National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame

National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame The National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame recognizes achievement by Polish-Americans athletes

June 14, 1973 – The first National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame testimonial banquet is held at the Polish Centur...
06/14/2026

June 14, 1973 – The first National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame testimonial banquet is held at the Polish Century Club of Detroit. More than 400 guests gather to honor the first inductee of the NPASHF, legendary baseball great Stan “The Man” Musial. To learn more about the history of the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame, click here:
http://www.polishsportshof.com/about/

Happy birthday Ryan Klesko, born on this date in 1971 in Westminster, CA. Outfielder/1st baseman Klecko played 16 years...
06/12/2026

Happy birthday Ryan Klesko, born on this date in 1971 in Westminster, CA. Outfielder/1st baseman Klecko played 16 years with three teams: Atlanta, San Diego, and San Francisco. He helped Atlanta win the 1995 World Series in which he homered in each of games #3, #4, and #5. His career batting average was .279 along with 278 home runs.

June 10, 1948 – Tony Zale defeats Rocky Graziano in the third and final fight of their epic trilogy of championship bou...
06/10/2026

June 10, 1948 – Tony Zale defeats Rocky Graziano in the third and final fight of their epic trilogy of championship bouts. Zale lands a right to Graziano’s body, followed by a left hook to Rocky’s jaw, knocking him unconscious. With the victory, Zale regains the Middleweight Crown, and prevails in the classic three-fight series, two wins to one. Read more about Zale at https://bit.ly/2I8zPoo

June 9, 1981 – Kelly Tripucka becomes the second, first-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in the 1981 NBA Draft. The 12...
06/09/2026

June 9, 1981 – Kelly Tripucka becomes the second, first-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in the 1981 NBA Draft. The 12th overall selection that year, Tripucka, son of another NPASHF Inductee Frank Tripucka, would go on to an illustrious 10-year NBA career. The Piston’s other first round selection that year? A pretty decent guard named Isiah Thomas, selected second overall. Read about Kelly Tripucka at: https://bit.ly/2Uvlau0

June 9, 1974, Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder Richie Zisk hits for the cycle (single, double, triple, and home run) in a 1...
06/09/2026

June 9, 1974, Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder Richie Zisk hits for the cycle (single, double, triple, and home run) in a 14-1 romp over the San Francisco Giants. Read more about Ritchie at https://bit.ly/2TSvUyu

June 7, 1978, Basketball forward Mitch Kupchak contributed 13 points and 5 rebounds as the Washington Bullets defeated ...
06/07/2026

June 7, 1978, Basketball forward Mitch Kupchak contributed 13 points and 5 rebounds as the Washington Bullets defeated the Seattle Supersonics 105-99 in game seven of the NBA’s Championship Finals. To date this has been Washington’s only NBA title. Read more about Mitch at https://bit.ly/2FJPQOV

Ceglarski was a major figure in the development of U.S. college hockey and is remembered as a respected coach and mentor...
06/06/2026

Ceglarski was a major figure in the development of U.S. college hockey and is remembered as a respected coach and mentor. Ceglarski was a standout player for Boston College in the late 1940s and was part of the team that won the 1949 NCAA Championship. He played for the U.S. Olympic hockey team in the 1952 Winter Olympics, helping the team win a silver medal. Ceglarski had a long and successful coaching career at both Clarkson University (1958–1972) and Boston College (1972–1992). By the time he retired in 1992, he was the winningest coach in NCAA hockey history, with 673 career victories. His record was later surpassed. Ceglarski was widely respected for his class and integrity. He even won the Lester Patrick Trophy in 1990 for outstanding contributions to hockey in the U.S. Member of Multiple Halls of Fame – He has been inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame (1992) and the Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame, as well as the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame.

June 5, 1978 – National Polish American Sports HOF inductee Evan “Big Cat” Williams hits the pages of Sports Illustrate...
06/05/2026

June 5, 1978 – National Polish American Sports HOF inductee Evan “Big Cat” Williams hits the pages of Sports Illustrated Magazine in an article entitled “The Whack of the Cat”. You can read that entertaining article at:http://www.si.com/vault/1978/06/05/822697/the-whack-of-the-cat-evan- big-cat-williams-can-bash-a-ball-a-quarter-of-a-country-mile--and-never- mind-where-it-comes-down-because-the-game-that-he-plays-best-is- suited-to-a-tee. Then find out more about “Big Cat” at https://bit.ly/2TSwGeK

National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame (NPASHF) director, David Jansen was out in Montana recently and stopped by ...
06/04/2026

National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame (NPASHF) director, David Jansen was out in Montana recently and stopped by to visit with NPASHF inductee Lynn “Jonnie” Jonckowski.

Jonnie is doing wonderful work with her non-profit organization – Angel Horses, Inc ( www.angelhorsesmt.org ). Jonnie’s organization cares for horses that are older giving them 2nd chance. In turn, these horses bring joy and emotional therapy to the seniors, kids, and anyone “young at heart” who comes out to visit and spend some time with them.

It is a labor of love for Jonnie and her cadre of volunteers.

The NPASHF was honored to recognize Jonnie for her accomplishments as a champion bull rider. We are equally proud of the work she is doing now!

June 3, 1895. Born this day in Toledo, Ohio, Johnny Crimmins became one of bowling’s all-time greats. Known for his fie...
06/03/2026

June 3, 1895. Born this day in Toledo, Ohio, Johnny Crimmins became one of bowling’s all-time greats. Known for his fiery temperament, “The General” toured for more than forty years, and won the first ever BPAA All-Star Tournament in 1942, predecessor to the U.S. Open. Crimmins was voted “Bowler of the Year” that same year, and was elected to the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in 1962. Read more about Crimmins at: http://www.polishsportshof.com/portfolio_page/johnny-crimmins/

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