1985 Inductees

Brooks had a busy amateur boxing career, winning nearly 100 bouts in three years, 80 by knockout, three in one night. He swept the Eastern Golden Gloves, Diamond Belt and Mid-Atlantic AAU light-heavy title in 1941. Lou had a four year (42 fights) professional career versus ranking heavy-weights. As a pro, he drew and lost to Joey Maxim, split with Gus Dorazio, and beat Tony Musto and Herbie Kats and rallied to take the Southwest heavyweight crown from Buddy Scott. After retiring from the ring, he helped boxer Willie Roache train young fighters in Wilmington.

Crawford was an outstanding wrestler and coach. As a wrestler he won the National AAU Light-heavy weight title three years (1937-1939) and International Championship in 1939. He was undefeated on the Appalachian State University varsity. He coached North Carolina State wrestling for 22 years and was coaching it at the Georgia Tech tournament when he died at the age of 51, December 1, 1967.

Crimian had a 16 year pitching career including four years in the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City A's and Detroit Tigers. His career also includes an International League stint. As a starter for the first time in 1955 with Toronto he was 19-6 and the International League's "Most Valuable Player" (MVP). He was a two-time ERA Champion (2.34) in the Triple A League. He worked 54 games in 1956 for Kansas City, second highest total in the American League. In the 1952 Little World Series, pitching for Rochester, he was the winning pitcher in both the fifth and sixth games and saved the final game, beating the Kansas City Blues.

University of Delaware's 'Believe It or Not" halfback Doherty was featured by Ripley for gaining 220 yards on only 6 carries in a single game in 1946. Doc was a three-year letterman in a career interrupted by World War II service. Doc was Third Team All-American in 1946 averaging 12 yards per carry. Doherty helped the University of Delaware Blue Hens win their first-ever post season game. He was inducted into the University of Delaware Hall of Fame in 1998. Doc was a fifth round draft pick of the Baltimore Colts in the NFL but chose to stay in Delaware. He also lettered in baseball at the University of Delaware and played both semi-pro football and baseball after college. He held the Hens' base-stealing record (25 in 16 games), which was later broken. He was a Delaware High School football official with the New Castle County Football Officials' Association.

 A local legend as a sandlot pitcher, he later played in the minor leagues. In 1919, at the age of 17, he pitched Parkside to a sweep of the All-Wilmington league and City and State titles and was unbeaten in 1920 until the very final game. After a 10-year pro career with Newport News, Richmond, Baltimore, York, Manchester, New Haven and Norfolk teams and playing before crowds consistently over 3,500 fans, he returned to sandlot baseball.

Jim entered the Delaware  Sports Hall of Fame  as Delaware's sixth home grown All-American. A center at the University of Alabama, Krapf was picked on the 'Kodak' 1972 All-America football team. Alabama was unbeaten in 1972. Jim was voted 1971 "Delaware Athlete of the Year". He was Associated Press (AP) All-Southeastern Conference for two years. Jim played in the Orange, Cotton, Bluebonnet and Senior Bowl games, plus the Coaches All-American game. He was drafted by the NFL Oakland Raiders and later released. He played briefly for British Columbia of the Canadian Football League (CFL).  At Tatnall School, he won four national prep wrestling titles with a record of 103-0..

An amazing athlete, Williard won the Kennett Square Country Club senior golf title for the 20th straight year the week before he died - - playing at Rock Manor on August 30, 1969. He was 65. The same year he toured Europe with a U.S. Seniors team. He was Delaware State Seniors Champion for five years. He also excelled in distance swimming, winning the state ocean mile off Rehoboth 16 times, the last at age 43.

A co-captain of the Salesianum basketball team, Kevin was an All-State end on the school's football team. He was an All-East Associated Press linebacker at Villanova in 1972 and played in the North-South game. He was a seventh round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins and after his release in camp, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles' taxi squad for a three-year stint on special teams. He was put on the Eagles 1975 injured-reserve list and was released in mid-season. He then finished the season with the New England Patriots.

An ace harness driver, Tic won 1,755 races and $4.7 million in purses in a 25-year career cut short by injuries. He was the top driver in the USTAs five-state District 8 and third-ranked in the country in 1961. He was Brandywine Raceway's leading driver four years (1961,1963,1964 and 1965) winning a record 44 races in 1964. This Magnolia born horseman had 14 two-minute miles; won over 100 races seven times including a 165-win season in 1967. After being injured in a bad spill in 1975 he officiated as Presiding Judge eight years (1975-83). He was voted Delaware Valley Chapter, U.S. Harness Writers' Association Hall of Fame in 1973.

A proud Wilmingtonian and baseball enthusiast, Bus Zebley (as he wished to be called) decided early in life that he wanted to promote the game of baseball and to help youngsters learn to play and enjoy it. For more than 30 years, "Mr. Z" did an outstanding job of organizing, supervising, and umpiring in the Midget Baseball League that bears his name. Bus was fond of umpiring; he was a good one. He was a student of the rules of the game and, as an arbiter, insisted that the rules be adhered to. The Zebley program turned out more than 3,000 graduates. Because of his determination and dedication to the cause of keeping boys on the ball field and off the streets, Bus appealed to many "angels" who helped to support his good works monetarily. Before he first organized the "Midgets" in the mid-1950's, Zebley conducted clinics in the basement of his home. Walter Zablotny, a.k.a. Bus Zebley died in 1999, but his legacy of helping young boys to become ballplayers carries on.