Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame Inducts 12 New Members at 21st Annual Ceremony

CHICAGO, Oct. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame (CSHOF) will hold its 21^st annual induction ceremony at McCormick Square's newest facility, the state-of-the-art Wintrust Arena. This year's Hall of Fame honors 12 outstanding individuals who make Chicago a world-class sports town.

Tom Ricketts, owner of the Chicago Cubs will be inducted into the Hall of Fame and also honored as Chicago Sports Owner of the Year, and Andrew Hauptman, owner of the Chicago Fire, will be inducted as well as honored as the Chicago Sports Advocate of the Year. Both honorees are devoted team owners and have made honorable strides in the Chicago sports community in 2017. The honorees will speak with NBC Sports Group host and reporter, Kathryn Tappen, in a moderated panel during the ceremony. Comcast and its subsidiaries, Xfinity and NBC Sports Group, join CSHOF as the presenting media sponsor.

"We're honored to induct a class of such outstanding individuals into the 2017 Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and celebrate their achievements in the Chicago sports community," said Charlie Carey, Board President of CSHOF. "Each year, the CSHOF induction ceremony brings together Chicago's finest athletes, and we're grateful to our outstanding partners for making this momentous night possible."

In addition to Ricketts and Hauptman, this year's inductees include a variety of active and retired Chicago sports legends, including:

• Celebrated strike-out pitcher, Chicago Cub, Kerry Wood
• Cappie Pondexter, Chicago Sky and former MVP of the WNBA
• Three-time Stanley Cup Champion, Chicago Blackhawks captain, Jonathan Toews
• Brian McBride, retired soccer star of the Chicago Fire
• Multi-sport special Olympian Tommy Shimoda, the first special Olympian to ever be inducted into the CSHOF
• Baseball legend Hawk Harrelson of the White Sox
• Green Bay Packers fan favorite and Thornton Township High School star, Ivan "John" Jurkovic of ESPN 1000
• Five-time Emmy Award winner Kenny McReynolds of WCIU
• Hall of Fame Head Basketball Coach, Geno Auriemma of the University of Connecticut Huskies, will be honored with the Ray Meyer Award
• Notre Dame Heisman Trophy winner, Tim "Mr. Raider" Brown of the Oakland Raiders, will receive the Gale Sayers Award

Fox News sports anchor Corey McPherrin will return as emcee of the induction dinner. The event benefits the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame Charities, a 501c3 tax-exempt organization in Illinois honoring those who have distinguished themselves through their contribution to sports. VIP cocktails are from 5:30-6:30PM with dinner and induction starting at 7PM today, October 2^nd at Wintrust Arena 200 E. Cermak Ave, Chicago, 60616. 

Proceeds from tonight's event support World Sport Chicago, an independent non-profit organization that supports resiliency and strengthens community by increasing access to youth sport; the Chicago Sports Commission, an organization designed to recruit and support high-profile sporting events that generate economic impact and exposure for the City of Chicago; and Father John Smyth's Standing Tall Foundation, which provides resources and opportunities for homeless, undeserved and at-risk youth to develop and establish a safe, secure and productive lifestyle. 

For more information please visit:  http://www.chicagolandsportshalloffame.com/.

Media Contact
Cynthia McCafferty
(314) 322-8647
[email protected]  

SOURCE Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame

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