Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame
The Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame, located in the Hawthorne Race Course, in Stickney/Cicero, near Chicago, honors sports greats associated with the Chicago metropolitan area. It was founded in 1979 as a trailer owned by the Olympia Brewing Company parked at Soldier Field in Chicago. The Chicago Park District took over the exhibits in 1983. From 1988 the exhibits were displayed in Mike Ditka's restaurant until the restaurant closed in 1991. The Hall of Fame moved to the Maryville Academy in Des Plaines in 1996 and operated under the guidance of Father John P. Smyth during that time. As of 2008, it was operating at Hawthorne.
Directors include Smyth, former Chicago Park District Superintendent Ed Kelly, DePaul University Athletic Director Jean Lenti-Ponsetto, and former Chicago Bears tight end Emery Moorehead.
The honorees include high-school athletes, such as Babe Baranowski who quarterbacked the 1937 Leo Catholic High School team in the Prep Bowl football game in Soldier Field, viewed by a record 120,000 spectators, high-school coaches, college athletes from as far away as the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and the University of Notre Dame, as well as professional and Olympic athletes associated with Chicago. Their sports include everything from baseball, basketball, football, and hockey to bowling, fishing, golf, and horse racing. Two special awards, the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Ray Meyer Coach of the Year Award may honor non-Chicagoans.
Honorees
| Name | Sport | Position | Chicago team | Other major team |
| Football | Running back | Northwestern, Bears | Chiefs | |
| Basketball | DePaul | |||
| Principal | Providence St. Mel | |||
| Basketball | Small forward | DePaul | Dallas Mavericks Detroit Pistons | |
| Football | Offensive lineman | Bears | ||
| Boxing | ||||
| Baseball | Outfield First Base Third Base | White Sox | Phillies | |
| Don Amidei | Track and Field | Coach | St. George Loyola DePaul Northwestern | |
| Lacrosse | Coach | Northwestern | ||
| Football | Running back | Mt. Carmel HS Notre Dame Cardinals | ||
| Baseball | Shortstop | Sox | Orioles, Red Sox | |
| Baseball | Shortstop | White Sox | ||
| Football | Running back | Farragut HS Purdue U. | Denver Broncos | |
| Horse racing | Jockey | |||
| Football | Defensive end | Bears | Browns, Saints | |
| Football | Offensive lineman | Northwestern | 49ers | |
| Baseball | Shortstop First Base | Cubs | ||
| Football | Quarterback | Leo HS | ||
| Basketball | Coach | Mt. Carmel | Memphis Grizzlies | |
| Football | Coach | Cardinals | ||
| Baseball | Second Base | Cubs | Padres | |
| Writer | Daily News, Sun-Times | |||
| Basketball | Guard, Forward | Marshall HS U. of Illinois | Hawks | |
| Boxing | Promoter | Host, The Sportswriters on TV | ||
| Football | Linebacker | St. Patrick HS | Colts | |
| Football | Running back | U. of Chicago | ||
| Football | Linebacker | Purdue University Bears | Packers | |
| Football | Owner Executive | Cardinals Bears | ||
| Football | Owner | Cardinals | ||
| Olympics | Speed skating | Champaign Centennial HS | ||
| Football | Quarterback Kicker | Bears | Raiders, Oilers | |
| Baseball Announcer | Shortstop | Thornton HS U. of Illinois WGN | Cleveland Indians | |
| Football | Running back Coach | Notre Dame | ||
