History of sports in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...

is currently home to seven minor league sports franchises. These include the Fort Wayne Fever

Fort Wayne Fever

Fort Wayne Fever was an American soccer team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. Founded in 2003, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team...

of soccer's Premier Development League, the Fort Wayne Flash

Fort Wayne Flash

The Fort Wayne Flash is a full-contact women's outdoor football team of the Women's Football Alliance based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The team started its exhibition season in 2006 and officially became part of the National Women's Football Association and began playing league games in 2007. Home...

of the Women's Football Alliance

Women's Football Alliance

The Women's Football Alliance is a full-contact Women's American football league which began play in the spring of 2009. They have now completed three full seasons and grew to over 60 teams slated for the 2011 season. The women play 11 person tackle football games with rules that basically mirror...

, the Fort Wayne Firehawks

Fort Wayne Firehawks

The Fort Wayne FireHawks are an indoor football team affiliated with the Continental Indoor Football League. Based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the FireHawks play their home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum....

of the Continental Indoor Football League, the Fort Wayne Komets

Fort Wayne Komets

The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...

of the International Hockey League, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants

Fort Wayne Mad Ants

The Fort Wayne Mad Ants are a team of the NBA Development League, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is the home venue for the team. The team is the first minor league basketball franchise to play in Fort Wayne since the Fort Wayne Fury...

of the NBA Development League

NBA Development League

The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...

, and the Fort Wayne TinCaps of baseball's Midwest League

Midwest League

The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...

.

Fort Wayne has also been home to three former professional sports franchises. These include the NBA's Fort Wayne Pistons (now in Detroit), the Fort Wayne Daisies

Fort Wayne Daisies

The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...

of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...

, and the Fort Wayne Kekiongas

Fort Wayne Kekiongas

The Fort Wayne Kekiongas were a professional baseball team, notable for winning the first professional league game on May 4, 1871. Kekionga - pronounced KEY-key-awn-guh - is the name of Chief Little Turtle's Miami Indian settlement where the St. Joseph River and the St. Mary's River join to form...

of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players

National Association of Professional Base Ball Players

The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...

(an early predecessor to the current MLB).

Intercollegiate sports in the city include IPFW

IPFW Mastodons

The IPFW Mastodons are the athletic teams of Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne. The Mastodons compete as an National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I school in the The Summit League for most sports and in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association for men's...

in the NCAA's Division I Summit League as well as NAIA

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...

schools Indiana Tech and University of Saint Francis

University of Saint Francis (Indiana)

The University of Saint Francis is a liberal arts university located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, the university promotes Catholic and Franciscan values...

History

Fort Wayne has been home to a few sports firsts; the first professional baseball game was played May 4, 1871 between the Fort Wayne Kekiongas and the Cleveland Forest Citys

Cleveland Forest Citys

The Forest Citys were a short lived professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio in the early 1870s. The actual name of the team, as shown in standings, was Forest City, not "Cleveland". The name "Forest Citys" was used in the same generic style of the day in which the team from Chicago,...

. It was rained-out in the top of the ninth inning, with the Kekiongas ahead 2–0. On June 2, 1883, Fort Wayne hosted the Quincy Professionals for one of the first lighted baseball games ever recorded. Fort Wayne has been credited for being the birthplace of the NBA

National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...

when Fort Wayne Pistons owner Fred Zollner

Fred Zollner

Fred Zollner was called "Mr. Pro Basketball" as the founder and longtime owner along with his sister Janet of the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons and a key figure in the merger of National Basketball League and Basketball Association of America into the National Basketball Association in 1949.Zollner,...

brokered the merger of the BAA

Basketball Association of America

The Basketball Association of America was a professional basketball league in North America, founded in 1946. The league merged with the National Basketball League in 1949, forming the National Basketball Association ...

and the NBL

National Basketball League (United States)

Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League, often abbreviated to NBL, was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later merge with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.- League history :The...

in 1949 from his kitchen table. Also, on March 10, 1961, Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain

Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...

became the first player in the NBA to reach 3,000 points in a single season while competing at Memorial Coliseum

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Fort Wayne, Indiana, initially built in 1952 for nearly $3 million in Fort Wayne's Johnny Appleseed Park. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum was originally designed to seat 8,000 for hockey or 10,240 for basketball...

.

