Featuring California's Hal Perry... TSA Director and Four-Time Sports Hall of Famer!
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Featuring California's Hal Perry... TSA Director and Four-Time Sports Hall of Famer! Hal Perry, TSA Director from California, is a very of 215 was held by Don Drysdale, so Hal was in good special sportsman. In addition to being the company with only a 2 point difference). recipient of "FOUR" Sports Hall of Fame induction In 1956, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates honors, he is one of the founders of the original and signed for a $4,000 bonus. He went to spring National Shuffleboard Hall of Fame organization training along with Roberto Clemente and Bill (which was renamed to Table Shuffleboard Mazeroski. From 1956 to 1959 he spent most of his Association, Inc. when it incorporated in May time in Double A. 2001) along with Glen Davidson and Bob Hunt. In 1960 he quit and came back to Sacra- Louise Freer and Larry Creakbaum were soon mento and went to work for the A-1 Door Company pressed into service to form the original Board of several years and has been in the door business his Directors in 1994. The full history of the National entire career, and is still working in the door business Shuffleboard Hall of Fame formation and the with LM Enterprises. During his first four years with transition to Table Shuffleboard Association, Inc. A-1, he also played semi-pro baseball for Roseville may become another full story in a future Table merchants. At the time he weighed a whopping 140 Shuffleboard News. pounds. Highlight: In 1963, he struck out 24 batters Hal is also a member of the infamous "Sacra- (the previous record was 19); threw a no-hitter; and Hal Perry's Awards mento Rat Pack" of which there are six members (all went 5 for 5 in the batters' box. How could you beat & Hall of Fame rated -1 when this group was formed and all have been that? Inductions: very close friends for over 30 years), Hal met Shirley in 1974 in • February 13, 1999 being: Don Cox, Nick Chaffin, Joe Auburn, California, and they have been California Shuffle- Hudson, Bob Hunt, and Fred Thuman together now for over 33 years. board Hall of Fame (deceased). They get together for dinner “Hal Perry's Hal was basically a self-taught • February 19, 2000 with their wives every two months. History & shuffleboard player, beginning in National Shuffleboard This is also likely to become a full story 1960. He was a true traveling session Hall of Fame Hall of Fame in a later issue. player who traveled and played all over • November 3, 2000 Inductions" the country, and according to most of Sol Lipkin Award California Shuffleboard Hall of the players, he was a touch above everyone else. From the early '60's to • March 25, 2006 Fame: 1999 & National Northern California Shuffleboard Hall of Fame: 2000 the late '70's, Hal spent many a night in San Jose, Old Timers Baseball Hal Perry was inducted into the Cali- namely at Bill Jennings' Happy Hour, where, accord- Hall of Fame fornia Shuffleboard Hall of Fame on ing to Hal, ten or twelve of the top players played. To • April 21, 2006 February 13, 1999 at Blinky's Sports Cafe name a few: Pee Wee Ramos, Mickey Gomes, Ted La Salle Club in Santa Clara, California. Rick Thomas Berger, Mountain View George, San Jose Ron Gisham, Baseball Hall of Fame wrote a "Hal Perry - This is Your Life" in his program Ron Harrelson, Ritchie Rea, Ron and Rich Selfridge, Note: Hal is also one booklet (excerpts with up-to-date edits follow): Chuck the Barber and Bill Jennings. Hal won a lot of of the original Hal Perry was born February 24, 1937, in money, and has many good memories from the Happy founders of the San Francisco, California. His family moved to Hour in San Jose. National Shuffleboard Hall of Fame (nka Sacramento, where he went to Del Paso One of the biggest wins he enjoyed was in 1965 Table Shuffleboard Grammar School, and then Grant High School in when he played in a tournament in Lemon Grove, Association, Inc.) and Sacramento, where he graduated in 1955. California, near San Diego. The tourney was run by has been on the Board of Directors During his high school days, Hal became a Rod Cameron (TX) and Glen Davidson (OK). Hal since 1994. baseball pitcher for the high school team, and also teamed up with Pee Wee Ramos to defeat Billy Mays played short stop. As a pitcher, he was the All-City and Tommy Gavin. In the finals, after the tourna- M.V.P. (1954-55). In his senior year he struck out ment, Hal teamed up with Rod Cameron in a 213 batters, a near state record (Note: The state record Vol. 1, Issue 1, Page 2 money session