Year Inducted – 1995

Ira is another player upholding the long tradition of East High Schoolers who have entered the G.A.B.H.O.F. As a youth he played in the Little Leagues at Reservoir Park Field before he became the Oriental’s regular center fielder. From East High he got a scholarship to the University of Illinois, playing third base and hitting Big 10 pitching at a .317 clip. He left college for a pro contract with the Chicago Cubs organization, being assigned to the Class AA Club in Albuquerque, N.M. in the Texas-New Mexico League. Deciding that the hardships of minor league baseball were not for him, he returned to Akron and began playing with the Zoff Heating Team. In 1960 he joined the Black Label team and for the next 9 years he was a member of that championship team. Ira was a consistent .300 hitter and excellent defensive player.