Chamberlain among seven inducted into Nebraska Baseball HOF
Former Husker and Yankee pitching great Joba Chamberlain was one of seven new members inducted into to the Nebraska Baseball Hall of Fame Sunday night.
Chamberlain was a Lincoln Northeast graduate who started his college career at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He then transferred to Nebraska and helped lead the Huskers to the 2005 College World Series.
He was drafted 41st overall by the New York Yankees and had a 10 year career in the major leagues, which included a 2005 World Series Championship with the Yankees.
Nebraska pitching coach Rob Childress was on hand Sunday night to induct Chamberlain into the Hall of Fame. He described Chamberlain's career as nothing short of amazing.
"(Joba) ended up being a first round pick and spent just under a year in the minor leagues," Childress said. "He went on to have a 10-year big league career that included a World Series championship. It's a special story and a story you can make a movie about because is dad, Harlan, believed in him and kept pushing him. But (Joba) also believed in himself and he had an amazing career and I'm just so grateful to have been able to coach him."
Chamberlain received a standing ovation when he was officially inducted. He spent a big chunk of his acceptance speech giving high praise to his former pitching coach, saying he never imagined in his wildest dreams that he'd ever pitch for Nebraska.
"I was just a fat kid from the north side of Lincoln - how the heck am I going to make it," Chamberlain said. "I had no idea. But (Rob Childress) believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. My father did as well. It has been absolutely something that I can't describe. Playing 10 years in the big leagues was awesome, but the greatest joy in all of it was having people that believed in me. If you don't have that, you don't have anything."
Chamberlain wrapped us his speech with an appreciation for the hall of fame committee as well as all of the other inductees.
"It's an absolute honor and a pleasure to be inducted into this," Chamberlain said. "Because you don't ever expect anything when you start this game of baseball. And to be inducted-to the committee and everybody - it's an absolute honor to stand amongst all these other guys."
Another former Husker pitcher was inducted into the hall of fame on Sunday - Steve Spurgeon.
Spurgeon was a pitcher for the Huskers in the mid 1980s. He also pitched one summer with the Beatrice Bruins. Long-time Bruins manager Bob Steinkamp referred to Spurgeon as the Satchell Paige of the Bruins.
After re-hashing several stories from his Husker and Bruins playing days, Spurgeon expressed his gratitude for being recognized by the hall of fame committee.
"This is better than any honor I've ever received," Spurgeon said.
Rich Osentowski was another inductee into the hall of fame. Ostentwoski was an Ord native who played four years of college ball at Kearney State before being drafted by the Minnesota Twins. He had a two year career in the Twins' minor league system.
Jerry Gomez, an Omaha native, was also inducted. After a stellar high school career at Archbishop Ryan, Gomez went on to play at JC Yavapai College in Arrizona. He was signed by the Royals in 1972 and pitched in their organization from 1972-75.
There was one coach inducted into the hall of fame on Sunday - Henry "Fuzz" Bals. Bals started his coaching career in the 1940s coaching a ladies softball team in Crete. He also started a "Scrubs" 14 and under team that eventually turned into a state power at the American Legion level. He also had a brief stint helping the Doane baseball program. Bals passed away three years ago, so his son Jimmy Bals was on hand Sunday to accept the award on his father's behalf.
Terry Gilfry was an umpire that was inducted into the hall of fame on Sunday. Gilfry graduated from Fremont High School in 1970 and is a retired YMCA Executive Director for Fremont, Beatrice, Blair and McPherson, Kan.
Gilfry officiated high school football, basketball and baseball for over 25 years, including working NSAA State Tournaments in all three sports. He also umpired American Legion baseball games, NAIA baseball games and Beatrice Bruins games in the old Jayhawk League.
Daily Sun sports editor