Fort Wayne hosted two NBA Finals Games

NBA Finals

The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....

in 1955 and 1956, as well as the third city to host the NBA All-Star Game in 1953. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

was also venue to the 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Volleyball Championship matches, in addition to hosting the 2000, 2001, and 2002 Mid-Continent Conference Men's Basketball Tournaments

Mid-Continent Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Locations

The Summit League men’s basketball tournament is the post-season tournament for NCAA conference The Summit League. The winner of the tournament receives The Summit League's automatic bid into the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. The tournament was first played in 1984, when the...

. Fort Wayne also annually hosts the U.S.S.S.A. National and Boys State Championships, held at Spiece Fieldhouse.

On November 22, 1950, the Fort Wayne Pistons defeated the Minneapolis Lakers with a final score of 19 to 18 in the lowest scoring game in NBA history.

Fort Wayne was rated the "Best Place in the Country for Minor League Sports" in a 2007 issue of Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal.

Current sports teams

Professional Sports in Fort Wayne
Team	Sport	Current League	Established	Venue	Championships
Fort Wayne Fever Fort Wayne Fever Fort Wayne Fever was an American soccer team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. Founded in 2003, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team...	Soccer	Premier Development League	2003	Hefner Stadium	0
Fort Wayne Fever Fort Wayne Fever (W-League) Fort Wayne Fever was an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2004. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The team plays in the Midwest Division of the Central Conference. The team folded after the 2009...	Women's Soccer	W-League W-League The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....	2004	Hefner Stadium	0
Fort Wayne Flash Fort Wayne Flash The Fort Wayne Flash is a full-contact women's outdoor football team of the Women's Football Alliance based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The team started its exhibition season in 2006 and officially became part of the National Women's Football Association and began playing league games in 2007. Home...	Women's Football Women's football Women's football can mean one of the following:* Women's Australian rules football* Women's American football* Women's association football* Women's rugby union* Women's rugby league* Ladies' Gaelic football...	Women's Football Alliance Women's Football Alliance The Women's Football Alliance is a full-contact Women's American football league which began play in the spring of 2009. They have now completed three full seasons and grew to over 60 teams slated for the 2011 season. The women play 11 person tackle football games with rules that basically mirror...	2007	Woodlan Junior / Senior High School	0
Fort Wayne Komets Fort Wayne Komets The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...	Hockey Hockey Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...	Central Hockey League Central Hockey League The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....	1952	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	7 (IHL), 1 (UHL)
Fort Wayne Mad Ants Fort Wayne Mad Ants The Fort Wayne Mad Ants are a team of the NBA Development League, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is the home venue for the team. The team is the first minor league basketball franchise to play in Fort Wayne since the Fort Wayne Fury...	Basketball	NBA Development League NBA Development League The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...	2007	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	0
Fort Wayne TinCaps	Baseball	Midwest League Midwest League The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...	1993	Parkview Field Parkview Field Parkview Field is a minor league baseball stadium located in the central business district of Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.-History:Parkview Field was built as the new home of the Midwest League's Fort Wayne TinCaps, Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, replacing Memorial Stadium...	1

