St. Louis is regularly called “the best baseball town in America.”  

But that descriptor is not solely due to the success of its professional baseball teams.  What truly makes St. Louis baseball so special is its rich history at the amateur level— a history that dates back to July 9, 1860, when two amateur teams, the Cyclones and the Morning Stars met in the region’s first documented organized baseball game played at Fairgrounds Park, in north St. Louis at Grand and Natural Bridge Avenues.

Amateur baseball is the very root of the game we play, love, and watch. It’s where all baseball players begin.  Everyone is an amateur the first time they pop a mitt or take a swing. How many youngsters playing in organized baseball realize that the Khoury League was founded in St. Louis in 1934 and today still calls its National Organization’s home St. Louis?  Within this baseball greatness, there was a time when more players were in the Major Leagues from one St. Louis high school than any other in America.  Few recognize the significant role that a St. Louis African American amateur league played as a turnstile to the Negro Leagues in the days prior to the integration of Major League Baseball.  Beyond high school, there were decades where the region’s teams were regular finalist in the American Legion National Championship games.  And for those who could not give up their love of the game, senior amateur baseball has flourished for decades at a level as competitive as many Minor League affiliates. It is this history, the moments, and players that make St. Louis amateur baseball so special. To honor their accomplishments, the Greater St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame was established in 1973 to recognize and preserve the memories of those players, coaches, umpires, and contributors who have helped amateur baseball flourish in the Gateway City.  Every year since 1974, an induction dinner and ceremony has been held to recognize the newest class of honorees. 

Tonight is the 50th Anniversary and Induction Ceremony of the Greater St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame.  The HOF was organized in July 1973, when Don Gabbert initiated discussions to honor those individuals that have made the region’s amateur baseball history so special.  Over the next month, Gabbert formed a special committee consisting of himself, Bob Burnes, Gideon Elmore, Ed Fogarty, Chuck Foulke, Walter Giesler, Leroy Hankins, Ben Hopwood, Steve Raab, and Roger Wensel. On August 9, 1973, these men met and formally laid out the qualifications necessary for induction, the awards to be given, and the other necessary items to form and to establish the Greater St Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame.

With Don Gabbert elected Chairman, four others, Greg Maracek, Ray Owen, Tom Dix and LeRoy Engert, were added along with the original committee to form a diverse Board of Directors that would represent the many decades of St. Louis amateur baseball .  In developing the first class of inductees, the Board put forth the guidelines that no Major League player would be nominated for the award and no director would be eligible for the first year’s induction.  To be eligible for induction, candidates must have been involved in amateur baseball for at least 10 years and must be at least 50 years old.  The inductees would fall into three categories:  Player, Contributor, and Umpire.  After months of reviewing potential candidates and finalizing their selections, 22 individuals were selected for induction at an awards ceremony scheduled for March 21, 1974, at the Red-Carpet Inn.