Easter, Tucker Among Five Bisons to be Inducted to IL Hall of Fame
Published on January 29, 2008 under International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release
The International League today announced that five former Bisons will be inducted into the IL Hall of Fame during the 2008 season: first basemen Luke Easter and Frank "Pancho" Herrera and outfielders Ollie Tucker, Frank Gilhooley Sr. and Archie Wilson. The five are part of a class of 27 players, managers and executives to be inducted to the International League Hall of Fame this year.
The International League Hall of Fame has been dormant since 1964, but was revived as the league celebrates its 125th season of operation in 2008. In 2007, former League Presidents Harold Cooper Jr. and George Sisler, Jr. were added to the 51 members inducted from 1947-1963. The International League is the second longest running league in all of professional sports (National League).
Easter ('85), Herrera ('89), Tucker ('86) and Gilhooley Sr. ('88) are already members of the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame.
One of the most popular players in Bisons' history, Easter played for Buffalo from 1956-59 and led the team to a Governors' Cup Championship in 1957. He hit 114 homers as a Bison, the third most in team history, and became the first player to hit a home run over the centerfield scoreboard at Offermann Stadium. His #25 is one of only three numbers retired by the Buffalo Bisons.
Tucker was with the Bisons from 1930-1935 and combined with Buffalo legend Ollie Carnegie to form the "Home Run Twins." Tucker hit 108 out in his Bisons career (4th most in team history), and also ranks in the top ten all time in RBI (504, 3rd), doubles (176, 4th), hits (819, 6th) and games played (723, 9th). His 52 doubles hit during the 1932 season are still a Bisons record.
Herrera played two years with the Bisons (1959, 1962) but it was his 1959 season that was the best of his career. The International League Most Valuable Player, Herrera won the Triple Crown with a .329 average, 37 home runs and 128RBI. He is one of only six men in league history to win the Triple Crown.
Gilhooley played for the Bisons from 1914-15 and again from 1920-21. Known as "Flash," he led the International League in steals with 62 in 1914 and 53 in 1915. When he returned to Buffalo in 1920, he posted 45 stolen bases to go along with a .343 batting average. His 215 steals in a Bisons uniform are second all time in team history.
Wilson spent only one season with the Bisons, but was named the International League Most Valuable Player with a sensational campaign in 1951. He led the league in hits (191) and RBI (112) to go along with a .316 batting average and 28 home runs. Wilson went on to play eight more years in the International League with Baltimore and Toronto.
International League Stories from January 29, 2008
- Chiefs to hold Induction Weekend - Syracuse Mets
- Easter, Tucker Among Five Bisons to be Inducted to IL Hall of Fame - Buffalo Bisons
- Former Tribe MVP inducted into IL Hall of Fame - Indianapolis Indians
- Cook and Gilhooley Named IL Hall of Famers - Toledo Mud Hens
- Rosenfield, Verdi Inducted Into Hall Of Fame - Norfolk Tides
- International League Announces 2008 Hall Of Fame Class - IL1
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