Former sports teams

Professional Sports in Fort Wayne
Team	Sport	League	Existence	Venue	Championships
Fort Wayne Caseys Fort Wayne Hoosiers The Fort Wayne Caseys were an American basketball team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana that was a member of the American Basketball League.After their first season the team became known as the Fort Wayne Hoosiers.-Year-by-year:...	Basketball	American Basketball League	1925–1926		0
Fort Wayne Daisies Fort Wayne Daisies The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...	Baseball	All-American Girls Professional Baseball League All-American Girls Professional Baseball League The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...	1943–1954	North Side High School Memorial Park	0
Fort Wayne Firehawks Fort Wayne Firehawks The Fort Wayne FireHawks are an indoor football team affiliated with the Continental Indoor Football League. Based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the FireHawks play their home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum....	Indoor football	Continental Indoor Football League	2010	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Allen County War Memorial Coliseum The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Fort Wayne, Indiana, initially built in 1952 for nearly $3 million in Fort Wayne's Johnny Appleseed Park. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum was originally designed to seat 8,000 for hockey or 10,240 for basketball...	0
Fort Wayne Flames Fort Wayne Flames The Fort Wayne Flames were an indoor soccer club based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association, playing home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum from 1986-1989....	Soccer	American Indoor Soccer Association	1986–1989	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Allen County War Memorial Coliseum The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Fort Wayne, Indiana, initially built in 1952 for nearly $3 million in Fort Wayne's Johnny Appleseed Park. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum was originally designed to seat 8,000 for hockey or 10,240 for basketball...	0
Fort Wayne Freedom Fort Wayne Freedom The Fort Wayne Freedom was a team in the Continental Indoor Football League, beginning play in the 2008 season. Like the original Freedom, the team retained a red, white, and blue color scheme, and played in the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum....	Indoor football	Continental Indoor Football League	2003–2006, 2008–2009	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	0
Fort Wayne Friars Fort Wayne Friars The Fort Wayne Friars were an early professional football team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The team, which was also known as the Friars Athletic Association, consistently fielded good and noteworthy teams...	Football	Independent	1909–1917, 1920–1921	League Park
Fort Wayne Fury Fort Wayne Fury The Fort Wayne Fury was a team in the Continental Basketball Association from 1991 through the cessation of the CBA on February 8, 2001.-History:...	Basketball	Continental Basketball Association Continental Basketball Association The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...	1991–2001	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	0
Fort Wayne Fusion Fort Wayne Fusion The Fort Wayne Fusion was a 2007 af2 expansion team in the Midwest Division of the American Conference. They played their home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which was the former home of the defunct National Indoor Football League/United Indoor Football...	Arena football Arena football Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....	af2 Af2 AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...	2007	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	0
Fort Wayne General Electrics	Basketball	National Basketball League National Basketball League (United States) Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League, often abbreviated to NBL, was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later merge with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.- League history :The...	1937–1938	North Side High School Gym North Side High School Gym North Side High School Gym was an indoor gymnasium in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It hosted the NBA's Fort Wayne Pistons from 1948 until they moved to the War Memorial Coliseum in 1952. The gymnasium held near 3,000 people and hosted games for North Side High School in Fort Wayne through 2004 when the...	0
Fort Wayne Hoosiers Fort Wayne Hoosiers The Fort Wayne Caseys were an American basketball team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana that was a member of the American Basketball League.After their first season the team became known as the Fort Wayne Hoosiers.-Year-by-year:...	Basketball	American Basketball League	1926–1931		0
Fort Wayne Kekiongas Fort Wayne Kekiongas The Fort Wayne Kekiongas were a professional baseball team, notable for winning the first professional league game on May 4, 1871. Kekionga - pronounced KEY-key-awn-guh - is the name of Chief Little Turtle's Miami Indian settlement where the St. Joseph River and the St. Mary's River join to form...	Baseball	National Association of Professional Base Ball Players National Association of Professional Base Ball Players The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...	1871	Hamilton Field Hamilton Field Hamilton Field may refer to:* Hamilton Air Force Base, a former U.S. Air Force Base located on San Francisco Bay, California, United States.* Hamilton Field , an airport located in Derby, Kansas, United States....	0
Fort Wayne Pistons	Basketball	National Basketball League National Basketball Association National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...	1941–1948 1949–1957	North Side High School Gym Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	2 (NBL) 0 (NBA)
Fort Wayne River City Rhinos	Football	Mid Continental Football League	1993–2001	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	0
Fort Wayne Safari Fort Wayne Safari The Fort Wayne Safari was officially announced in 2000 as an expansion team in the Indoor Professional Football League and based out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. They were to join the league in 2002, and to play their home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Official team colors were going...	Football	Indoor Professional Football League Indoor Professional Football League The Indoor Professional Football League was the new incarnation of the Professional Indoor Football League , which started in 1998. Two of its teams left the league and their owner, Kerry Ecklund, founded the Indoor Football League in 1999...	2000–2002	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	(never played)
Indiana Kick	Soccer	American Indoor Soccer Association	1989–1990	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	0

Professional Baseball

Rob Bowen
Rob Bowen
Robert McClure Bowen is a former Major League Baseball catcher.Bowen spends the regular season living in San Diego, California, but spends his offseasons in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. He also has a baseball camp each winter back in Fort Wayne, Indiana.-High school years:Bowen attended Homestead...

, MLB
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

(2003–2008) Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...

, San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...

, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...

, Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
Dottie Collins
Dottie Wiltse Collins
Dorothy Wiltse Collins [Dottie] was an American pitcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which was in existence from 1943–54....

, AAGPBL
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...

(1944–1950) Minneapolis Millerettes
Minneapolis Millerettes
The Minneapolis Millerettes were an expansion All-American Girls Professional Baseball League team that played for one season in 1944. They played their home games in Nicollet Park, home of the men's minor league team the Minneapolis Millers...

