LI Sports Legends Inducted Into Suffolk Sports Hall Of Fame

BABYLON, NY — Twenty-four athletes, coaches and sports personalities hailing from Long Island were inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame during a sold-out celebration at the Flowerfield in St. James.

Among the inductees were sports legends like North Babylon native Danny Green, an NBA veteran and two-time NBA Champion; New York Mets legend and longtime Sag Harbor resident Keith Hernandez; and Jim and Barbara Cromarty, the owners of Islip and Riverhead race tracks.

"This year's induction ceremony was another example of the incredible people we have on Long Island who make a massive difference nationally and locally in sports," Chris Vaccaro, Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame President and Executive Director. "Every inductee this year perfectly represents what we stand for as an organization and county."

According to Vaccaro, the attendance at the May 30 event sold out with over 325 in attendance.

"It was the most we have had in the 34-year history of the Hall of Fame, which says a lot," Vaccaro added. "Not only are we still going strong, but we're growing."

2024 Inductees:

• Danny Green: North Babylon native, NBA veteran, two-time NBA champion.
• Keith Hernandez: New York Mets legend, Sag Harbor resident.
• Jim and Barbara Cromarty: Islip and Riverhead race track owners.
• Bryan Collins: Sayville resident; college football coach at Post and Stony Brook
• Dave Cohen: Commack native, college football coach.
• Dr. Anthony Donatelli: Deer Park native, sports medicine doctor.
• Sonny Feinman: Islip youth sports advocate and leader
• Leo Fishel: Babylon native and first Jewish pitcher in MLB history in 1899
• Sean Frazier: Harborfields alum, college athletic director currently at Northern Ilinois
• Howard Gershberg: East Islip baseball coach who excelled at St. John’s and in MLB
• Gregg Giannotti: WFAN sports talk host originally from Bellport
• Louis Gregory: Sachem alum, sports agent and manager & U.S. Customs & Border Protection.
• Sue Johnson: Walt Whitman alum, Division I college basketball coach, Yale All-Ivy hoops player
• Bob Kersch: Veteran Section XI official with 50-plus years of service
• Alyssa Leonard: Bay Shore native, All-American lax player, pro lax player, 2x NCAA Champ
• Ann Liguori: Veteran golf journalist and broadcaster
• Bob Panariello: Longtime AD and National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee
• Dr. Frank Segretto: Doctor dedicated to sports medicine
• Brian Spallina: Rocky Point native, Lacrosse legend, and inductee of the PLL Hall of Fame
• Vera Truhlar: Connetquot women’s gymnastics coach, Section XI gymnastics coordinator
• Chris Wingert: Babylon native, pro MLS player, Head of International Football at Roc Nation
• Donald Yorie: Director of Suffolk County Police Department Police Athletic League
• Islip Wolves Fire Department Drill/Racing Team: One of the winningest drill teams

The nomination process is open from June 1 through October 1 each year. The selection committee meets in the fall to deliberate over candidates and select the next induction class. All inductees must generate at least 65 percent of voter support to gain induction.