July 13, 2022 - The Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame (CAS-HOF) announced its Inaugural Hall of Fame Class during the National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCACF) 29th Annual Assembly of Delegates.
The ten-member Inaugural 2022 Class includes athletes from six different sports: three from basketball and two from baseball, two from hockey and one golfer, one swimmer/diver and one NFL football player. The Selection Committee of the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame announced the following inductees on July 2, 2022: Fred Couples, Helen Crlenkovich, John Havlicek, Mickey Lolich, Roger Maris, Kevin McHale, George Mikan, Mark Pavelich, Joe Sakic and Joe Stydahar.
John Havlicek was a star NBA basketball player for the Boston Celtics and he was also inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and on the 75th NBA Anniversary team. Kevin McHale was one of the best defensive power forwards who ever played in the NBA and was recently honored as one of the league’s greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team. George Mikan nicknamed “Mr. Basketball” was an American professional basketball player who starred with the Minneapolis Lakers and is already inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and he was also selected to the 75th NBA Anniversary team.
Roger Maris was an American professional baseball player best known for his record-setting 61 home runs in 1961 and was the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1961 and 1962. Mickey Lolich, star baseball player with the Detroit Tigers who played 17 seasons, set a career record for strikeouts by a left-hander, was a three time All-Star and a World Series Most Valuable Player.
Mark Pavelich may be best known for his starring role in leading the US Olympic hockey team to a gold medal in 1980 defeating the Soviet Union and had a successful NHL career too and even scored five goals in one game. Next, Joe Sakic, with the Colorado Avalanche who played 21 years of professional hockey, 13 time All-Star, twice a Stanley Cup Champion and inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.
Fred Couples won 63 professional tournaments and was a former number one world ranked golfer and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2013.
Helen Crlenkovich Morgan, chosen from the ranks of swimmers and divers and she was universally considered the greatest female diver of the 1930’s-1940’s era and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
In football, Joe Stydahar was the first player ever drafted by the Chicago Bears and was five times All-Pro and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.
The 2022 CAS-HOF Selection Committee members are: Derek Hohn, Jerome Jurenovich, Jim Kresnik, Ken Krsolovic, Dino Mattessich, Vedran Joseph Nazor, Pete Radovich, Steve Rukavina, Al Saracevic and Tom Steich. The Inaugural Induction to the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame will take place on Sunday, October 16, 2022 at the American-Croatian Lodge in Eastlake, Ohio.
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