Hall of Fame

INDUCTEES
 

PLAYERS DIVISION

Raymond Adams, P
Jim Alexander, OF
Lou Bazzano Jr. SS
Jim Balesano, 3B
Jake Banks, OF
Walter Berg, P
Robert Barrows, C
Paul Biancucci, 1B
David Bidwell, P
George Bonadies, C
Sal Brancato, OF
Leo Bravakis, P
John Bujak, P
Bruno Bycholski, P
Bill Calusine, 3B
Bob Cameron, SS
Rev. Thomas Campion, IF
James Canivan, P
John Carlin, OF
Bob Carlson, OF
William Carroll, C
Bill Chapulis, OF
John Chomick, OF
Steve Chotiner, 1B
George Ciccaglione, SS
Dave Cichon, P/C
Paul Cichon, 3B
Paul Ciotto, 2B
Richard Cobb, OF
Edward “Red” Cox, SS
Sam Crispino, OF
Jackie Cronin, SS
Brian Crowley, OF
Ray Curry, OF
Jerry D’Apice, 2B
Joseph David, 1B
Tony Dedominicis, P
Harry Deegan, OF
Frank DiBattista, SS
Johnny Dione, OF
George Dixon, 3B
John Dixon, 1B
Joseph Doyle, OF
Walter “Monk” Dubiel, P
James “Jigger” Farrell, 1B
Russ Fisher, P
Dinny Flaherty, OF
Dick Foley, 3B
Frank Farrell, SS
Walter Fonfara, P
James Francoline, DH
David Gale, 1B
Mickey Garbeck, P
Allan Garray, C
Bill George, C
Ralph Giansanti Jr., 2B
Cy Greenbaum, C
Jimmy Griffin, SS
Bill Guida, P
Charles Guliano, 3B
Joseph Hallissey, 3B
Harold Heintz, OF
Harold Heintz, OF
Bill Hickey, 2B
Edward Holly, OF
William Hutt, 1B
Carl “Dutch” Immeln, OF
John “Red” Jacko, P
Gene Johnson, 3B
Roland Johnson, C
George Kapura, 2B
Peter Kapura, 3B
Hank Karlon, C
Mickey Katkavek, C
Cliff Keeney, 2B
Bill “Rubber” Kelly, OF
Francis “Star” Kelly, 1B
Richard Kelly, P
George Kilray, 2B
John “Yosh” Kinel, P
Edward Kovis, P
Ben Kozyra, 2B
Steve Krajewski, 3B
Howard Krogh, DH
Edward Kukulka, 3B
Luke Lamboley, 1B
Gary LaRoque, SS
Bill Leahy, 2B
Joseph Leahy, 3B
Harold “Hal” Lewis, SS
John “Red” Madigan, 1B
Bill Maher, P
Charles Mazurek, P
Michael McDonald, C
George McGrane, P
“Click” McGrath, P
Michael McKernan, OF
Charlie McMeans, OF
Bert Meisner, SS
Johnny Miller, P
Patrick Mistretta, P
J.J. Mitchell, OF
Moe Morhardt, P
Ignatius “Iggy” Murawski, P
Johnny Murphy, P
Pete Naktenis, P
Dan O’Leary, 3B
Victor Pagani, OF
Daniel Pandiscia, OF
Walter Pawlowski, 3B
Bud Pottinger, P
Perley “Red” Putnam, OF
Alan Putz, 1B
Tom Proctor, 2B
Gene Reilly, P
Mark Riemer, OF
Frank Richters, SS
Thomas “Scoop” Riley, 2B
Richard Riordan, OF
John Risley, P/3B
William Risley, P
Bob “Spike” Repass, 3B
Patrick Rose, 1B
Walter “Doc” Russell, P
Peter Sala, P
Smokey Samolyk, OF
Felix “Sonny” Sassano, C
Earl Scott, P
John Serafini, P
Willie Seedman, P
Harvey Shapiro, 1B
Tom Shopay, OF
Steve Shoplick, 1B
Thomas Shortell, C
Tommy Sipples, 1B
Edward Skehan, OF
Duke Snyder, OF
Leverette Spencer, P
Arthur St. John, OF
Robert Stich, 1B
Rev. Dan Sullivan, OF
Ray Sullivan, SS
Johnny Taylor, P
Sonny Thomas, OF
Joseph Tripp, SS
Carl Vasquez, OF
Leo Veleas, SS
Fred Vogel, P
Woody Wallett, C
Kevin Walsh, 3B
Allan Webb, OF
Wally Widholm, C
Casimir “Cos” Wilkos, P
George Woodend, P
Charles Wrinn, P
Len Zanke, C
Daniel Zazzaro, SS
Mark Ziogas, OF

