2016 Dinner
Meet the Class of 2016
Mark Loper
Celebrated slugger of La Sierra High School where as an All-City junior he hit a blistering .525. As a senior he made the All-City team again with a .425 clip. Heavily recruited out of high school, Loper decided upon ARC where his torrid hitting attracted the attention of the Atlanta Braves and was drafted in the 11th round in 1967. |
Randy Brown
Star pitcher and first baseman for McClatchy and Sacramento City College. Drafted by the Seattle Pilots in 1969. Played five seasons in the Montreal Expos and Milwaukee Brewers organizations recording a 12-9 record with a 4.11 earned run average, while tallying a career batting average of .266. |
Doug Carson
Multi-skilled Bishop Armstrong shortstop and catcher. Was the first area player chosen in the first Major League Baseball draft. Taken 33rd overall, before Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk. Decided on a scholarship to Santa Clara, after 2 years he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played a year and a half before injuries cut short a promising career. |
Gary Darling
Gary Darling was a steady first baseman for Burbank High School and Southside Legion, before enrolling in umpire school. He retired two years ago after a 28-year major league career. He also umpired the World Series in 2003 and 2010 and participated in 2 All Star Games. |
Bill Walsh
Bill Walsh, aka as "Big Bill" and/or "Sailor Bill" was a flame-throwing pitcher in the Sacramento Solons' chain. Bill pitched for four years in professional baseball and compiled a 43 and 29 record. Bill passed away in 2005 but his love of baseball lives on in his son Pat Walsh, of KFBK's The Pat Walsh Show. |
Lowell Palmer
Arguably, the hardest throwing pitcher in Sacramento baseball history. Lowell was All-City for Norte Del Rio in 1965. Lowell was the Philadelphia Phillies 6th pick in the 1966 amateur draft. After compiling a stellar 36 and 17 record in the minors, Lowell went on to a 5-year major league career with stops in Philadelphia, St. Louis, Cleveland, and San Diego. |
Bill Plummer
Bill played high school ball at Anderson Valley and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1967. A superb defensive catcher, Bill spent ten years in the Major Leagues with stops in Chicago, Cincinnati, and Seattle. He also enjoyed a fine managerial career, including a year at the helm, 1992, with the Seattle Mariners. |
Greg Sims
Greg was a switch-hitting outfielder for Sacramento High School and Sacramento City College. Originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Greg was later nabbed by the Houston Astros as a Rule 5 selection. Greg played for 9 years in the minor leagues, tallying a more than respectable .272 average. Greg played in 8 games for the Astros in 1966, collecting one hit over 6 at bats. |
Don Semon
Don was an All-City star at Bishop Armstrong in 1961, and was the first “Bonus Baby” to come out of Sacramento. Signed by the Boston Red Sox for a whopping $55,000, Don went on to play for six seasons in the minors for the Red Sox, Yankees, and Braves.
Don was an All-City star at Bishop Armstrong in 1961, and was the first “Bonus Baby” to come out of Sacramento. Signed by the Boston Red Sox for a whopping $55,000, Don went on to play for six seasons in the minors for the Red Sox, Yankees, and Braves.
Last Year's Event
The La Salle Club's 61st annual Sacramento Hall of Fame Dinner was a smashing success. Attended by over 300 baseball fans, the dinner featured both the Canadian and American National Anthems sung by Sacramento Opera Star Carrie Hennessey, and terrific induction speeches by the 8 inductees. Harry Dunlop accepted a posthumous award for New York Yankee legend and former Sacramento Solons manager Joe Gordon. Check back soon to view video highlights of the evening.
Read Baseball Sacramento's account of the evening, written by Rick Cabral
Read KCRA's Mike Luery's blog from Baseball Between Us.
Read Baseball Sacramento's account of the evening, written by Rick Cabral
Read KCRA's Mike Luery's blog from Baseball Between Us.
Meet the Class of 2015
The La Salle Club Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees
Leon Brown
Former Grant High outfielder was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1966. He spent 13 years in professional baseball including the 1976 season with the New York Mets where he had 74 plate appearances in 64 games and hit .214. He currently resides in Arizona where he stays busy with other former major league players teaching and coaching youth baseball.
Eddie Cervantes
Eddie was a right-handed infielder who was a standout at Johnson High School and Sacramento City College. He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles in 1971 and spent 2 seasons with the organization. He spent 5 more seasons in the minors before journeying south to the Mexican League where he played for 6 more years. His professional baseball batting average, over 13 years, was .297. He is currently the baseball coach at Inderkum High School.
Joe Gordon
Nicknamed “Flash” Joe Gordon was a five time American League all-star, appeared in 5 World Series, and was the league MVP in 1942. He was a career .268 hitter with 253 career home runs. After his major league career, Joe became a popular player-manager for the Sacramento Solons in 1951-52. He would go on to manage 4 different major league teams. He died in Sacramento in 1978 and was elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Don Lyle
Don Lyle excelled in football and baseball at Sacramento High School. Signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1974, Lyle spent 7 years in the Red's chain and hit over .270. In 1992, Don became a scout for the San Diego Padres and eventually joined the Cleveland Indians where he has signed more than 50 prospects to major league contracts, including Derrek Lee.