, Fort Wayne Daisies
Fort Wayne Daisies
The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
David Doster
David Doster
David Eric Doster is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman. He played during two seasons at the major league level for the Philadelphia Phillies. He was drafted by the Phillies in the 27th round of the 1993 amateur draft...

, MLB (1996, 1999) Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
Bill Everitt
Bill Everitt
William Lee "Wild Bill" Everitt was an infielder in Major League Baseball from 1895 to 1901. Everitt played for the Chicago Colts/Orphans and the Washington Senators.-External links:*...

, MLB (1895–1901) Chicago Colts/Orphans
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...

, Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
Louie Heilbroner
Louie Heilbroner
Louis "Louie" Heilbroner was a manager in Major League Baseball in the 1900 season, with the St. Louis Cardinals. In the middle of the season, Patsy Tebeau resigned as a the Cardinals' manager and team president Frank Robison publicly offered the job to third baseman John McGraw who declined...

, manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...

, MLB (1900) St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
Butch Henline
Butch Henline
Walter John "Butch" Henline was an American catcher and umpire in Major League Baseball who played from 1921-1931 for the New York Giants, Brooklyn Robins, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox...

, MLB (1921–1931) New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....

, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...

, Brooklyn Robins
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...

, Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
Ralph Miller
Ralph Miller (third baseman)
Ralph Joseph Miller , was a Major League Baseball player who played infielder from -. He would play for the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Senators.-External links:...

, MLB (1920–1924) Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...

, Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
Eric Wedge
Eric Wedge
Eric Michael Wedge is a Major League Baseball manager and former catcher, and is the current manager of the Seattle Mariners. As a player, Wedge attended Northrop High School in Fort Wayne and played on the school's state champion baseball team in 1983...

, player, MLB (1991–1994) Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...

, Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...

; manager, MLB (2003–2009) Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...

and Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...

Professional Basketball

Paul "Curly" Armstrong, NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...

(1948/49-1950/51) Fort Wayne Pistons
Dan Godfread
Dan Godfread
Daniel Joseph "Dan" Godfread is a retired American professional basketball player at the center position with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1990–91 NBA season and the Houston Rockets in the 1991–92 NBA season...

, NBA (1990/91-1991/92) Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...

, Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
Ralph Albert "Ham" Hamilton, NBA (1948/49) Fort Wayne Pistons
Henry James
Henry James (basketball)
Henry Charles James is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.Undrafted out of St...

, NBA (1990/91-1997/98) Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

, Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

, Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...

, Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...

, Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...

, Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
Kyle Macy, player, NBA (1980/81-1986/87) Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...

, Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...

, Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...

; sportscaster
Bobby Milton, player and manager of Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
Brad Miller
Brad Miller (basketball)
Bradley Alan Miller is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA...

, NBA (1998/99-present) Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...

, Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...

, Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
Bill Roberts, NBA (1948/49-1949/50) Chicago Stags
Chicago Stags
The Chicago Stags were a National Basketball Association team based in Chicago, Illinois, U.S..- Franchise history :The Chicago Stags were founded in 1946 and folded in 1950. Despite their short history, they were able to acquire the draft rights to a young Bob Cousy in a trade with the Tri-Cities...

, Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

, St. Louis Bombers
St. Louis Bombers (NBA)
The St. Louis Bombers were a National Basketball Association team based in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1946. The team ceased operations in 1950.- Franchise history :...
George Yardley
George Yardley
George Harry Yardley III , best known as simply George Yardley, was an NBA Hall of Fame basketball player. He was the first player in history to score 2,000 points in one season, breaking the 1,932-point record held by fellow Hall of Famer George Mikan...

, NBA (1953/54-1959/60) Fort Wayne Pistons/Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...

Professional Football

Mike Augustyniak, NFL (1981–1983) New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Jason Baker
Jason Baker
Jason Michael Baker is an American football punter for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League.-High school years:...

, NFL (2001–present) San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...

, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....

, Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
Roosevelt Barnes
Roosevelt Barnes (American football)
Roosevelt Barnes, Jr. is a former American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He played college football at Purdue University. After retiring from professional football, in 1987 Barnes became a partner and contract advisor with Maximum Sports Management...

, NFL (1982–1985) Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
Will Billingsley
Will Billingsley
Wilfred Billingsley is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as a street free agent in 2008...

