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AZ Fall League Announces 2007 Hall of Fame Inductees

October 9, 2007 - Arizona Fall League (AzFL) News Release


Phoenix, Arizona - Jermaine Dye (RF, Chicago White Sox), Torii Hunter (CF, Minnesota Twins), Derrek Lee (1B, Chicago Cubs), and former major league player and manager Ken Macha comprise the Arizona Fall League's 2007 Hall of Fame induction class. "This is one of the finest classes to enter the Fall League Hall of Fame," offers Roland Hemond, the "Architect of the Arizona Fall League" who chairs its Hall of Fame selection committee. Hemond, a long-time baseball executive who recently was named special assistant to the president of the Arizona Diamondbacks, adds, "Our 2007 inductees are consummate baseball professionals who achieved their success with class. Their accomplishments speak for themselves. We are proud of the role the Arizona Fall League played in their development." Jermaine Dye - The two-time major-league all-star (2000 with Kansas City, 2006 with Chicago White Sox), 2005 World Series most valuable player, 2000 American League Gold Glove recipient, and 2006 American League Silver Slugger Award winner played for the Sun Cities Solar Sox in 1995. The 12th-year major leaguer has played for four clubs - Atlanta Braves (1996), Kansas City Royals (1997-2001), Oakland A's (2001-04), and Chicago White Sox (2005-present). Dye's .438 batting average in the 2005 World Series led the White Sox to their first championship since 1917, a title Dye clinched with his game-winning RBI single in Chicago's 1-0 game-four victory at Houston. Dye also appeared in the 1996 World Series with Atlanta. In all, Dye has played in nine postseason series (5 LDS, 2 LCS, and 2 World Series). Dye's Silver Slugger Award in 2006 was the result 44 home runs and 120 RBI, both career bests. As a Brave in 1996, Dye homered in his first major-league at bat. Dye owns six 100-RBI seasons and eight campaigns with 20 or more home runs, including the past four. He also posted back-to-back 30-homer seasons in 2005-06 to lead all major league right fielders both years. - more - AZ Fall League Announces 2007 Hall of Fame Inductees/add 1-1-1-1 The 33-year-old Vacaville, California native also was the White Sox 2006 Roberto Clemente Award recipient Torii Hunter - The Twins' dazzling defender played for the Phoenix Desert Dogs in 1998. A Gold Glove winner the past six seasons, Hunter has led the Twins to division titles in four of the past five years. A two-time all-star (2002, '07), Hunter made a trademark catch in the 2002 All-Star Game at Milwaukee when he leaped above the center-field fence to rob National League slugger Barry Bonds of an apparent home run. Hunter posted a career-best 23-game hitting streak early this season. The Twins' center fielder also boasts at least 20 home runs in six of the past seven seasons and a .339 postseason batting average in five series (4 ALDS, 1 ALCS) The 32-year-old Pine Bluff, Arkansas native also was Minnesota's 2002 Roberto Clemente Award recipient. Derrek Lee - The Cubs' first baseman, who also played for the Padres (1997) and Marlins (1998-2003), was a Sun Cities Solar Sox in both 1995 and '96. A leader on the Marlins' 2003 World Series championship club, Lee also is a two-time all-star (leading National League vote-getter in 2005, '07), two-time Gold Glove winner ( 2003, '05 ), and 2005 N.L. Silver Slugger Award recipient. In 2005, Lee was the N.L. batting champion (.335), the highest batting average by a Cub since Bill Madlock's .339 in 1976, while also leading the league with 199 hits, 50 doubles, 3,393 total bases, 99 extra-base hits, and a .662 slugging percentage. Lee has belted at least 20 home runs in six of the last seven seasons, including a career best 46 in 2005. The 31-year-old Sacramento, California native also played for Team USA in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006 Ken Macha - Former major league player (Pittsburgh, Montreal, Toronto) and manager (Oakland) Ken Macha managed the Tempe Rafters in 1994. Macha currently serves as a pre- and post-game analyst for Boston Red Sox telecasts on the New England Sports Network. After retiring as a player in 1985, Macha began his coaching career on the major-league staff of the Expos in 1986, the first of six seasons on Montreal's bench. After later serving as the Angels' bullpen coach, Macha joined the Red Sox organization in the fall of 1994. He managed for the first time in 1995-96 at Double-A Trenton, leading the Thunder to two first-place finishes, including a league record 86-56 slate in 1996 that led to Eastern League manager-of-the-year accolades. Boston promoted Macha to manage its Triple-A affiliate at Pawtucket in 1997. Macha returned to the major leagues from 1999-2002 on the Oakland coaching staff of skipper Art Howe before replacing him as manager from 2003-06. The Macha-led A's posted a glittering 369-280 (.568) composite record over those four seasons, claiming West Division titles in 2003 and '06 and second-place finishes in the other two campaigns. AFL Hall of Fame - The Arizona Fall League, founded in 1992, formed its Hall of Fame in 2001 to honor the top major-league players and managers who honed their skills in the AFL. Dye, Hunter, Lee, and Macha increase the AFL Hall of Fame to 21 members. Previous inductees were Garret Anderson, Dusty Baker, Terry Francona, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi, Shawn Green, Roy Halladay, Todd Helton, Derek Jeter, Grady Little, Jerry Manuel, Tony Pena, Troy Percival, Mike Piazza, Albert Pujols, Mike Scioscia, and Alfonso Soriano. The selection committee's appointments are based upon individual achievement at the major-league level since participating in the AFL. Each inductee will be honored individually prior to an AFL game this season. The AFL begins its 16th season on Tuesday, October 9.
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