| Football | Linebacker | Cardinals | Lions | |
| Broadcaster | Cubs, Sox, WGN | |||
| Basketball | Coach | DuSable HS | ||
| Basketball | DuSable HS | |||
| Olympics | Track, official | U. of Illinois | ||
| Basketball | Coach | DePaul Loyola Hustle | ||
| Basketball | Guard | Thornridge HS | Indiana U Bucks, Celtics | |
| Football | Linebacker | Bears | ||
| Football | Offensive line | Cardinals | Lions | |
| Football | Running back | Bears | Eagles | |
| Special Olympics | Official | |||
| Football | Linebacker Center | Vocational HS U. of Illinois Bears | ||
| Football Basketball Track | Offensive lineman | Maine South HS Purdue U. | Redskins | |
| Basketball | Coach | Northwestern | Iowa State | |
| Basketball | American Gears | U. of Detroit | ||
| Baseball | Pitcher | Cubs | Red Sox | |
| Football | Quarterback Running back | Packers | ||
| Baseball | Broadcaster | Cubs, Sox | Cardinals | |
| Horse racing | President | Hawthorne Race Course | ||
| Basketball | Guard | Von Steuben HS DePaul Chicago Packers | ||
| Writer | Chicago Daily News | |||
| Football | Running back Defensive back | U. of Illinois Bears | ||
| Football | Fullback | Bears | Redskins | |
| Baseball | First Base | Cubs Sox | ||
| Volleyball | Coach | UIC | Penn State | |
| Baseball | First Base Manager | Orphans/Cubs | Yankees | |
| Football | Running back Broadcaster | Cardinals | Packers | |
| Baseball | Pitcher | St. Rita HS | Blue Jays, Astros | |
| Basketball Baseball | Center, Forward First Base | Chicago Majors American Giants | Knicks, Globetrotters | |
| Basketball Various | Guard Owner | Bloom HS U. of Illinois | Diamondbacks, Suns | |
| Baseball | Owner | Sox | ||
| Chuck Comiskey | Baseball | Owner | Sox | |
| Baseball | Owner | Sox | ||
| Writer | Tribune | |||
| Olympics | Track | Luther South HS | ||
| Football | Lineman Linebacker | De La Salle HS Notre Dame Bears | ||
| Basketball | Forward | Hersey HS DePaul Bulls | Bullets | |
| Football | Offensive lineman | Bears | ||
| Politician | ||||
| Basketball | Forward | Carver HS, DePaul | Bucks, Spurs | |
| Football | Business Manager | Bears | ||
| Football | Lineman | Notre Dame Chicago Rockets Chicago Hornets | ||
| Politics | Mayor | City of Chicago | De La Salle HS | |
| Football | Offensive lineman | Northwestern Bears | ||
| Tennis | ||||
| Baseball | Outfield | Cubs | Expos | |
| Horse Racing | Jockey | |||
| Football | Running back Defensive back Quarterback | Austin HS Northwestern Cardinals Bears | Lions | |
| Big Ten Basketball | Commissioner Guard | U. of North Carolina | ||
| Football | Defensive end | Bears | ||
| Football | Tight end Coach | Bears | Cowboys | |
| Baseball | Outfield | Sox | Indians | |
| Basketball | Coach | U. of Florida, OKC Thunder | ||
| Football | Quarterback | Bears | Saints, Packers | |
| Football Baseball | Quarterback, Kicker Coach Infield | Northwestern Cardinals Bears Cubs | ||
| Horse Racing | Executive | Arlington Park | Churchill Downs | |
| Football | Safety | Notre Dame Bears | Cardinals | |
| Baseball | Second Base Third Base Manager | Sox | Athletics | |
| Basketball | Guard | Loyola | ||
| Basketball | Forward | Parker HS | Marquette, Nuggets | |
| Broadcaster | Sox | |||
| Olympics | Weightlifting | |||
| Baseball Writer | Basketball Referee | Chicago's American | Sporting News | |
| Hockey | Goalie | Black Hawks | Canadiens | |