, NFL (no professional games played) Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Bill Boedeker
Bill Boedeker
William Henry Boedeker, Jr. is a former halfback in the National Football League who played for the Chicago Rockets, the Cleveland Browns, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers. Boedeker played collegiate ball for DePaul University and played professionally for 5 seasons...

, NFL (1946–1950) Chicago Rockets
Chicago Rockets
The Chicago Rockets was an American football team that played in the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949. During the 1949 season, the team was known as the Chicago Hornets...

, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
Johnny Bright
Johnny Bright
Johnny D. Bright was a professional Canadian football player in the Canadian Football League. He played college football at Drake University...

, CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....

(1952–1964) Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...

, Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...

, subject of the "Johnny Bright Incident
Johnny Bright Incident
The "Johnny Bright Incident" was a violent on-field assault against African-American player Johnny Bright by White American player Wilbanks Smith during an American college football game held on October 20, 1951 in Stillwater, Oklahoma...

"
Bob Cowan, NFL (1947–1949) Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

, Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
John Diettrich, NFL (1987)Houston Oilers
Vaughn Dunbar
Vaughn Dunbar
Vaughn Allen Dunbar was an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He played college football at Indiana University. He now works for the Carrier Corporation in Tucker, GA.-High school:Dunbar attended R...

, NFL (1992–1995) New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....

, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Eric England
Eric England
Eric Jevon England is a gridiron football player who plays defensive end. He most recently played with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. England also played in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. Most recently, England was signed by the New...

, NFL (1994–1996) Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
Trai Essex
Trai Essex
Trai J. Essex is an offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League who has won two Super Bowl rings with the Steelers in Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII.-High school years:...

, NFL (2005–present) Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...

, Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...

champion
Jason Fabini
Jason Fabini
Jason T. Fabini is an American football offensive lineman who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft...

, NFL (1998–2008) New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...

, Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
James Hardy
James Hardy (American football)
James W. Hardy, III is an American football wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft and played college football at Indiana University.-High School career:...

, NFL (2008–present) Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
Selwyn Lymon
Selwyn Lymon
Selwyn Jalil Lymon is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Purdue.-Personal:...

, NFL (no professional games played) Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Le'Ron McClain
Le'Ron McClain
- Baltimore Ravens :McClain signed with the Ravens on July 27, 2007. He scored his first career touchdown on a Kyle Boller pass against the San Diego Chargers on November 25, 2007...

, NFL (2007–present) Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
Bernard Pollard
Bernard Pollard
Bernard Karmell Pollard is an American football safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...

, NFL (2006–present) Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...

, Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Emil Sitko
Emil Sitko
Emil "Red" Sitko was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on September 7, 1923. He earned the nickname of "Red" due to his red hair. He attended Central High School in Fort Wayne. At only 5'8" and 180 pounds he was not considered a big man. "Emil wasn't very big as football players go -- even for those...

, NFL (1950–1952) San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

, Chicago Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
Lamar Smith, NFL (1994–2003) Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...

, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....

, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
Anthony Spencer
Anthony Spencer
Anthony E. Spencer II is an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cowboys 26th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue.-High school career:Spencer played high school football at Bishop Luers High...

, NFL (2007–present) Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
Rod Woodson
Rod Woodson
Roderick Kevin "Rod" Woodson is the current cornerbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He is also a former defensive back best known for his 10-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as being a key member of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl XXXV championship...

, NFL (1987–2003) Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...

, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...

, Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

, Pro Football Hall of Famer
Justin Wynn, NFL (no professional games played) Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

Professional Golf

Amanda Blumenherst
Amanda Blumenherst
Amanda Blumenherst is an American professional golfer who plays on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour. She was a three-time National Player of the Year at Duke University and won the U.S. Women's Amateur title in 2008....
Billy Kratzert
Billy Kratzert
William August Kratzert is an American professional golfer and sportscaster, who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour....

, golfer and sportcaster
Cathy Kratzert Gerring
Cathy Gerring
Cathy Kratzert Gerring is an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour.Born Cathy Kratzert, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, she played college golf at Ohio State University....

Martial Arts

Adam Bobay, UFC
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
Jon Fitch
Jon Fitch
Jonathan Parker Fitch is an American mixed martial artist. He is currently ranked as the No. 2 welterweight in the world by Sherdog, as well as many other publications.-Background:...

, UFC
Dave Herman
Dave Herman (fighter)
Dave Herman is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Herman received a significant amount of buzz from fans and media for being undefeated in his first fifteen fights and beating his opponents impressively, having only been...

, MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

fighter with EliteXC (Elite Xtreme Combat)

Professional Soccer

DaMarcus Beasley
DaMarcus Beasley
DaMarcus Lamont Beasley is an American soccer player who plays for Puebla of the Mexican Primera División. He plays mainly as a winger on the left side of the midfield, but has also been used as a forward and fullback...

, Rangers FC of the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...

, U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...

, MLS
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...

Chicago Fire
Jamar Beasley
Jamar Beasley
Jamar Beasley is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Missouri Comets of the Major Indoor Soccer League.-Career:...

, MLS New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...

, Chicago Fire
Bronn Pfeiffer, Fort Wayne Flames
Fort Wayne Flames
The Fort Wayne Flames were an indoor soccer club based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association, playing home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum from 1986-1989....

, Indiana Kicks, Chicago Power
Chicago Power
The Chicago Power were an indoor soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association and National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Edmonton Drillers.-Year-by-year:...

, and Detroit Rockers
Detroit Rockers
The Detroit Rockers were an indoor soccer team in the National Professional Soccer League from 1990 to 2001. They played in Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit, Michigan as well as The Palace of Auburn Hills and Compuware Sports Arena in the suburbs...

in the National Professional Soccer League
National Professional Soccer League
The National Professional Soccer League was a professional indoor soccer league in the USA. It started out as the American Indoor Soccer Association in 1984 but changed its name to the National Professional Soccer League in 1990...

.
Mike Harper, Baton Rouge Bombers of the Eastern Indoor Soccer League
Eastern Indoor Soccer League
The Eastern Indoor Soccer League was an attempt to create a regional minor indoor soccer league. The league featured teams from the Southeastern United States...

.
Jeff Richey, Chicago Storm
Chicago Storm
The Chicago Storm is a team in the Ultimate Soccer League that began play in the 2004-2005 season as a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League.-History:The Storm played home games during its first two seasons at the UIC Pavilion on the west side of Chicago...

, U.S. Futsal National Team.

Olympic Swimming and Diving

Mark Virts, diver, participated in boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...

led by President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
Matt Vogel
Matt Vogel (swimmer)
Matt Vogel is an American swimmer and Olympic champion. He competed at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, where he received a gold medal in 100 m butterfly, and a gold medal in 4×100 m medley relay.-World records:...

, swimmer, two-time Olympic gold medalist, 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
Sharon Wichman
Sharon Wichman
Sharon Wichman is an American swimmer and olympic champion. She competed at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, where she received a gold medal in 200 m breaststroke, and a bronze medal in 100 m breaststroke. Wichman graduated in 1970 from R...

, swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
Dan Zehr
Dan Zehr
Robert Daniel "Dan" Zehr, Sr. was an American backstroke swimmer who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics.He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana and died in Raleigh, North Carolina....

, swimmer, 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...

Professional Volleyball

Angie Akers
Angie Akers
Angela "Angie" Akers is a professional beach volleyball player from the United States who plays on the AVP Tour. Akers was named the AVP Rookie of the Year in 2002....

, professional beach volleyball player
Lloy Ball
Lloy Ball
Lloy James Ball is an American volleyball player who represented the United States men's national volleyball team in four Olympics team competitions...

, Olympic gold medalist, 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...

Other Notable Individuals

Eugene E. Parker
Eugene E. Parker
Eugene Parker, born February 24, 1956 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is the sports agent of Deion Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and many other NFL athletes. He has been named by Black Enterprise Magazines top 50 influential blacks in sports while also being known for the past two decades as owning one of the...

, sports agent, 45th in "Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...

"'s 101 most influential minorities in sports
Art Smith
Art Smith (pilot)
Art Smith was an American pilot. He grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Fort Wayne's Smith Field is named after him. In 1910, his parents mortgaged their home for $1,800 so that he could build a plane, on which he spent six months; however, he crashed it on his first flight, destroying everything...

