Year Inducted – 1997

Throughout the history of Akron baseball the most important role has been that of the sponsor. None have handled the part better than Jerome Stembridge. He provided the means to promote the game citywide, but primarily in the Elizabeth Park community. His generosity gave many athletes the opportunity to be better than their environment. His dedication to our youth though the lean years as well as the good years made baseball possible for those great players of the urban West side. Several present Hall of Famers played on his teams sunch as Ed Finney, Thurston Walker, Bobby Nash, Eddie Elias, Joe Harris, Don Tyler, Jimmie Johnson and many other likely candidates for this honor. We owe much to the “Scatmans” memory.