| Baseball | St. Rita HS | Phillies, Yankees | ||
| Golf | Northwestern | |||
| Baseball | Second Base | Cubs | Braves | |
| Baseball | Pitcher | St. Rita HS Sox | Indians | |
| Horse Racing | Chicago's American, Daily News, Sun-Times | |||
| Bowling | ||||
| Football | Defensive back | Barrington HS Bears | Yale | |
| Basketball | Guard | South Shore HS Northwestern | Pistons | |
| Basketball | Coach | Thornridge HS | Bradley U. AD | |
| Golf | ||||
| Baseball | Owner | Athletics | ||
| Horse Racing | Jockey | |||
| Football | Offensive line | Notre Dame Cardinals | ||
| Writer | Chicago's American | |||
| Olympics | Modern pentathlete | |||
| Founder | Chicago Marathon | |||
| Football | Defensive back | Loyola Academy Purdue U. | Dolphins | |
| Hockey | Broadcaster | Blackhawks | ||
| Baseball | Second Base | Sox | Athletics | |
| Football | Quarterback | Yale | ||
| Baseball | Umpire | American League | ||
| Football | Quarterback, Kicker Coach | Notre Dame Mt. Carmel HS | U. of Detroit | |
| Football | Running back | Bears | Stanford | |
| Basketball | Coach | St. Rita HS Fenwick HS | ||
| Football | Quarterback | Leo HS | ||
| Basketball | Coach | Marshall HS | ||
| Football | Defensive back | Notre Dame Cardinals | ||
| Football | Scout | Bears | ||
| Football | Linebacker | Bears | Rams | |
| Horse Racing | Announcer | Bulls | ||
| Football | Lineman Coach | Bears | Browns | |
| Football Baseball | Coach | DePaul, Joliet Catholic HS, Lewis U | ||
| Writer | Sun-Times | |||
| Football | Leo, De La Salle, Mendel Notre Dame | |||
| Football | Running back | Cardinals | ||
| Football | Fullback | U. of Illinois Bears | Packers | |
| Football Basketball | Quarterback Coach Guard | Northwestern | Browns Redskins Rochester Royals | |
| Olympics | Women's Ice Hockey | |||
| Football | Running back | Wheaton HS U. of Illinois Bears | Yankees | |
| Baseball | First Base Manager | Cubs | Pirates Braves | |
| Football | Defensive lineman | Cardinals | ||
| Football | Offensive lineman Athletic director | U. of Illinois | ||
| Basketball | U. of Chicago | |||
| Baseball | Third Base Manager | Cubs | ||
| Football | NFL Referee | Bradley U. | ||
| Football Baseball | End, Owner Outfield | Bears | Yankees | |
| Baseball | Yankees | |||
| Hockey | Goaltender | Black Hawks | Red Wings | |
| Olympics | Yachting | |||
| Football | Defensive end | Bears | ||
| Football | Patriots | |||
| Basketball | Guard | Loyola | Knicks Pacers | |
| Football | Bears | Ohio State | ||
| Baseball | President | American League | ||
| ? | ||||
| Football | Quarterback | Cardinals | ||
| Horse Racing | Jockey | |||
| Baseball | Catcher Manager | Cubs | Giants | |
| ? | ||||
| Basketball | Forward | Parker HS Notre Dame | Lakers | |
| ? | ||||
| Football | Raiders | |||
| Olympics | Speed Skating | Taft HS, NIU | ||
| Baseball | Second Base Manager | Cubs | Dodgers Red Sox | |
| Football | Linebacker | Willowbrook HS U. of Illinois Bears | ||
| Football | Center | Bears | Browns | |
| Basketball | Coach | Notre Dame HS | ||
| Football | Offensive lineman | Northwestern | Colts | |
| Basketball | ? | |||
| Football | Coach | Loyola HS | ||
| Bowling Speedskating Bicycling | ||||
| Writer | Daily News, Sun-Times, Tribune | |||
| Baseball | Pitcher | Cubs | Athletics | |
| Olympics | Speed skating | |||
| Billiards | ||||
| Basketball | Guard | Lyons Township HS | Suns, Jazz | |
