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 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/

May 30 -- Norbert Schemansky is born on this day in Detroit, MI, and goes on to become one of the greatest weightlifter...
05/30/2026

May 30 -- Norbert Schemansky is born on this day in Detroit, MI, and goes on to become one of the greatest weightlifters ever. Despite missing the 1956 Olympics with a back injury, Schemansky becomes the first weightlifter to earn medals in four separate Olympics; Silver in ’48; Gold in ’52; and Bronze in ’60 and ’64. Read more about “Mr. Weightlifting” at https://bit.ly/2FJJX4q

May 29 -- Happy Birthday, Sue Rojcewicz! Sue was a vital member of the U.S. Women’s Basketball Team in the mid-1970’s,...
05/29/2026

May 29 -- Happy Birthday, Sue Rojcewicz! Sue was a vital member of the U.S. Women’s Basketball Team in the mid-1970’s, and played an important role in leading the U.S. Women’s Team to a silver medal in the 1976 Olympics – the first time women’s basketball was ever played as an Olympic event. Having already been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Sue was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame along with her 1976 Olympic teammates, and was recently inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame on June 26, 2025. Read more about her at https://www.polishsportshof.com/portfolio_page/sue-rojcewicz/.

May 29 -- Tony Zale (born Anthony Florian Zaleski) is born on this day in Gary, Indiana. Largely considered one of the ...
05/29/2026

May 29 -- Tony Zale (born Anthony Florian Zaleski) is born on this day in Gary, Indiana. Largely considered one of the greatest middleweights of all-time, the “Man of Steel” is best known for his trilogy of fights with Rocky Graziano, with Zale emerging victorious in 2 of the 3 bouts. Read more about Zale at: https://bit.ly/2I8zPoo
The tragic theft of Zale’s Championship belts is described by his family at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/heist-championship-boxing-belts hall-of-fame-professionals_us_56cf460be4b03260bf75d834

May 28 -- Bob Kuzava -- Born on this day in Wyandotte, MI, Kuzava signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1946, and went o...
05/28/2026

May 28 -- Bob Kuzava -- Born on this day in Wyandotte, MI, Kuzava signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1946, and went on to a strong 11-year major league career that included three consecutive World Series Championships with the Yankees, in 1951,’52, and’53. Read more about “Sarge” at: https://bit.ly/2K1OAfl

May 25 -- On this date in 2011, NHL defenseman Brian Rafalski announced his retirement. After playing four years in Eu...
05/25/2026

May 25 -- On this date in 2011, NHL defenseman Brian Rafalski announced his retirement. After playing four years in Europe, Rafalski broke into the NHL with the New Jersey Devils. He ultimately played 7 years with New Jersey (winning two Stanley Cups) and four years with the Detroit Red Wings (adding his 3rd Stanley Cup).

May 24 -- Birthday wishes go out today to NPASHF Inductee Mitch Kupchak. Born in Hicksville, NY, Kupchak was the 13th ...
05/24/2026

May 24 -- Birthday wishes go out today to NPASHF Inductee Mitch Kupchak. Born in Hicksville, NY, Kupchak was the 13th overall pick in the 1976 NBA Draft and went on to a ten-year NBA career with the Washington Bullets and L.A. Lakers. Following his retirement as a player, he moved into the front office, becoming General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets. In February, 2024, Kupchak stepped down from his role as the head of Hornet’s basketball operations, and transitioned into an advisory role. Read more about Kupchak at: https://bit.ly/2FJPQOV

May 23 -- Jockey Tony Skoronski was born on this date in 1920. Tony won 2,244 races in his career, and while he compete...
05/23/2026

May 23 -- Jockey Tony Skoronski was born on this date in 1920. Tony won 2,244 races in his career, and while he competed mainly in the Chicago area his biggest triumph was aboard ‘Challenge Me” in the 1944 Arkansas Derby.

May 22 -- Baseball Hall of Famer Al Simmons (Szymanski) is born this day in Milwaukee, WI. Simmons played 20 years in t...
05/22/2026

May 22 -- Baseball Hall of Famer Al Simmons (Szymanski) is born this day in Milwaukee, WI. Simmons played 20 years in the Major Leagues, establishing a life-time batting average of .334. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1953, and the NPASHF in 1975. Read more about “the slugger who made Milwaukee famous” at:
https://bit.ly/2YKI7ZF

May 21 --Pete Banaszak is born on this day in Crivitz, WI. Known by his teammates as “Rooster,” Banaszak’s 13-year NFL ...
05/21/2026

May 21 --Pete Banaszak is born on this day in Crivitz, WI. Known by his teammates as “Rooster,” Banaszak’s 13-year NFL career (all with the Oakland Raiders) was highlighted by Super Bowl appearances in 1968 (Super Bowl II) and 1977 (Super Bowl XI), where his two touchdowns would lead the Raiders to a 32-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Pete was among the 19 NPASHF Hall of Famers who helped us celebrate our 50th Anniversary in 2023. Happy Birthday, Pete! Learn more about Pete Banaszak at:https://bit.ly/2WJIoue

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