Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame
The Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame began in 2013,[1][2][3] founded by Kirk Buchner.
![]() Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame logo  | |
| Founder | Kirk Buchner | 
|---|---|
Members    | 27 characters 16 Athletes 7 Contributors 4 Veterans  | 
There are two criteria for nomination to be inducted into the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame: the character must be a fictitious athlete or athletic supporting role appearing after 1970. In 2015 a "veterans" category was opened, which accepts nominees from before 1970.
Voting in the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame is public. There are three rounds of voting each year: one preliminary vote to narrow the field, a second vote to refine the nominees, and a final vote to determine the inductees.
Inaugural induction
    
Rocky Balboa, from the Rocky film series, was chosen as the inaugural induction to start the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame.[4]
2014 inductions
    
In 2014, three fictional athletes and one contributor were selected.[5][6][7][8][9]
The athletes were:
- Crash Davis; Bull Durham (played by Kevin Costner)
 - Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn; Major League (played by Charlie Sheen)
 - Roy Hobbs; The Natural (played by Robert Redford)
 
The contributor was:
- Harry Doyle; Major League (played by Bob Uecker)
 
2015 inductions
    
In 2015, the Veteran category was introduced to include those fictional characters who appeared in movies before 1970.[10]
Five fictional athletes, two contributors, and one veteran were selected.[11][12]
The athletes were:
- Happy Gilmore; Happy Gilmore (played by Adam Sandler)
 - Reggie Dunlop; Slap Shot (played by Paul Newman)
 - Hanson Brothers; Slap Shot (played by David Hanson, Steve Carlson, and Jeff Carlson)
 
The contributors were:
- Carl Spackler; Caddyshack (played by Bill Murray)
 - Mr. Miyagi; The Karate Kid (played by Pat Morita)
 
The veteran was:
- Andy "Champ" Purcell; The Champ 1931 film (played by Wallace Beery)
 
2016 inductions
    
Three fictional athletes, two contributors, and one veteran were selected.
The athletes were:
- Apollo Creed; Rocky (played by Carl Weathers)
 - Benjamin "Benny" Franklin Rodriguez; The Sandlot (played by Mike Vitar)
 - Charlie Conway; The Mighty Ducks (played by Joshua Jackson)
 
The contributors were:
- Chubbs Peterson; Happy Gilmore (played by Carl Weathers)
 - Gordon Bombay; The Mighty Ducks (played by Emilio Estevez)
 
The veteran was:
- Dennis Ryan; Take Me Out to the Ball Game (played by Frank Sinatra)
 
2017 inductions
    
Three fictional athletes, one contributor, and one veteran were selected.
The athletes were:
- Bobby Boucher; The Waterboy (played by Adam Sandler)
 - Forrest Gump; Forrest Gump (played by Tom Hanks)
 - Willie "Mays" Hayes; Major League (played by Wesley Snipes)
 
The contributor was:
- Mickey Goldmill; Rocky (played by Burgess Meredith)
 
The veteran was:
- Guffy McGovern; Angels in the Outfield (played by Paul Douglas)
 
2018 inductions
    
Three fictional athletes, one contributor, and one veteran were selected.
The athletes were:
- Daniel LaRusso; The Karate Kid (played by Ralph Macchio)
 - Dottie Hinson; A League of Their Own (played by Geena Davis)
 - Paul "Wrecking" Crewe; The Longest Yard (played by Burt Reynolds)
 
The contributor was:
- Morris Buttermaker; The Bad News Bears (played by Walter Matthau)
 
The veteran was:
- Huxley College; Horse Feathers (played by Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, and Zeppo Marx)
 
2019 inductions
    
Three fictional athletes, two contributors, and one veteran were selected.
The athletes were:
- Clubber Lang; Rocky (played by Mr. T)
 - "Fast" Eddie Felson; The Hustler & The Color of Money (played by Paul Newman)
 - Ivan Drago; Rocky (played by Dolph Lundgren)
 
The contributors were:
- "Coach" Ernie Pantusso; Cheers (played by Nicholas Colasanto)
 - Adrian Balboa; Rocky (played by Talia Shire)
 
The veteran was:
- Goofy; various short and feature films
 
2020 inductions
    
Three fictional athletes, two contributors, and one veteran were selected.
The athletes were:
- Al Bundy; Married... with Children (played by Ed O'Neill)
 - Homer Simpson; The Simpsons (voiced by Dan Castellaneta)
 - Johnny Lawrence; The Karate Kid (played by William Zabka)
 
The contributors were:
- Jimmy Dugan; A League of their Own (played by Tom Hanks)
 - The gopher; Caddyshack
 
The veteran was:
2021 inductions
    
Three fictional athletes, two contributors, and one veteran were selected.
The athletes were:
- Jake Taylor; Major League (played by Tom Berenger)
 - Jimmy Chitwood; Hoosiers (played by Maris Valainis)
 - Sam Malone; Cheers (played by Ted Danson)
 
The contributors were:
- Norman Dale; Hoosiers (played by Gene Hackman)
 - Paulie Pennino; Rocky (played by Burt Young)
 
The veteran was:
- Harold Lamb; The Freshman (played by Harold Lloyd)
 
References
    
- Radley, Scott (September 27, 2016). "RADLEY: A Hall of Fame natural". The Hamilton Spectator. MetroLand Media.
 - Gillard, Troy. "More On Sports". More On Sports – 106.7 The Drive (starts at 18:00). 106.7 FM Radio.
 - "Rocky Balboa named the first inductee to the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame". Press King. November 20, 2013.
 - Greene, Jerry (May 2, 2015). "Fictitious Hall has a lot of character(s)". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando Sentinel.
 - "Ep. 13: Kirk Buchner, Curator: Fictional Athlete HOF, Debate Greatest Movie Athletes Ever". SoundCloud. Permission Granted Podcast.
 - Perry, Dwight (December 7, 2014). "Where Is the Love for Gus the Kicking Mule?". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018.
 - Froberg, Tim (December 24, 2014). "Fictitious sports world filled with classic characters". The Post-Crescent.
 - Krah, Steve (December 2, 2014). "Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame welcomes "Crash" Davis, Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn and Roy Hobbs". The Elkhart Truth. The Elkhart Truth.
 - Clinton, Jared (December 30, 2014). "The five greatest silver screen hockey stars of all-time". The Hockey News.
 - "The Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame announces the Finalists for the 2015 Class". PR Newswire. PR Newswire.
 - Wallace, Fred (January 4, 2016). "Hansons Headline Hall Inductees". Bayshore Broadcasting. Bayshore Broadcasting.
 - Mitchell, Kevin (January 3, 2016). "The best sporting quotes of 2015..." Vernon Morning Star. Vernon Morning Star.
 
External links
    
- Official website
 - Elkhart Truth Announces 2015 Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame Inductees
 - Inaugural Induction Press Release
 - NewsWire: 2015 Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame Finalists Announced
 - Podcast: Bill Littlefield interviews Kirk Buchner to discuss the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame
 - Permission Granted interviews Kirk Buchner to discuss the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame
 - Fred Wallace of Bayshore Broadcasting interviews Kirk Buchner to discuss the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame
 - Jerry Greene of the Orlando Sentinel covers the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame
 - Bob Asmussen of the News-Gazette covers the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame
 - TSN covers the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame
 - The Howard Simon Show covers the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame
 - Broadway World covers the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame
 - Permission Granted Youtube Video of interview with Kirk Buchner to discuss the Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame
 - SportsNet Interview of Kirk Buchner begins at 37:15
 - News Talk 770 (CHQR) Dave Rowe talks about the 2016 finalists
 