and beat everybody, including "Texas Northern California Old Timers Sports Billy" ( Billy Mays ), Glen Davidson, Bob Miles and Association Hall of Fame: 2006 and others. LaSalle Baseball Hall of In 1968, Hal and Glen Davidson went to the Fame: 2006 Easy Pickings in Los Angeles area and proceeded to get On March 25, 2006 Hal busted -- lost all but a few bucks. After Friday, he Perry was inducted into the borrowed $50 and they went to the Dixie where over Northern California Old the weekend he won 22 games in a row before Timers Sports Association everyone quit. What a comeback! (NCOTSA) at the 36th Annual Some other fond memories: Hall of Fame Awards Dinner held at In 1976 the World Team Championships were The Hanger in the Hillcrest Plaza held in Longview, Washington at the fairgrounds, with Room, Yuba City, California. 18 boards, over two weeks, with 90 teams. The Inductees were: Tom Agosta, winning team was Hal Perry, Fred Thuman, Joe Thomas Aldridge, Ken Griffin, A.J. Hudson, Don Cox, Leroy Ledford and Billy Mays. "Bud" Henle, Herb Jergentz This was one of Hal's most memorable and rewarding (posthumously), Joe McCauley, Raymond Marshall Hal Perry - 1969 (above) tournament wins! Neves (posthumously), Hal Perry, Ralph Rago, John In 1977 at the World Series of Shuffle- Henry Rivers, Jim Socher, Other Wins & board held at the Black Cat in Portland, and Geoff Wahl . The UC Accomplishments Oregon, Hal teamed with Fred Johns (WA) to Davis football coaching 1978-1998 win the tournament over Fred Thuman (CA) legend Jim Sochor was the and Joe Hudson (CA). keynote speaker. 1978 1st Place Doubles: Billy Mays & Hal Perry See "Other Wins & Accomplishments There was a writeup in Dowers, Yuba City 1978-1998 (right column on this page) for the local Appeal-Democrat 1982-1989 (Limited Play) some of Hal's other memorable wins which (by Justin Miller) titled: 1989 2nd Place Doubles: led up to his California Shuffleboard Hall of "Old Timers take bows" Glen Davidson & Hal Perry Phoenix Fame induction on February 13, 1999 where they described Hal as 1990 2nd Place Doubles: during Blinky's President's Day Tournament. follows: "Perry was an Diana Hagen & Hal Perry Hal Perry & Don Cox ended up taking 1st outstanding pitcher at Grant Denver Place Doubles at this tournament too. Hal Hal Perry - 2006 High School from 1952-55. 1990 1st Place Singles: lagged out to beat Joe Hudson and Steve (above) He played professionally Corporate Image, Texas Perry (his son) in a great match. What a great with the Pittsburg Pirates' 1990-98 1st Place Singles: Dowers, Yuba City week Hal had! minor-league system." Hal Perry was then inducted into the Hal was also inducted into the La Salle 1995-97 two 2nd Doubles: Hal & Rick Thomas National Shuffleboard Hall of Fame (nka Baseball Hall of Fame honored on April 21, Blinky's, Santa Clara Table Shuffleboard Association's HOF) the 2006 at the 52nd Annual Baseball Hall of following year on February 19, 2000 -- and 1996 1st Place Doubles: Fame held at Christian Brothers High Hal & Steve Perry (son) what better place to hold the induction than at School. President's Day Blinky's Sports Cafe in Santa Clara, Complete List of those inducted in 2006 Blinky's, Santa Clara Notable: Hal & Steve also California where he had received his were Bob Caselli, Angelo Dal Porto, Bill “Hal Perry's took 1st & 2nd in Singles! state hall of fame honors? Enos, Larry Hampshire, Jack Higdon, 1997 1st Place Doubles: Some memorable wins in the year Memorable Johnny Lopes, Gus Niklas, Hal Perry, Hal & Steve Perry (son) Phoenix after his state hall of fame induction Moments & Doug Sale, and Chuck Stevens. included: 1998 1st Place Doubles: • 1999 Hal & George Camera, More..." (Hal Perry... Continued on page 20) Hal & Steve Perry (son) 3rd Place Doubles at the Bill Gibbs 4th of July Dixie Belle, Downey Memorial in Phoenix, Arizona; and • 1999 Hal placed 4th in Crazy 1998 2nd Place Doubles: Hal & George Camera Eights at the North American Shuffleboard Champi- Thanksgiving onships in Reno. Dixie Belle, Downey Vol. 1, Issue 1, Page 3 (Hal Perry.... Continued from page 3) Other Special Awards... • In 1949, Hal was on the Del Paso Little Sol Lipkin Award in 2000 League with a .427 hit at shortstop and a 8-0 win as during NASC Reno Tournament pitcher and won the championships. in Reno, Nevada (picture below): • In 1954 at Grant Union High School (Junior year), Hal took a 1st Place Sac-Hoaquin Conference Championship. He was voted to all city team by both the Sacramento Union & Sacramento Bee. He won 9 Lost 0 as starting pitcher; Stuck out 101 and walked 28 in 61 innings posting a 1.60 ERA; and Batted .318.