Graham Selected For ABCA Hall of Fame Induction
7/14/2020 8:05:00 AM | Baseball
Coaches Association HOF Class of 2021
Former Rice head baseball coach Wayne Graham has been named as one of the eight new inductees into American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the organization announced on Tuesday (July 14).
Graham joins a prestigious class that will be formally inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame in January, 2021. The ABCA's latest inductees also include Bill Anderson, Occidental College (Calif.), Hal Baird, Auburn University, Roger Cador, Southern University, Sammy Dunn, Vestavia Hill High School (Ala.), George Horton, Cal State Fullerton/ Oregon, Tony Robichaux, Louisiana and Don Sneddon, Santa Ana College (Calif.).
"It is a great honor," said coach Graham from his home in Austin, Texas. "I am thankful for the recognition from Coaches Association and for the work they do on behalf of baseball coaches across the country. I am particularly proud to be a part of this class of honorees. These men have done a lot for the game and I congratulate them on their selection."
In 27 seasons at the helm of the Rice baseball program coach Graham led the Owls to 1,173 career victories, 21 conference titles in three different leagues, seven trips to the College World Series, and to the 2003 NCAA National Championship. His success at Rice, however, is only part of his collegiate coaching resume. When including his 11 years of service at nearby San Jacinto College, Graham amassed more than 1,800 wins with six national titles in a 38-year coaching career. He has previously been inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame, the Junior College Baseball Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and most recently the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012.
The 2021 ABCA Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held during the 77th annual ABCA Convention on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021 at the Gaylord National in Washington, D.C. Tickets to attend the Hall of Fame Banquet will go on sale September 1. Induction to the ABCA Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed by the organization. The ABCA was founded in 1945 and the Hall of Fame began in 1966.