February 8, 2007
LE MOYNE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS DICK ROCKWELL TO BE ENSHRINED IN SYRACUSE BASEBALL WALL OF FAME
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Le Moyne College Athletic Director and former baseball coach Dick Rockwell will be one of six members inducted into the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame Class of 2007 on August 11. This year's class also includes John Henry "Dutch" Dotterer Jr., Ron Guidry, Fred McGriff, George "Specs" Toporcer and Otto Velez.
Rockwell, whose tenure at Le Moyne stretches four decades, compiled a 757-309 (.710) career record in 27 seasons as head coach of Le Moyne's baseball team. Before his retirement, he ranked fifth on the all-time NCAA Division I winningest coaches' list. He collected the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference North Coach of the Year award in 1990, 1992 and 1993. The current home of Le Moyne Dolphins baseball is Dick Rockwell Field.
In addition to his baseball duties, Rockwell has served as Le Moyne's Director of Athletics for the past 17 years. Only the second athletic director in the college's history, Rockwell's department has captured 21 NCAA Tournament births and two men's lacrosse national championships over the past five seasons.
Rockwell is also a member of the National Baseball Coaches, Ithaca College, Le Moyne College and the Greater Syracuse Athletic Hall of Fames.
Dotterer Jr., a graduate of Christian Brothers Academy, played parts of five seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Senators between 1957 and 1961. He played for the Syracuse Chiefs from 1961-1962.
Guidry, current pitching coach of the New York Yankees, pitched in 64 games for the Chiefs during the 1975 and 1976 seasons. In 40 innings of work during the 1976 season, "Louisiana Lightning" allowed three earned runs (0.68 ERA) and struck out 50 opponents. In fourteen seasons with the Yankees, Guidry collected the American League Cy Young Award in 1978, five consecutive Gold Glove Awards and two World Series titles. His number 49 was retired by the Yankees in 2003.
As a Chief, McGriff belted 37 home runs and knocked in 122 runs between 1984 and 1986. "Crime Dog" was a five-time Major League All-Star and a member of the 1995 World Championship team with the Atlanta Braves.
A two-time International League MVP, Toporcer was the first to captain a Syracuse Chiefs team in 1935. His nickname "Specs" derives from the belief that he was the first position player to wear eyeglasses on the baseball diamond.
Velez, the 1973 IL Rookie of the Year, ranks 10th on Syracuse's All-Time Home Runs list. He scattered eleven seasons in the Major Leagues with the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians between 1973 and 1983.
The class of six will be inducted during a pregame ceremony for a 7 p.m. affair versus Pawtucket on August 11.
[release by Mike Bersani '10, compiled from information provided by the Syracuse Chiefs]