| Hockey | Left wing | Black Hawks | Jets | |
| Hockey | Left wing | Black Hawks | Red Wings | |
| Baseball | Catcher | Cubs | Giants | |
| Basketball | ? Coach | Notre Dame Loyola | ||
| Hockey | Coach, GM | Black Hawks | Red Wings | |
| Writer | Tribune | |||
| Golf | ||||
| Baseball | Pitcher | Cubs | Rangers | |
| Football | End Coach | Schurz HS Northwestern Bears | ||
| Basketball | Coach | Mount Carmel HS Loyola Notre Dame | ||
| Baseball | Coach | Oak Park HS | ||
| Baseball | Clubhouse manager | Cubs | ||
| Football | Receiver | Bears | Packers | |
| Baseball | Cubs | |||
| Chicago Park District | Superintendent | Oshkosh All-Stars | ||
| Football | Offensive lineman | Evanston Township High School | Falcons | |
| Baseball | 3B/OF Manager | Sox Cubs | Indians | |
| Basketball | Center Coach | Tilden Tech U. of Illinois Bulls | Suns | |
| Baseball | Shortstop | Cubs | Cardinals | |
| Olympics | Swimming | |||
| Olympics | Swimming | Hinsdale Central HS | ||
| Basketball Baseball | Owner/Exec | Tilden Tech Loyola Sox | Cardinals | |
| Baseball | Pitcher | Cubs | Reds | |
| Hockey | Defenseman | Black Hawks | ||
| Football | Coach | Richards High School | ||
| Hockey | Defenseman | Black Hawks | ||
| Wrestling | Coach | Northwestern | ||
| Basketball Football | Center Athletic director | Notre Dame | ||
| Basketball | Executive | Bulls | Bullets | |
| Football | Defensive end | Purdue U. | Steelers | |
| Basketball | Coach | Weber HS | Duke | |
| Football | Linebacker | Bears Oak Park-River Forest HS | Dolphins | |
| Writer | Sun-Times | |||
| Hockey | Right wing | Black Hawks | Rangers | |
| Baseball | Commissioner | |||
| Baseball | Second Base | |||
| Football | Running back | Notre Dame Fenwick HS | Steelers | |
| Football Basketball | Fullback Coach | Loyola Fenwick HS | ||
| Football | Running back Coach Athletic director | Notre Dame | NFL Commissioner | |
| Football | Coach | Evanston HS | ||
| Football | Coach | Notre Dame | ||
| Football | Coach | Mt. Carmel HS | ||
| 4 sports | Athletic director | DePaul U. | ||
| Basketball | Guard Coach | Bradley | Kings | |
| Football | Coach | South Shore HS | Bills | |
| Football | Offensive lineman | St. Rita HS Bears | ||
| Olympics | Taekwondo | |||
| Horse racing Football | LA Dons | |||
| Baseball | Third Base Outfield | Cubs Loyola Academy | Giants | |
| Baseball | Catcher | Sox | Browns | |
| Baseball | Catcher Manager | Sox | Dodgers Indians | |
| Tennis | Player Coach | DePaul | ||
| Football | Fullback | |||
| Basketball | Forward | Bulls | ||
| Football | Quarterback | Bears | ||
| Basketball | Coach | Loyola | ||
| Baseball | Pitcher Manager | Sox | ||
| Hockey | Defenseman | Black Hawks | ||
| Football Track | Coach | St. Ignatius | ||
| Football | Coach Executive | Cubs | Syracuse U. | |
| Soccer | NIU | |||
| Hockey | Right wing | Black Hawks | ||
| Football | St. Rita HS | |||
| Football | Referee | |||
| Football | Running back | Cardinals | ||
| Football | Running back | Bears | Duke U. | |
| Football | Michigan St. | |||
| Olympics | Wrestling | U. of Iowa | ||
| Football | Center | Rich East HS, U. of Illinois | Packers | |
| Baseball | Fan | Sox | ||
| Hockey | Executive | Blackhawks | ||
| Basketball | Coach | Weber | ||
| Football | Cornerback | St. Rita HS | ||
| ? | ||||
| Football | Quarterback | Bears | ||
| Football | Defensive lineman | Bears | ||
| Horse racing | Jockey | |||
