Bill "Wamby" Wambsganss

Induction Year : 1980

Sport: Baseball

Played 13 years of major league baseball, ten in a Cleveland Indians uniform. Won undying fame in the 1920 World Series when, as the Indians’ second baseman, he executed an unassisted triple play against the old Brooklyn Dodgers. He also led the American League in triples that season with 11, scored 83 runs and batted in 55. Traded to Boston in 1924, he enjoyed one of his finest seasons, hitting .274, collecting 41 doubles, scoring 93 runs and driving in 48.

Larry Twitchell

Induction Year : 1980

Sport: Baseball

One of the great early major league baseball players, he got his start with a semi-pro team called the Young Clevelanders. In 1886 he joined the Detroit team of the old National League, and helped pitch that team to a pennant in 1887 with an 11-1 mark. His lone loss came in a 14-inning game in which he allowed just one hit. Traded to Cleveland in 1889, he set a record of 16 total bases in a game (single, double, three triples and a home run) which stood until 1954. Major league career ended in 1891, but he played, and later managed, in the minors until 1898.

Maralyn West

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Track & Field

A physical education instructor and administrator in Cleveland area schools from 1954 until the present, she has held many positions of responsibility with the AAU and in U.S. Olympic activities. Has served on National AAU Women’s Track and Field Committee since 1957, was National AAU Women’s Track and Field Rules Committee Chairman in 1963-64, U.S. Women’s Track and Field Manager for the 1959 and 1975 Pan American Games and U.S. Olympic Manager for the 1968 Women’s Track and Field Team.

Claude Sharer

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Wrestling

Coach of Case Tech and Case Western Reserve University athletic teams from 1927 through 1967. Tutored track, football, basketball, tennis, swimming and wrestling teams at various times. Won greatest fame as wrestling coach, a sport he started at Case in 1927. Was president of the National Wrestling Coaches Association in 1952.

Robert Schaefer

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Swimming & Diving

Aquatics chairman of the Lake Erie AAU from 1969 through 1978, he has been responsible for bringing numerous major aquatics programs to Cleveland, among them at least five national diving championships, two national synchronized swimming championships, and a national swimming championship.

Barclay "Barke" Sanders

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Football

An outstanding football player at West tech from 1921-23 and later an amateur basketball league star in Muny competition, he later became a highly successful coach of girls’ amateur basketball teams, winning 18 championships between 1927 and 1938.

Elmer Reed

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Bowling

Worked for many years to provide opportunities and competition for black bowlers. Formed the Cleveland Bowlers group in the 1930s with 40 members. Now known as the Cleveland Bowling Senate, it currently numbers more than 3,000 bowlers in its membership. Also helped found the National Bowling Association which currently has over 35,000 members. Was the first African American to be elected to American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame, in 1978.

Johnny Papke

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Boxing

An outstanding boxing coach and trainer for 20 years, he developed many topnotch amateurs who went on to win Cleveland Golden Gloves titles, National Golden Gloves, and National AAU Boxing titles. Helped organize Cleveland Amateur Boxing Trainers Association and was its first president.

Joe Mitchell

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Golf

Head golf professional at The Cleveland Club (later The Country Club) and a top player of his day, he collaborated with Coburn Haskell in the invention of the rubber-cored golf ball. This ball is still used today in modified form.

Mike Milkovich

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Wrestling

One of the nation’s most successful high school wrestling coaches during long career at Maple Heights High School. Won ten Ohio state team championships and was runner-up eight times. Was winner of National Coach of the Year Award presented by National High School Coaches Association. Charter member of Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame and winner of National Helms Foundation Hall of Fame Award.