, aviator, invented "loop the loop"

The Journal Gazette List of the Area's Best 26 Athletes of All Time

Rod Woodson
Rod Woodson
Roderick Kevin "Rod" Woodson is the current cornerbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He is also a former defensive back best known for his 10-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as being a key member of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl XXXV championship...
Johnny Bright
Johnny Bright
Johnny D. Bright was a professional Canadian football player in the Canadian Football League. He played college football at Drake University...
Everett Scott
Everett Scott
Lewis Everett Scott , nicknamed "Deacon", was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for 12 seasons with the Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds . Scott batted and threw right-handed...
Lloy Ball
Lloy Ball
Lloy James Ball is an American volleyball player who represented the United States men's national volleyball team in four Olympics team competitions...
Don Lash
Don Lash
Donald Ray Lash was an American long-distance runner who won 12 national titles from 1934 to 1940, including seven consecutive men's national cross-country championships, and who set a world's record for the two-mile run in 1936.Born in Bluffton, Indiana, Lash grew up in Auburn, Indiana, where he...
Matt Vogel
Matt Vogel (swimmer)
Matt Vogel is an American swimmer and Olympic champion. He competed at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, where he received a gold medal in 100 m butterfly, and a gold medal in 4×100 m medley relay.-World records:...
Sharon (Wichman) Jones
Sharon Wichman
Sharon Wichman is an American swimmer and olympic champion. She competed at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, where she received a gold medal in 200 m breaststroke, and a bronze medal in 100 m breaststroke. Wichman graduated in 1970 from R...
DeDee Nathan
DaMarcus Beasley
DaMarcus Beasley
DaMarcus Lamont Beasley is an American soccer player who plays for Puebla of the Mexican Primera División. He plays mainly as a winger on the left side of the midfield, but has also been used as a forward and fullback...
Eugene "Bubbles" Hargrave
Brad Miller
Brad Miller (basketball)
Bradley Alan Miller is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA...
Emil "Red" Sitko
Emil Sitko
Emil "Red" Sitko was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on September 7, 1923. He earned the nickname of "Red" due to his red hair. He attended Central High School in Fort Wayne. At only 5'8" and 180 pounds he was not considered a big man. "Emil wasn't very big as football players go -- even for those...
Willie Long
Bob Cowan
Billy Kratzert
Billy Kratzert
William August Kratzert is an American professional golfer and sportscaster, who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour....
Cathy Gerring
Cathy Gerring
Cathy Kratzert Gerring is an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour.Born Cathy Kratzert, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, she played college golf at Ohio State University....
Lamar Smith
Steve Hargan
Steve Hargan
Steven Lowell Hargan , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1965–1972 and 1974-1977.-External links:...
James Hardy
James Hardy (American football)
James W. Hardy, III is an American football wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft and played college football at Indiana University.-High School career:...
Shanna Zolman-Crossley
Jason Fabini
Jason Fabini
Jason T. Fabini is an American football offensive lineman who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
Amy Yoder-Begley
Amy Yoder-Begley
Amy Yoder Begley is an American middle and long distance runner and a US Olympian in the 10,000 meter event at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing...
Vaughn Dunbar
Vaughn Dunbar
Vaughn Allen Dunbar was an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He played college football at Indiana University. He now works for the Carrier Corporation in Tucker, GA.-High school:Dunbar attended R...
MaChelle Joseph
MaChelle Joseph
MaChelle Joseph is the women's basketball coach for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets women's basketball team.-References:...
Roosevelt Barnes
Roosevelt Barnes (American football)
Roosevelt Barnes, Jr. is a former American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He played college football at Purdue University. After retiring from professional football, in 1987 Barnes became a partner and contract advisor with Maximum Sports Management...
Paul "Curly" Armstrong