| Basketball | Bradley U. | |||
| Baseball | Third Base | Sox | ||
| Olympics | Track | |||
| Basketball | Coach | DePaul | ||
| Basketball | Coach | DePaul | ||
| Hockey | Center | Black Hawks | ||
| Golf | Coach | Lake Forest HS | ||
| Baseball | Outfield | Sox | Indians | |
| DePaul | ||||
| Football | Tight end | Bears | ||
| Football | Running back | Bears | ||
| Sportcaster | WCFL | |||
| Football | Running back | Bears | ||
| ? | ||||
| Hockey | Center | Black Hawks | ||
| Cross country | Coach | York HS | ||
| Baseball | Outfield | Cubs | Phillies | |
| Football | Linebacker | Proviso HS, U. of Illinois | Packers | |
| Hockey Boxing | Executive | Black Hawks | ||
| Sportscaster | ||||
| Football | Defensive end | Proviso East HS U. of Illinois Bears | ||
| Football | Coach | Vocational HS | ||
| Football | Bears | Browns | ||
| Golf | ||||
| Olympics | Miler | Loyola | ||
| Football | Coach | Schurz HS | ||
| ? | ||||
| Football | Running back | Bears | Holy Cross | |
| Baseball | Pitcher | Reds | ||
| Baseball | Outfield | Cubs | Dodgers, Braves | |
| Football | Coach | Fenger HS | ||
| Football | Tackle | Purdue U. Cardinals | Rams | |
| Tennis | ||||
| Football | Coach | Notre Dame, Northwestern | ||
| Football | St. Philip Notre Dame Cardinals | |||
| Basketball | Guard GM | Notre Dame Bulls | Spurs | |
| Football | Running back | Bears | ||
| Athletic director | Mother McAuley HS | |||
| Golf | ||||
| Olympics | Wrestling | U. of Wisconsin | ||
| Baseball | Pitcher | Sox | Tigers, Giants | |
| Football | End | Eagles | ||
| Basketball | Coach | St. Josephs | ||
| Football | Running back Coach | Lane Tech HS | Akron Pros | |
| Track | Miler | Michigan State U. | ||
| Basketball | ||||
| Football | Defensive back | Marian Catholic High School Illinois State | Packers, Colts | |
| Baseball | Outfield | Bradley U. Triton College | Twins | |
| Hockey | Wing Coach/GM | Black Hawks | Maple Leafs Kings | |
| Football | Lineman | Bears | ||
| Sportscaster | WGN, WIND | |||
| Football | Referee | Big Ten | ||
| Auto Racing | ||||
| Hockey | Coach | Black Hawks | ||
| Baseball Basketball | Owner | Sox Bulls | ||
| Baseball | Umpire | American League | ||
| Baseball | Pitcher General Manager | Sox | ||
| Baseball | Outfield | Sox | Browns, Athletics | |
| Basketball | Guard, Coach | Marquette University Proviso East HS | Celtics, Hawks | |
| Olympics | Track | Thornton HS | ||
| Football | Coach | Notre Dame | ||
| Olympics | Track | Northwestern | ||
| Golf | ||||
| Boxer | ||||
| Basketball | Guard | Loyola Stags | ||
| Soccer | Coach | Sting | ||
| Basketball | Guard, Forward | Carver HS | U of Michigan, Knicks | |
| Football | ? | |||
| Football | Lineman | Tilden Tech Notre Dame | Browns | |
| Football | Coach | Northwestern Western Illinois | Bills, Broncos | |
| Football Basketball | Coach | Shurz HS Cardinals DePaul Loyola | ||
| Bowling | ||||
| Football | Quarterback | Purdue U. | ||
| Baseball | Second Base Third Base | Cubs | ||
| Baseball | Pitcher | Cubs Sox | Expos, Yankees | |
| Baseball | Third Base | Cubs Sox | ||
| Basketball | Coach | Globetrotters | ||
| Baseball | Outfield | Cubs | Reds, Cardinals, Giants | |
| Hockey | Center, Coach | Blackhawks | Canadiens, Lightning | |
| Football | Running back | Bears | Univ. of Kansas | |
| Football | Northwestern Cardinals | |||
| Olympics | Figure Skating | |||
