Given Oakland’s legendary sports history, it’s almost criminal that the Oakland Athletic League (OAL) hasn’t had a Hall of Fame to recognize it’s amazing public high school athletes. Thankfully, that all changed this past weekend inside the Oakland Coliseum’s Courtside Club. Twelve former athletes and coaches from the OAL were celebrated for their mastery in their respective sports and their contributions to society as a whole.

The evening’s festivities were emceed by Rick Tittle of 95.7 FM The Game, and featured words from OUSD School Board Member Chris Dobbins, Oakland Tribune columnist Monte Poole, OAL Historian Paul Brekke-Miesner, and Oakland legend Bill Patterson. These speakers put Oakland’s amazing sports legacy in perspective. While some places have a notable player or two to claim, Oakland has the most dynamic sporting history in the country. For those of you who are unfamiliar, the following is a small sample of some of The Town’s milestones. Oakland can boast giving rise to:

–       The first African-American coach in NBA history

–       The first African-American manager in major league history

–       The first Chinese-American to play professional baseball

–       The first human to break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meter dash

–       The first grand slam winner in tennis

–       The player with the major league record for stolen bases and runs scored

–       The player who became the first MVP in both major leagues

–       The first double gold medal winner in Olympic diving history

–       A high school that produced 23 major league ball players

–       The high school with the best basketball records in California prep history

–       Two high school teammates who were awarded the President’s Medal of Freedom

Some of these feats were shared by Brekke-Miesner during the ceremony to contextualize the incredible nature of the local sports landscape. Judy Pace Flood, widow of inductee Curt Flood, marveled at how a small city like Oakland could produce so many outstanding athletes when she accepted her late husband’s award.  She shared that Curt and his childhood friend Vada Pinson always dreamed of playing major league baseball, and with the help of wonderful coaches and a supportive West Oakland community, they eventually played side-by-side in the St. Louis Cardinals outfield.

Curt Flood’s stellar playing career would have been more than enough to earn him entrance into the OAL Hall of Fame, but like Bill Russell and Frank Robinson, he was an Oakland boy built to make waves. Flood’s real legacy is his controversial decision to challenge Major League Baseball’s reserve clause, which stated that a player was property of a team even after the player’s contract had been completed. Although Flood’s Supreme Court case was decided in MLB’s favor, his bold stand eventually led to the creation of free agency, and continues to be celebrated to this day.

Oakland Tribune columnist Monte Poole spoke on the OAL’s storied basketball legacy, citing the legendary Bill Russell before focusing on current Rookie of the Year favorite Damian Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers. While the OAL has given rise to some historical figures, it’s refreshing to know that players like Marshawn Lynch and Damian Lillard are still roaming America’s grid irons and arenas putting on for The Town.  We will no doubt be celebrating their inductions into the OAL Hall of Fame in the near future.

The OAL launched in 1920 and in its 93-year history, has produced 61 major league baseball players (four of them in the Hall of Fame), 23 pro basketball players (two Hall of Famers with a third on the way this year – Gary Payton), 47 pro football players (five in the College Football Hall of Fame), and 20 Olympic athletes.

The twelve honorees, selected by a committee of local athletes, coaches, athletic directors, sportswriters, educators, and community members, represent the elite of a deep crop of Oakland public high school athletic heroes who went on to wider acclaim.  As a group, these stars set Olympic and World Records; earned Olympic medals, won World Series, NBA and Grand Slam titles, and shattered racial barriers on the way to unprecedented successes.

The first class of inductees into the OAL Hall-of-Fame include:

Jim Hines – McClymonds High School 

Jim Hines is the first human to break the 10-second barrier in the 100-meter dash and is the winner of two gold medals in the 1968 Olympic Games.

Don Budge – University High School

Don Budge won 10 majors and is recognized as having one of the best backhands in tennis history. In 1938 Budge won the Australian Open, French Open, US Open, and Wimbledon making him the first Grand Slam winner in tennis history.

Curt Flood – McClymonds & Oakland Tech High School 

Curt Flood was a star outfielder with the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1960s, racking up seven gold gloves, two World Series titles, and three All Star game appearances. He also batted over .300 in six seasons and led the league in hits in 1964 with 211. More important than his on-field accomplishments however, was his bold stand against Major League Baseball’s reserve clause, which led to the creation of free agency.

Rickey Henderson – Oakland Tech High School

Rickey Henderson holds major league records for stolen bases in a single season (130) and career (1,406), runs scored (2,295), and homeruns to lead-off a game (81).  He is a 10-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, and a member of the prestigious 3,000 hit club, among several other awards and accomplishments. He is recognized as the greatest lead-off hitter in baseball history and is a member of baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Joe Morgan – Castlemont High School

Joe Morgan is regarded by many as the best second baseman of all-time. The 10-time All-Star won two World Series titles and was the first second baseman in National League history to win back-to-back MVP awards. He is a member of baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Jackie Jensen ­– Oakland High School 

Jackie Jensen is the only athlete in history to be honored as an All-American in baseball and football, play in a college and major league World Series, and be named MVP in major league baseball. He was also a 3-time All-Star, 3-time RBI champion, and Gold Glove winner.

Gary Payton – Skyline High School 

Gary “The Glove” Payton is the only player in NBA history to amass 20,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 8,000 assists, and 2,000 steals in a career. He is also the only point guard in NBA history to win the Defensive Player of the Year award, which he did in 1996. His nine consecutive All-Defensive first team honors comprise an NBA record he shares with Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett, and Kobe Bryant. Payton also earned All-Star honors nine times and won two gold medals as part of the 1996 and 2000 USA Olympic basketball teams. He has been nominated as an inductee into basketball’s Hall of Fame in 2013.

Lola Smith – Fremont High School

Lola Smith was California’s high school women’s basketball Coach of the Year in 1987-88 when her Lady Tigers from Fremont High School won the state Division 1 championship with a 28 and 0 record.  Her Lady Tigers returned the following year to the state championship game but lost.  She also led her Lady Tigers to ten OAL volleyball titles.

George Powles – McClymonds & Skyline High School 

The long-time baseball coach at McClymonds and Skyline high schools and American Legion teams in Oakland, Powles was instrumental in producing 17 major league baseball players from his high school and American Legion teams. His 1949 and 1950 American Legion teams won back-to-back national titles, the first time that was ever accomplished. His 1959 Connie Mack team also won the national title.

Frank Robinson – McClymonds High School

Frank Robinson is considered one of the top three right fielders in major league history. The 14-time All-Star won the esteemed Triple Crown with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966 and was the first player to win the MVP award in both the American and National leagues.  Robinson was the first African-American manager in major league history, is a member of baseball’s Hall of Fame, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush.

Zoe Ann Olson – Oakland High School 

Zoe Ann Olson won 14 national AAU diving titles before winning two medals (silver and bronze) in diving in two consecutive Olympic Games, the first female diver to accomplish the feat. She was elected to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1989.

Bill Russell – McClymonds High School

Bill Russell was a five-time MVP who won a record 11 NBA Championships in 13 seasons. Russell literally changed the game of basketball with his shot blocking, rebounding and defensive prowess and is considered by many as the greatest basketball player in NBA history. Russell was the first African-American head coach in NBA history, is a member of basketball’s Hall of Fame, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.

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