Special Honorees chosen for Washington-Greene Sports Hall of Fame
The Washington-Greene County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame announced Monday that three Special Honorees will be recognized at the organization’s banquet in June and join the previously announced Class of 2020 inductees.
The Special Honorees are: George Alvin “Al” Helfer, Harry Harvey and the 1958 California State Teachers College football team.
Helfer was a broadcaster who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., in August and received the Ford C. Frick Award for Excellence in Baseball Broadcasting. He was born in Elrama and attended Washington and Jefferson College. He died May 16, 1975.
Harvey is a member of the Harness Racing Hall of Fame (2002) and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (1970). He excelled as a trainer, driver and farm manager. Included in the races he won is the Hambletonian (1953) with Helicopter. He trained and drove the great Albatross. Harvey died in 2016 at age 92.
The 1958 Cal football team, is the team of yesteryear. The Vulcans posted an 8-0 record, one of only three undefeated seasons in program history. They outscored the opposition 207-31. The Vulcans ranked first in rush defense, allowing just 42 yards per game. Cal was ranked second nationally in total defense.