| Basketball | Coach | U. of Illinois | U. of Kansas | |
| Football | Wide receiver | Notre Dame Bears Fire | ||
| Hockey | Left wing | Black Hawks | ||
| Football | Linebacker Tight end | Notre Dame | ||
| Baseball | Pitcher | Sox Cubs | Giants | |
| Basketball Boxing | Coach | St. Philip HS Park District | ||
| Football | Mendel Catholic | |||
| Soccer | Midfielder | New Trier HS Sting | ||
| ? | ||||
| Horse racing | Jockey | |||
| Baseball | First Base | Weber HS, Sox | Yankees | |
| Football | Cardinals | |||
| Basketball | Notre Dame | |||
| Basketball | Forward | DePaul | Knicks | |
| Football | Offensive lineman | Bears | ||
| Football | Coach | U. of Chicago | ||
| Football | Coach | Bears | ||
| Football | U. of Illinois | |||
| Soccer | Owner | Sting | ||
| Football | Running back Wide receiver | Marshall HS Purdue U. | Patriots | |
| Basketball Baseball | Forward Pitcher | Sox Cubs | NC State Orioles | |
| Football | Wide receiver | Northwestern Cardinals | ||
| Basketball | Coach | Loyola | ||
| Track | St. George High School | |||
| Football | Kicker Sportscaster | Cardinals | Giants CBS, FOX | |
| Basketball | Bruins | |||
| Hockey | Defenseman General Manager | Black Hawks | Canucks | |
| Skiing | ||||
| Boxing | Heavyweight | Promoter | ||
| Football | Offensive lineman | Bears Notre Dame Joliet Catholic HS | ||
| Baseball | Owner | Thillens Stadium | ||
| Basketball | Forward | Loyola Ramblers Chicago Bruins | ||
| Baseball | Shortstop | Cubs | ||
| Football | Quarterback | TF North HS, Bears | ||
| Football | Notre Dame Cardinals | |||
| Basketball | Owner | Packers | ||
| Football | Running back | Cardinals | ||
| Basketball | Guard, Forward | Lane Tech HS DePaul University American Gears | ||
| Football | Center Linebacker | Bears | ||
| Olympics | Softball | |||
| Football | Tackle | U. of Illinois Cardinals | ||
| Football | General Manager | Bears | Lions | |
| Basketball | Guard | Bulls | Royals | |
| Football | Offensive lineman | Bears | ||
| Basketball | Coach | St.Pats HS | ||
| Jr. | Baseball Horse racing | Owner, Executive | Sox | Browns |
| Baseball | Executive | Cubs | ||
| Golf | ||||
| Football | Tackle Coach | Northwestern | ||
| Football | Defensive back | Western Illinois U. | Steelers | |
| Basketball | Forward | Bradley U. Bulls | 76ers | |
| Basketball | Guard | Mount Carmel HS | Marquette, Bucks | |
| Writer | Tribune | |||
| Baseball | Third Base | Sox | Orioles, Yankees | |
| Olympics | Swimming | |||
| Basketball | Referee | |||
| Football | Offensive lineman | Notre Dame | ||
| Olympics | Swimming | |||
| Publisher | ||||
| Basketball Tumbling | Coach | Waller HS JW Tumbling | ||
| Olympics | Track | |||
| Baseball | Outfield | Cubs | Athletics | |
| Broadcaster | WGN, Cubs | |||
| Hockey | Defenseman | Black Hawks | Sharks | |
| Basketball | Center | Marshall High School Bulls | 1964 Olympics, Royals, SuperSonics, Suns, 76ers, Braves | |
| Baseball | Outfield | Cubs | ||
| Hockey Basketball | Owner | Black Hawks Bulls | Red Wings | |
| Hockey | Owner | Black Hawks | ||
| Baseball Basketball Football | Loyola | |||
| Baseball | Pitcher | Sox | Braves | |
| ? | ||||
| Baseball | Owner | Cubs | ||
| Baseball | Pitcher | Sox | Indians, Senators | |
| Football | Running back | U. of Illinois | Colts | |
| Boxing | ||||
| Fishing | ||||
| Football | Linebacker Defensive line | Vocational HS Notre Dame Bears |