Jim Leyland, Don Mattingly and Paul Velte are this year’s inductees into the New York-Penn League Hall of Fame, with induction ceremonies set for August 18 at the league’s All‐Star Game in Aberdeen, Maryland.
The following individuals comprise the New York‐Penn League’s 2015 Hall of Fame Class:
Jim Leyland — As a member of the 1965 Jamestown Tigers, Leyland hit .237 in 82 games as a catcher and third baseman.
It was as a manager in the Major Leagues that Leyland found his greatest success on the diamond, leading the Florida Marlins to a World Series championship in 1997, and the Pittsburgh Pirates to three straight division titles (1990, 1991, and 1992).
Guiding the Detroit Tigers to the 2006 American League Championship, Leyland became the seventh manager in history to win pennants in both the National and American Leagues. He is a three-time Manager of the Year Award winner, twice in the National League (1990 and 1992), and once in the American League (2006).
Don Mattingly — Playing first-base and outfield for the Oneonta Yankees in 1979, “Donnie Baseball” hit .349 with 31 RBI in 53 games.
In his 14-year Major League playing career, he amassed 2,153 hits, 442 doubles, 222 HR, and 1,099 RBI and posted a lifetime batting average of .307. Mattingly won the 1984 American League batting title, was selected as the American League MVP in 1985. He was a six time all-star and nine time gold glove winner at first base. His number 23 was retired by the Yankees in 1996.
Mattingly currently serves as manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Paul Velte — Velte began his 39-year association with the NYPL in 1976 when he was appointed to Geneva Community Baseball (Geneva Cubs) Board of Directors later serving as vice-president and president of the team. He purchased the Geneva Cubs in 1988, eventually moving the team to Williamsport prior to the 1994 season. He remained owner/president of the Williamsport franchise through the 2014 season. Velte served as a member of various league committees and was a valuable and longtime member of the league’s Executive Committee.
“As the oldest, continuously-operated Class A league in professional baseball, the list of players, coaches, field managers, general managers, and owners reads like a Who’s Who of Baseball,” said New York‐Penn League President Ben Hayes. “This year’s inductees are incredibly worthy of this honor.”
The New York‐Penn League Hall of Fame was started in 2011. Inductees are nominated and voted on by New York-Penn League club officials.