October 26, 2007

where we live Joining the ranks of fame

Antioch enshrines class of '07
By Simon Read

ANTIOCH -- Those who have done the city proud on the gridiron, diamond and every other kind of playing field will be immortalized in Antioch's Sports Legends of Hall of Fame when it opens to the public Saturday.

An impressive display of uniforms, cards, sports equipment and video, the newest addition to the Antioch Historical Society's museum, is the result of 18 months of extensive work and planning, organizers said. The hall is housed in the Antioch Historical Society, 1500 W. Fourth St.

"This is very gratifying," co-founder Tom Menasco said. "It's sort of a dream that Antioch should protect its sports history. No one had done that to any great extent, so we built the athletes this home."

From a vintage old-style theater with room for 25 to a gleaming display room of sports memorabilia under museum-quality lighting, the 2,500-square-foot Sports Legend Hall of Fame is a journey through the city's athletic past.

"From the desire to actually making something happen is phenomenal," co-founder Dave Sanderson said. "This is the result of thousands of hours of volunteer time. People in the community put in an amazing amount of work. We had businesses donate what they could. It all made this possible."

Monetary donations, donated supplies and labor kept costs under control. The hall borrows design features from various museums and other halls of fame across the country, Menasco said.

The class of 2007 inductees include Gino Marchetti, who ranked No. 15 on Sporting News' list of the top 100 players in NFL history; Ron Pritchard, All-American linebacker for Arizona State University in 1968; and former Los Angeles Ram Duane Putnam, who played in four Pro Bowls in the mid- to late 1950s.

Michelle Gromacki, women's softball coach at Cal State Fullerton and record-setting swimmer Shaun Bogan will also be recognized for their athletic prowess, along with the Antioch High School football team of 1945 and nine other athletes.

"Unlike other halls of fame, we don't simply honor just one sport," Sanderson said. "We wanted to include sports that might not get a lot of recognition."

Displays in the hall are dedicated to sports that perhaps don't enjoy the popularity of baseball, football and basketball. Soccer, tennis and water polo are also recognized. One corner of the hall is dedicated to high school sports, allowing visitors to follow their favorite high school team's progress.

The hall has been a long time in the making. What began in March 2006 as a five-man group -- which includes former Councilman Leo Fontana -- evolved into a large movement comprising six subcommittees, each tasked with making the Sports Legends Hall of Fame a reality.

"I've heard a lot of great comments about it," Councilman Jim Davis said. "It's important the city preserves its history. Our sports legends have become an important part of the community, and sports have always been important to a lot of people in Antioch. I think this is a project worth doing."

Councilman Arne Simonsen said that when he attends Saturday's opening he might wear his high school letter sweater "just to show people I was an athlete." A wrestler and runner during his time at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, Simonsen said he tried out to be a pitcher on the baseball team but wound up hitting too many people.

The director of the Antioch Historical Society, Elizabeth Rimbault, said the sports hall will prove a valuable asset to the city.

"There aren't enough words to describe it," she said. "It's fantastic. I think with the sports legends added, you have to start calling the Antioch museum the best in the county -- if not in the northern part of the state when it comes to local history."

Saturday's event will also include the opening of the historical society's latest exhibit, the McCoy cookhouse, which allows visitors to view an 1860s homestead.

The Sports Legends Hall of Fame will officially open with a public ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday and will be followed by an open house. Attending inductees will be on hand until 1 p.m. to sign autographs.

Simon Read covers Antioch. Reach him at 925-779-7166 or sread@bayareanewsgroup.com.

IF YOU GO

# WHAT: Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame opening

# WHERE: Antioch Historical Society, 1500 W. Fourth St.

# WHEN: 11 a.m. Saturday