Greg Orr
A standout multi-sport athlete at Kennedy High School, Greg Orr was a speedy middle infielder who had great years for the Sacramento City College baseball teams in 1971 and 72. He was also a star at Renfree Field playing in the competitive Sacramento night league in the early 1970’s. Greg would go on to become a scout for the storied New York Yankees. He is now in his 37th year in professional baseball.
Manuel Perry
Manny was a key member of the stellar 1949 McClatchy Baseball Team, Post 61 American Legion Team, and the celebrated Sacramento City College Team of 1950. After a productive playing career in the local bush leagues, Manny became a well-known American Legion coach. His most memorable season was leading the Kennedy squad to victory at the 1981 American Legion World Series.
Randy Zanze
Randy was an All-City, team MVP slugger for Bishop Armstrong in 1968. He went on to a productive collegiate career at USF. In 1972, he was the team MVP and the WCC batting champion hitting .422. After being injured in his final season at USF, Randy continued in the local leagues around Sacramento as a player and manager.
Joe Viega
Joe was a great athlete growing up in the Southside Park neighborhood and excelled in football and baseball at Sacramento High School. Joe was a pitcher and an outfielder. After service in Korea, Joe returned to Sacramento where he played bush baseball for over 25 years, and won a batting title in the California Mexican League.
Jerry Manuel
Jerry Manuel was an All-City baseball player for Cordova High School and a number 1 draft pick in the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft. He had a seven year major league career with stops in Detroit, Montreal, and San Diego. Jerry managed the Chicago White Sox from 1998 to 2003 and the New York Mets from 2008 to 2010. He was named the American League Manager of the Year in 2000. He is currently the Director of Baseball Operations at William Jessup University in Rocklin.
The La Salle Club Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees
Leon Brown
Former Grant High outfielder was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1966. He spent 13 years in professional baseball including the 1976 season with the New York Mets where he had 74 plate appearances in 64 games and hit .214. He currently resides in Arizona where he stays busy with other former major league players teaching and coaching youth baseball.
Eddie Cervantes
Eddie was a right-handed infielder who was a standout at Johnson High School and Sacramento City College. He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles in 1971 and spent 2 seasons with the organization. He spent 5 more seasons in the minors before journeying south to the Mexican League where he played for 6 more years. His professional baseball batting average, over 13 years, was .297. He is currently the baseball coach at Inderkum High School.
Joe Gordon
Nicknamed “Flash” Joe Gordon was a five time American League all-star, appeared in 5 World Series, and was the league MVP in 1942. He was a career .268 hitter with 253 career home runs. After his major league career, Joe became a popular player-manager for the Sacramento Solons in 1951-52. He would go on to manage 4 different major league teams. He died in Sacramento in 1978 and was elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Don Lyle
Don Lyle excelled in football and baseball at Sacramento High School. Signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1974, Lyle spent 7 years in the Red's chain and hit over .270. In 1992, Don became a scout for the San Diego Padres and eventually joined the Cleveland Indians where he has signed more than 50 prospects to major league contracts, including Derrek Lee.
Greg Orr
A standout multi-sport athlete at Kennedy High School, Greg Orr was a speedy middle infielder who had great years for the Sacramento City College baseball teams in 1971 and 72. He was also a star at Renfree Field playing in the competitive Sacramento night league in the early 1970’s. Greg would go on to become a scout for the storied New York Yankees. He is now in his 37th year in professional baseball.
Manuel Perry
Manny was a key member of the stellar 1949 McClatchy Baseball Team, Post 61 American Legion Team, and the celebrated Sacramento City College Team of 1950. After a productive playing career in the local bush leagues, Manny became a well-known American Legion coach. His most memorable season was leading the Kennedy squad to victory at the 1981 American Legion World Series.
Randy Zanze
Randy was an All-City, team MVP slugger for Bishop Armstrong in 1968. He went on to a productive collegiate career at USF. In 1972, he was the team MVP and the WCC batting champion hitting .422. After being injured in his final season at USF, Randy continued in the local leagues around Sacramento as a player and manager.
Joe Viega
Joe was a great athlete growing up in the Southside Park neighborhood and excelled in football and baseball at Sacramento High School. Joe was a pitcher and an outfielder. After service in Korea, Joe returned to Sacramento where he played bush baseball for over 25 years, and won a batting title in the California Mexican League.
Jerry Manuel
Jerry Manuel was an All-City baseball player for Cordova High School and a number 1 draft pick in the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft. He had a seven year major league career with stops in Detroit, Montreal, and San Diego. Jerry managed the Chicago White Sox from 1998 to 2003 and the New York Mets from 2008 to 2010. He was named the American League Manager of the Year in 2000. He is currently the Director of Baseball Operations at William Jessup University in Rocklin.