San Diego Hall of Champions facts for kids
San Diego Hall of Champions
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| Location | San Diego, California, US |
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The San Diego Hall of Champions was a special sports museum in San Diego, California. It closed in June 2017. Inside, it had the Breitbard Hall of Fame, which is San Diego's own sports hall of fame. This Hall of Fame is now located at Petco Park, a well-known baseball stadium.
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Breitbard Hall of Fame: Honoring San Diego Sports Stars
The Breitbard Hall of Fame was started in 1953 by a person named Robert Breitbard. It celebrates athletes who have done amazing things in sports. These athletes either became famous in San Diego or were born in San Diego and became famous somewhere else.
As of 2021, 163 athletes have been honored. They come from 22 different sports! These sports include baseball, basketball, football, swimming, golf, and even skateboarding. New members are added every February at a special dinner called the "Salute to the Champions."
Who Can Join the Hall of Fame?
To be chosen for the Breitbard Hall of Fame, athletes, coaches, or special helpers must meet certain rules:
- They must be from San Diego county.
- Or, they must have played for a San Diego high school, university, sports group, or professional team.
- Professional athletes who are not from San Diego must have played in San Diego for at least four years.
- Athletes need to have stopped playing their sport for at least two years. Or, they must be at least 50 years old.
- Coaches and other contributors do not need to be retired. But they must have worked in their field for at least seven years.
A Look at Some Inductees
Many incredible athletes have been inducted into the Breitbard Hall of Fame over the years. Here is a small sample of some of the famous people who have been honored:
| Year inducted | Inductee | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Harold Muller | Football |
| 1954 | Ted Williams | Baseball |
| 1956 | Maureen Connolly | Tennis |
| 1962 | Mickey Wright | Golf |
| 1963 | Billy Casper | Golf |
| 1972 | Lance Alworth | Football |
| 1983 | Dennis Conner | Sailing |
| 1989 | Dan Fouts | Football |
| 1990 | Bill Walton | Basketball |
| 1998 | Tony Gwynn | Baseball |
| 2002 | Tony Hawk | Skateboarding |
| 2006 | Gail Devers | Track and field |
| 2009 | Marshall Faulk | Football |
| 2010 | Greg Louganis | Diving |
| 2013 | Junior Seau | Football |
| 2013 | Trevor Hoffman | Baseball |
| 2015 | LaDainian Tomlinson | Football |
| 2020 | Rob Machado | Surfing |
| 2021 | Antonio Gates | Football |
See also
- San Diego Padres Hall of Fame, a hall of fame for the local baseball team
- California Sports Hall of Fame
