Sept. 22, 2017
SAN JOSE, CALIF. -- The San Jose Sports Hall of Fame will mark its 23rd year of honoring South Bay sports legends when it inducts five new members on Thursday, Nov. 9, at the SAP Center at San Jose. The inductees hail from the upper echelon of collegiate, professional and/or Olympic competition. Although from different sports in different eras, they have made a lasting impact both on and off the field of play.
The San Jose Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Inductees are:
Ken Caminiti: Baseball All-Star, Gold Glove Winner and 1996 National League MVP
Dwight Clark: San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver, Super Bowl Winner and Humanitarian
Mark Marquess: All American Baseball Player/Gold Medal and NCAA Championship Coach
Jack Roddy: Rodeo Hall of Famer, Collegiate and Professional Steer Wrestling Champion
Danielle Slaton: National Champion Soccer Player, Olympic medalist
Each inductee will be recognized with a bronze plaque permanently installed on the concourse at the SAP Center at San Jose. Including the 2017 inductees, there will be 106 South Bay sports icons enshrined in the Hall of Fame. The annual induction is an event of the San Jose Sports Authority, San Jose Arena Authority, SAP Center Management/San Jose Sharks, and the City of San José. The event benefits Special Olympics Northern California and high school sports programs.
"San Jose's incredibly rich and diverse sports history makes the Hall of Fame selection process very difficult each year," said Charlie Faas, Chairman of the San Jose Sports Authority Board of Directors, and the San José State University vice-president for finance and administration. "The Class of 2017 is a wonderful representation of the deep and meaningful impact athletes and coaches with South Bay connections have made in their respective sports, locally, nationally and internationally. We are excited to welcome these five remarkable individuals into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame."
The November ceremony kicks off with a reception followed by dinner and induction ceremony. Individual tickets begin at $300 each; sponsorship and table packages are available starting at $3,000. For information and to purchase event tickets call (408) 288-2936.
About the San Jose Sports Authority
The San Jose Sports Authority is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the City of San Jose's economic development, visibility, and civic pride through sports. Serving as the City's sports commission since its inception in 1991, the Sports Authority has provided leadership and support to attract and host hundreds of sporting events in San Jose and the South Bay. The Sports Authority also supports and operates community, youth and amateur sports programs, including the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame and the REACH Youth Scholarship Program. To learn more, visit www.sjsa.org.
KEN CAMINITI
Ken Caminiti was a three-sport star (football, basketball, baseball) at Leigh High School in San Jose before playing one season of baseball at San Jose City College and two seasons as a third baseman at San Jose State University. Caminiti batted .299 in 1983 and led the Spartans in doubles, home runs and RBIs. In 1984, he posted a .348 batting average and topped the team in every hitting category while setting a school record for most career doubles (29).
Caminiti was a third round draft pick of the Houston Astros in the 1984 Major League Baseball draft. He was named to the 1984 USA Olympic team as a reserve and played for Team USA in the 1984 exhibition game vs. Japan at Candlestick Park prior to MLB's annual All-Star Game.
As a Major Leaguer, he played 15 seasons for Houston (1987-94, 1999-2000), San Diego (1995-98), Texas (2001) and Atlanta (2001) and is considered one of the top-50 switch-hitters in MLB history. Caminiti is one of two swtich-hitters to hit at least 100 home runs for multiple Major League teams (Houston and San Diego). He was the first San Diego Padre to hit 40 home runs in a season when he did it in 1996 en route to being named the National League's Most Valuable Player in a unanimous vote.
As of 2017, he is only one of seven players in history to hit more than 100 home runs in a Padres uniform. Caminiti was a four-time all-star and three-time Golden Glove winner. He finished his Major League career with a .272 batting average, 239 homeruns, 983 RBIs and 88 stolen bases. Caminiti, who died in 2004, is a member of the San Jose State Hall of Fame and the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame.