishes in the 2nd Army Championships. After returning to civilian life, he devoted several years to coaching cross country and track teams at Berea, Midpark and Euclid High Schools, winning a multitude of championships. Theodore served in a variety of administrative and service roles subsequently in the Euclid Schools and community and also for Baldwin-Wallace, he nevertheless remained active in the track world as a registered OHSAA track official for high school and college for 45 years and served as the announcer for the Knights of Columbus Track Meet for 20 years. Ostensibly retired, he continues to officiate track and makes his home in Euclid.
A graduate of Shaker Heights High, Steve Trevor went on to become a three-time NCAA Fencing All-American at Columbia University. He earned berths on the 1984 and 1988 U.S, Olympic teams, placing 17th overall in the 1988 epee competition. Earlier he won berths on the 1981 and 1983 U.S. World Junior Team, placing 8th in world epee competition in 1983 and was also the 1983 U.S. National Junior Olympic Champion in both foil and epee.
A quiet, dignified gentleman who came to the Cleveland Indians in a 1976 trade with Montreal for pitcher Jackie Brown, Andre “Thunder” Thornton played for ten memorable seasons with the Tribe. During that time, the slugging first basemen/designated hitter connected for 214 home runs, just 12 short of Earl Averill’s record. A knee operation which forced him to miss the entire 1980 season undoubtedly cost him the mark. When he retired, he ranked eighth on the Indians career rbi list and tenth in total bases and slugging percentage. His single season total of 109 bases on balls was the second highest in club history at the time. Those figures helped earn him selections to the American League All-Star Team in 1982 and 1984. He was selected the Indians Man of the Year in 1978 and shared the honor in 1982 with teammate Toby Harrah. He has made Cleveland his home since his retirement in 1986.
National AAU long distance champion during the mid 1940’s, Ted Stevens was a multiple AAU All-American. He led the University Circle YMCA team to a National YMCA championship and was considered the outstanding distance swimmer in the area during his competitive years. Ted was an Ohio high school freestyle champion at East Tech for two years.
Louis “L.B.” Schaefer was a member of the 1959 United States Pan-American Team in backstroke. He won NCAA titles in the 100 and 200-yard backstrokes and swam on the gold medal-winning 400-yard medley relay team in 1962 to help Ohio State University win the national collegiate championship. L.B. was the Ohio state high school champion in the backstroke for three years (1957-1959) at Berea High School, where he captained the Berea team in his senior year. He also co-captained the Ohio State team in 1963.
Flora Graham Sanders starred for teams which compiled a record of 17 Class A Inter-City or Tri-State championships. Although listed as a forward, she frequently played and was equally effective as a guard. Flora was noted for her consistency as a scorer. A versatile athlete, she also earned titles or played on championship teams in softball, golf, bowling and dance skating.
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.
As a rookie with the Cleveland Indians, Herb Score struck out 245 batters, which stood as a record for 29 years. As a result, he won the American League Rookie of the Year honor. In 1956 he struck out 263 in 249 innings, posting a 20-9 mark with a 2.53 ERA. He was selected to the American League All-Star Team in 1955 and 1956. Herb served as the radio voice of the Indians for more than 30 years.
A star collegiate football player at John Carroll, Don Shula went on to play professional football with the Browns and Colts. His coaching career spans over a quarter century and is one of the most impressive in the history of the NFL. His Dolphins won two Super Bowls and his record of 200 pro wins in a 20 year span is unrivaled.