These special awards are to acknowledge the hard work and dedication in the different service areas of making baseball special with our community.
- GEORGE POPP AWARD: Presented to the Umpire of the Year by the Summit Umpires Association
- GLENN “SPEED” BOSWORTH AWARD: For Community Service and Overall Contribution to the game of Baseball
- GOLDEN CLEAT AWARD: Presented to a player who is 70 or older and was still playing the game of baseball
- JACK S. TRAMONTE AWARD: Presented to a Backer or Sponsor of Baseball Teams
- MIKE KURA AWARD: Contribution to Youth Baseball
- RON REED AWARD – Rookie Umpire of the Year
- TEAM AWARD: Presented to a team that has excelled for many years
2024 Service Awards
The Frank Garcia Memorial Outstanding Player Award
The GABHoF established the Frank Garcia Memorial Outstanding
Player Award in 1956 in honor of the memory of Frank Garcia,
who passed away at an early age in the midst of an outstanding
career as a player-manager. The award annually honors a player,
manager or sponsor for outstanding contributions to the Akron AA
Baseball League.
| YEAR | RECIPIENT |
|---|---|
| 2023 | John Kuntis |
| 2012 | Ryan Hartzell and Dave Frak |
| 2011 | Phil Smith |
| 2010 | Casey Jirsa |
| 2009 | Danny Campfield and Craig Knott |
| 2008 | Sam Crea |
| 2007 | Ron Spears |
| 2006 | Jeff Forbes |
| 2005 | Jesse Michel |
| 1994 | Jeff Fisher |
| 1993 | Matt Dennison |
| 1992 | Brian Butash and Dave Layton |
| 1991 | Mark Dean and Roger Begue |
| 1990 | Jeff Rollyson and Scott Jalowiec |
| 1989 | John Mast and Brian Williams |
| 1988 | Rod Rickert |
| 1987 | Dave Weithman, Scotty Wightman and T.J. Myers |
| 1986 | Dan Rizzo, Ron Piekarski and Byron Sturm |
| 1985 | Joe Nauer |
| 1984 | Ed Vargo |
| 1983 | Jeff Tabaka and Jeff Brown |
| 1982 | Doug Gruber |
| 1981 | Winston Austin |
| 1980 | Bob Baker |
| 1979 | Rudy Donatelli |
| 1978 | Scott Fletcher |
| 1977 | Tim Justice |
| 1976 | John Rasicci |
| 1975 | Winston Austin |
| 1974 | Dave Kerestly |
| 1973 | Scott Carnes |
| 1972 | Don Croskey |
| 1971 | John Pangle |
| 1970 | Jerry Johnson |
| 1969 | Jack Bisesi |
| 1968 | Dick Lui and Jim Olson |
| 1967 | Jeff Hogan |
| 1966 | Carl Rakich and George Nichols |
| 1965 | Art Kusnyer |
| 1964 | Rick Handy |
| 1963 | Linc Hackim Jr. and Jim Barton |
| 1962 | Ray Glinsky |
| 1961 | Karl Kramer |
| 1960 | Don Lombardi |
| 1959 | Pete Baltic |
| 1958 | Mike Grimm |
| 1957 | Dave Yound |
| 1956 | Dean Dutton |
The George Popp Award
The GABHoF George Popp Award recognizes the commitment, service, and professionalism of Summit Umpires Association Person-of-the-Year, and is chosen Summit Umpires Association. The Popp Award was originally established in 1988 to recognize the individual deemed by the GABHoF Board of Directors to have contributed the most to the successful operation of the organization during the previous year. SUA assumed jurisdiction of the award in 2014.
| YEAR | RECIPIENT |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Dave Hanna |
| 2021 | Kelly Dine |
| 2019 | Brian Harrell |
| 2018 | Dan Duignan |
| 2017 | Rich Rinaldo |
| 2016 | Don Oscai |
| 2015 | Bruce Claflin |
| 2014 | Andy Uy |
| 2013 | Ron Piekarski |
| 2012 | Jeff Fisher |
| 2004 | Louis Yovanovich |
| 2003 | Brian Butash and Dave Layton |
| 2001 | Patty Pangle |
| 2000 | Bill Johnson & Bob Piekarski |
| 1999 | Carl Kieffer |
| 1998 | Ed Millhoff & Rudy Piekarski |
| 1997 | Don Plusquellic & Richard Jacobs |
| 1996 | Jim Honsberger |
| 1995 | John Porter and Don Ursetti |
| 1994 | Paul Carrol & Bill Leib |
| 1993 | Steve Paschen & Thomas Eakin |
| 1992 | Jeanie Rakich |
| 1991 | Alex Ellesin |
| 1990 | Ed Millhoff |
| 1989 | Keith McClure |
| 1988 | Ernie Kusnyer Sr. |
The Glenn “Speed” Bosworth Award
The GABHoF instituted the Glenn ‘Speed’ Bosworth Award in 1988 to recognize the personal efforts of any person in the community whose contributions supported, served and organized any level of baseball in the Greater Akron area. An organizer, promoter, manager and tremendous friend of baseball for 60 years, ‘Speed’ Bosworth had a keen impact on baseball played in the Akron area. Bosworth played with the General Tire baseball teams that won the Akron Industrial League and semi-professional championships.
| YEAR | RECIPIENT |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Bill Roemer |
| 2022 | John Megensky |
| 2021 | Pamela J. Rine & George Van Horne |
| 2019 | Jim Clark |
| 2018 | Jack Kilway |
| 2017 | Eric Jordan Thompson & Eric Joel Thompson |
| 2016 | Reverend Jim Noall |
| 2015 | Frances & Kathleen Harouff |
| 2014 | Tom Floyd |
| 2013 | David Bryant |
| 2010 | Bob Early |
| 2007 | Wade Hatch |
| 2004 | Tom Stavroff |
| 2002 | Dave Gagat |
| 2001 | Leo Kline |
| 2000 | Walter W. Bettinger II |
| 1999 | Tom Hafler |
| 1998 | Jon Durgala |
| 1997 | Russ Ilg |
| 1996 | Bob Nold |
| 1995 | William “Tiny” DiMenna |
| 1994 | William J. “Doc” Malone |
| 1993 | Lawrence “Doc” Ricker |
| 1992 | Clifton Skeen |
| 1991 | Robert Stein |
| 1990 | Joe Sherman |
| 1989 | Ken MacDonald |
| 1988 | Charles “Bud” Krampe |