A Century‑Spanning Celebration
The Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame (GABHoF) will induct twelve new members and a distinguished team in 2026, capping a year of events that blend on‑field ceremony with community celebration.
A ceremonial first pitch will precede a RubberDucks game, while a black‑tie banquet later in the year will bring together players, families, and longtime supporters to honor the inductees.
Legends of the Diamond
Among the honorees are longtime Elyria High School standout Don Booth, who spent three decades in the NEO Roy Hobbs League and managed the Kent Mudhens for 21 seasons, and Chris Brown, a former All‑Suburban League player who coached collegiate teams and guided the USA Youth National Team to a gold medal in 2021.
Other inductees include Mike Darrah, a multiple‑award winner in the Greater Akron AA League; Cory Hindel, a key figure in Kent State’s district championship and a Chicago Cubs minor‑league player; and Mike Hoffman, a perennial MVP in the Roy Hobbs World Series despite multiple surgeries.
Eric Martin, Roger Morgan, Bill Morris, Andy Pfaff, Benjamin Shepherd, Lou Vassalotti and Jim Walsh round out a class that reflects decades of coaching, umpiring, and playing excellence across Ohio’s high school and college circuits.
The 2026 class also features the NEO Roy Hobbs League’s Kent Mudhens, a team that has captured multiple titles since its 1994 founding, including the 60‑plus division championship in 2007, and three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to graduating seniors Noah Kolvey, Caeden DeDomenic and Lucas Bertilacci.
Previous generations of inductees such as Jim Gibbs and Bill Humphrey set a high bar, and the Hall continues to spotlight local talent that has gone on to compete professionally in organizations including the Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays and Frontier League.
The induction events underscore the Hall’s role as a cultural anchor for the Greater Akron region, linking high school rivalries, college programs, and community leagues under a shared legacy of baseball excellence.