The New York‐Penn League has announced the inductees for the New York‐Penn League Hall of Fame Class of 2018.
The purpose of the New York‐Penn League Hall of Fame is to recognize individuals who have been a part of the league, for their overall accomplishments and contributions to the league on the field of play or in an administrative role, in addition to their overall career in baseball.
“As the oldest, continuously‐operated Class-A league in professional baseball, the list of players, coaches, field managers, general managers, and owners reads like a Who’s Who of Baseball,” said Ben Hayes, President of the New York‐Penn League. “We are proud to induct this year’s class of extraordinary nominees.”
The following individuals comprise the New York‐Penn League’s 2018 Hall of Fame Class;
Wayne Fuller- Fuller’s voice was a constant in Batavia, N.Y., the birthplace of the New York-Penn League. For almost four decades Wayne served various roles for his hometown team including radio broadcaster, PA announcer and Official Scorer from his spot in the Batavia press box which was named the Wayne H. Fuller Press Box in 2009.
He also served a variety of roles with Batavia High School sports leading to his selection to the Batavia High School Sports Hall of Fame and was a broadcaster for the Rochester Lancers soccer club of the NASL where he is a member of their Wall of Fame. A man for all seasons, he also, at various times, was a PA announcer for the Rochester Flash (soccer), Rochester Red Wings (baseball) and the Rochester Americans (hockey).
Fuller, who passed away in February of 2018, will forever be remembered as a shining example of the connection between a team and a community and will surely be remembered by the countless players, coaches and broadcasters who have passed through Batavia on their way to the big leagues.
Marvin Goldklang‐ Goldklang serves as chairman of the Goldklang Group who has owned and operated the Hudson Valley Renegades since 1994. The group also owns the Charleston RiverDogs (Class A-South Atlantic League), St. Paul Saints (Independent-American Association) and Pittsfield Suns (Futures Collegiate Baseball League).
Goldklang has been a member of the Minor League Baseball Board of Trustees since 2014. He is a 2004 inductee in the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame, a 2010 inductee in the Florida State League Hall of Fame and currently serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee for the South Atlantic League and a member of the New York Penn League Executive Committee. Additionally, he has been a limited partner of the New York Yankees for over thirty years.
Andres Galarraga‐ Galarraga played for the Jamestown Expos in 1981 hitting .260 with six home runs and 26 RBI in 47 games.
He went on to have a 19-year Major League career playing for seven different teams including Montreal, St. Louis, Colorado, Atlanta, Texas, San Francisco and Anaheim.
Nicknamed “The Big Cat” for his impressively quick reflexes as a first baseman in spite of his large physical size, Galarraga was a five time All-Star, won two National League Gold Glove Awards and two NL Silver Slugger Awards while being named the MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award on two occasions.
He finished his career with 399 major league home runs and a .280 career batting average.
The New York‐Penn League Hall of Fame was established in 2012. Inductees are nominated and voted on by New York-Penn League club officials.
Inductions are scheduled to take place on August 14, during pregame ceremonies at the 2018 New York‐Penn League All‐Star Game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park home of the State College Spikes.