The News-Sentinel's Northeast Indiana's Top 50 Athletes of the 20th century

Rod Woodson
Rod Woodson
Roderick Kevin "Rod" Woodson is the current cornerbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He is also a former defensive back best known for his 10-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as being a key member of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl XXXV championship...
Johnny Bright
Johnny Bright
Johnny D. Bright was a professional Canadian football player in the Canadian Football League. He played college football at Drake University...
George Yardley
George Yardley
George Harry Yardley III , best known as simply George Yardley, was an NBA Hall of Fame basketball player. He was the first player in history to score 2,000 points in one season, breaking the 1,932-point record held by fellow Hall of Famer George Mikan...
Everett Scott
Everett Scott
Lewis Everett Scott , nicknamed "Deacon", was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for 12 seasons with the Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds . Scott batted and threw right-handed...
Len Thornson
Len Thornson
Len Thornson is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward.Thornson spent his entire professional hockey career in the International Hockey League , mostly with the Fort Wayne Komets. He also spent part of one season with the Indianapolis Chiefs and the Huntington Hornets...
Bobby McDermott
Bobby McDermott
Robert "Bobby" McDermott was an American professional basketball player, in the 1930s and 1940s....
Don Lash
Don Lash
Donald Ray Lash was an American long-distance runner who won 12 national titles from 1934 to 1940, including seven consecutive men's national cross-country championships, and who set a world's record for the two-mile run in 1936.Born in Bluffton, Indiana, Lash grew up in Auburn, Indiana, where he...
DeDee Nathan
Lloy Ball
Lloy Ball
Lloy James Ball is an American volleyball player who represented the United States men's national volleyball team in four Olympics team competitions...
Cathy Gerring
Cathy Gerring
Cathy Kratzert Gerring is an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour.Born Cathy Kratzert, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, she played college golf at Ohio State University....
Bill Kratzert
Billy Kratzert
William August Kratzert is an American professional golfer and sportscaster, who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour....
Matt Vogel
Matt Vogel (swimmer)
Matt Vogel is an American swimmer and Olympic champion. He competed at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, where he received a gold medal in 100 m butterfly, and a gold medal in 4×100 m medley relay.-World records:...
Sharon (Wichman) Jones
Sharon Wichman
Sharon Wichman is an American swimmer and olympic champion. She competed at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, where she received a gold medal in 200 m breaststroke, and a bronze medal in 100 m breaststroke. Wichman graduated in 1970 from R...
Emil Sitko
Emil Sitko
Emil "Red" Sitko was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on September 7, 1923. He earned the nickname of "Red" due to his red hair. He attended Central High School in Fort Wayne. At only 5'8" and 180 pounds he was not considered a big man. "Emil wasn't very big as football players go -- even for those...
Eugene "Bubbles" Hargrave
Dottie Wiltse Collins
Dottie Wiltse Collins
Dorothy Wiltse Collins [Dottie] was an American pitcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which was in existence from 1943–54....
Willie Long
Bob Cowan
Eddie Long
Paul "Curly" Armstrong
Bill Wambsganss
Bill Wambsganss
William Adolf Wambsganss was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1914 through 1926, Wambsganss played for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Athletics...
MaChelle Joseph
MaChelle Joseph
MaChelle Joseph is the women's basketball coach for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets women's basketball team.-References:...
Steve Hargan
Steve Hargan
Steven Lowell Hargan , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1965–1972 and 1974-1977.-External links:...
Henry James
Henry James (basketball)
Henry Charles James is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.Undrafted out of St...
Gene Hartley
Gene Hartley
Leslie "Gene" Hartley was an American racecar driver. He was born and died in Roanoke, Indiana.Hartley was the son of midget car driver Ted Hartley, who competed into his 60s. "Auto racing is all I’ve ever known," Gene once said in an interview at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway...
Bill West
Bernie Kampschmidt
Joanne Weaver
Herm Schaefer
Herm Schaefer
Herman H. Schaefer was an American professional basketball player and coach.A 6'0" guard/forward from Indiana University, Schaefer played in the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association from 1941 to 1950 as a member of the Fort Wayne Pistons, Indianapolis Kautskys, and...
Lionel Repka
Vaughn Dunbar
Vaughn Dunbar
Vaughn Allen Dunbar was an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He played college football at Indiana University. He now works for the Carrier Corporation in Tucker, GA.-High school:Dunbar attended R...
Walter Jordan
Walter Jordan
Walter Lee Jordan is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'7" forward from Purdue University, Jordan played one season with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA...
Bruce Miller
Lashanda Harper
Nel Fettig
Terry Pembroke
Steve Platt
Tom Beerman
Cathey Tyree
Jason Fabini
Jason Fabini
Jason T. Fabini is an American football offensive lineman who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
Tiffany Gooden
Tiffany Gooden
Tiffany Gooden was a professional basketball player in the ABL. When her pro career ended, Gooden embarked on a new career as an attorney. Gooden currently practices law as a partner in the firm of Hall & Gooden LLP in her hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana...
Lamar Smith
Leslie Johnson
Tom Bolyard
Roosevelt Barnes
Roosevelt Barnes (American football)
Roosevelt Barnes, Jr. is a former American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He played college football at Purdue University. After retiring from professional football, in 1987 Barnes became a partner and contract advisor with Maximum Sports Management...
Conan Myers
Lee Ann Reed
Tom Kelley
Mike Augustyniak
Colin Chin

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