National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame

The National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame and Museum was founded February 30, 1973 to honor and recognize outstanding American athletes, both amateur and professional, of Polish descent.

Its mission is to recognize and preserve outstanding achievements by individuals of Polish Heritage in the field of sports and to educate the community with the hope of encouraging and inspiring personal excellence. Each year, inductees are elected in a nationwide vote among NPASHOF officers, Hall of Fame inductees and more than 500 members of the Sports Panel Council. With over 100 inductees, the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame has an outstanding collection of historic artifacts on display at the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy, Michigan. Stan Musial, the first inductee is represented with items worthy of being in Cooperstown. Visitors can also see uniforms worn by greats such as Steve Gromek, Carol Blazejowski, Mark Fidrych and Ed Olczyk; the boxing gloves used by 1940s heavyweight champion Tony Zale; basketballs, baseballs, footballs, and bowling balls used and signed by Mike Krzyzewski, Whitey Kurkowski, Ted Marchibroda, and Ed Lubanski. Among other items is a football signed by Bob Skronski, Vince Lombardi and other members of the 1967 Super Bowl I Champion Green Bay Packers.

The most recent induction took place June, 2010 at The American Polish Cultural Center in Troy, Michigan.^[1] Kristy Kowal, the late Danny Ozark and Jane (Peaches) Bartkowicz were among the new honorees.

Auto Racing

• Alan Kulwicki (2001)

Baseball

Oscar Bielaski (2005) Stan Coveleski (1976) Moe Drabowsky (1999) Mark Fidrych (2009)[2] Steve Gromek (1981) Ted Kluszewski (1974) Tony Kubek (1982) Whitey Kurowski (1988) Bob Kuzava (2003) Eddie Lopat (1978)

Stan Lopata (1997) Greg Luzinski (1989) Bill Mazeroski (1979) Barney McCosky (1995) Stan Musial (1973) Joe Niekro (1992) Phil Niekro (1990) Tom Paciorek (1992) Ron Perranoski (1983) Johnny Podres (2002)

Ron Reed (2005) Jenny Romatowski (1999) Ray Sadecki (2007) Al Simmons (1975) Bill Skowron (1980) Frank Tanana (1996) Alan Trammell (1998) Carl Yastrzemski (1986) Richie Zisk (2004)

Basketball

• Vince Boryla (1984)
• Carol Blazejowski (1994)
• Mike Gminski (2003)
• Tom Gola (1977)
• Mike Krzyzewski (1991)
• Mitch Kupchak (2002)
• Bob Kurland (1996)
• Red Mihalik (1996)
• John Payak (1982)
• Kelly Tripucka (2000)

Bowling

• Johnny Crimmins (1976)
• Billy Golembiewski (1981)
• Cass Grygier (1984)
• Eddie Lubanski (1978)
• Ann Setlock (1983)

Boxing

• Bobby Czyz (2009)^[2]
• Stanley Ketchel (1984)
• Teddy Yarosz (2005)
• Tony Zale (1975)

Figure skating

• Janet Lynn (1990)

Football, American

• Danny Abramowicz (1992)
• Pete Banaszak (1990)
• Steve Bartkowski (1993)
• Zeke Bratkowski (1995)
• Bob Brudzinski (2005)
• Lou Creekmur (2001)
• Zygmont Czarobski (1980)
• Mike Ditka (2001)
• Forest Evashevski (2000)
• Frank Gatski (1989)
• Jim Grabowski (1993)
• Jack Ham (1987)
• Leon Hart (1988)
• Vic Janowicz (1987)
• Ron Jaworski (1991)
• Joe Klecko (1999)
• Ed Klewicki (1982)
• Frank Kush (1998)
• Ted Kwalick (2005)
• Johnny Lujack (1978)
• Ted Marchibroda (1976)
• Lou Michaels (1994)
• Walt Michaels (1997)
• Dick Modzelewski (1986)
• Mike Munchak (2003)
• Bill Osmanski (1977)
• Frank Piekarski (2005)
• Bob Skoronski (2000)
• Hank Stram (1985)
• Dick Szymanski (1994)
• Frank Szymanski (1995)
• Frank Tripucka (1997)
• Steve Wisniewski (2004)
• Alex Wojciechowicz (1975)

Golf

• Billy Burke (2005)
• Betsy King (2000)
• Warren Orlick (1983)
• Bob Toski (1987)
• Al Watrous (1979)

Gymnastics

• George Szypula (1985)
• Deb Sprague (2007)

Ice hockey

• Walter Broda (2005)
• Len Ceglarski(1993)
• Ed Olczyk (2004)
• Pete Stemkowski (2002)

Softball

• Ed Tyson (1974)

Sports Journalism

• Ed Browalski (1983)
• Billy Packer (1988)

Swimming

• Joe Verdeur (2009)^[2]

Tennis

• Frankie Parker (1981)

Track & Field

• Bob Gutowski (1980)
• Stella Walsh (1974)

Volleyball

• Andy Banachowski (2009)^[2]

Weightlifting

• Norbert Schemansky (1979)
• Stanley Stanczyk (1991)

Wrestling

• Stanley Zbyszko (1983)
• Wladek Kowalski (2007)

See also

• Polish American Museum
• Polish Museum of America

References

1. ^ Presence at Cultural Center. National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Banachowski Inducted Into National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame

External links

• National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame
• http://www.americanpolishcenter.com