MANAGER DIVISION

Tony Berube
Hamilton Standard
Edward Buckie
St. Cyril’s
Jack Hines
Riley’s Redlegs
Hal Justin
United Aircraft
Al “Jeff” Koelsch
Hamilton Standard
Edward Kostek
St. Cyril’s
Max Kotkin
Mayflower Sales
Mike Liappes
Moriarty Brothers
Joseph Lowery
Bristol Cassins
Jimmie Owens
East Hartford Lords
John Roser
Pratt & Whitney Aircraft
Bill Savitt
Savitt Gems
Louis Slavkin
Ellis-Slavkin
Frank Strong
Lenny’s York Tavern
Bill Wishinsky
Herb’s Sport Shop

EXECUTIVE DIVISION

John Barrett
Jim Gallagher
John “Bud” Mahon
Lou Morotto
James Nesta
Jack Repass
Robert Steele
John “Jack” Rose
John “Jack” Welch

UMPIRE DIVISION

Charles Adamick Sr.
Barry Chasen
Ed Cordier
Art Couch
Tony DeMaio
Walter Elliott
Joseph Fenz
Harold “Red” Flanagan
Ralph Giansanti Sr.
Gordon Guy
Henry “Pop” LaFleur
James O’Leary
John “Boggy” Muldoon
Dominick Manise
Herb “Bat” Orefice
John Pangonis
Ben “Twirler” Phelps
Polly Phelps
Pat Pinchera
Guy Settino
Andrew “Bunny” Welch
Earl Yost

SPONSOR DIVISION

Nicholas Francis
Jerome “Buzzy” Levin
Frank McCoy
Michael J. Lombardi, C
Matthew Moriarty
Herb Sheintop

MEDIA DIVISION

Owen Canfield
Michael Caruso
Joe Cassano
John “Jack” Kershaw
Bohdan Kolinsky
Ray McKenna
Pete Zanardi

HONORARY MEMBERS

Wesley Baldwin
Frank Benettieri
Dr. James Gilhuly
Peter Kiro Sr.
Edward O’Leary
William Oleksinski
Phil Rizzuto
Edward Wojcik

ABOUT THE GHTBL HALL OF FAME

In 1982, the Greater Hartford Twilight Baseball League Hall of Fame was officially founded by Jack Repass of East Hartford, Connecticut. Repass was the former University of Hartford Sports Information Director, an avid baseball historian and a talented infielder in the GHTBL. Efforts made by Repass immortalized many of Connecticut’s best ballplayers and contributors. Pete Naktenis, a left-handed hurler for the Mayflower Sales team was the first GHTBL Hall of Fame inductee. Naktenis pitched in the Hartford Twilight League before and after playing for Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics.

Jack Repass creates GHTBL Hall of Fame, March 18, 1982.

GHTBL Hall of Fame inductees, managers, executives, umpires, sponsors, media contributors, and honorary members represent decades of commitment to the game of baseball throughout the Greater Hartford area. Perhaps the most celebrated GHTBL Hall of Famer was player-manager, Gene Johnson. Johnson was bestowed with the “Player of the Half Century Award” for his hitting and his defense at third base. After 7 years in the minor leagues, Johnson returned to the league to win 4 batting titles, multiple championships and 57 total years in the league.

GHTBL Hall of Fame Induction Dinner program, May 1, 1983.
GHTBL Hall of Fame Induction Dinner program, May 1, 1983.

To honor GHTBL Hall of Fame inductees, Jack Repass organized elaborate banquets. Over dinner, live music, toasts, prayers and speeches, inductions were held in earnest. Venues such as Valle’s Steak House in Hartford and Willie’s Steak House in Manchester hosted guests and members of the public for a per person fee. Honorees were handpicked by Repass who was also inducted into the GHTBL Hall of Fame. He passed away on November 10, 2001, at 77 years of age. When Repass died, Hartford Courant sportswriter, Bohdan Kolinsky wrote, “The link to Hartford’s baseball past is gone now.”