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Legends are inducted into Clinton-Centre Baseball Hall of Fame

By Tammy Coakley 8 min read

MILL HALL -- Locals with a love for baseball gathered at Haywood's on the Green on Sunday, July 26, to honor baseball's local greats and to carry on the legacy of (the late) Justin Kline. Camaraderie between players, teammates and coaches was abundant at the banquet as memories of baseball were shared throughout the afternoon.

Emcee Tyler Barth spoke of Kline's dream of building a baseball Hall of Fame to honor some of the greatest players and coaches in our area. Justin's vision came to fruition in 2017 when the Clinton & Centre (County) Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF) was built and opened. Barth called for a moment of silence to honor the memory of Justin Kline.

Barth called Justin Kline "a legend." Referring to the baseball movie, "The Sandlot," Barth said "Heroes get remembered, but legends never die."

Barth thanked Justin's parents, Rod and Sally Kline, the HOF committee members and former inductees who are keeping Justin's legacy alive. Those gathered were there to induct four more into Kline's Hall of Fame and to honor one Little League player for his outstanding accomplishments in baseball. This year marks the ninth class of honorees that are being inducted in the Clinton & Centre Baseball Hall of Fame.

The first presentation of a trophy was presented by HOF committee member James Gallagher to Keystone Little League's Most Valuable Player for the 2025 season, Giovanni "Gio" Cej. Gio is the son of Nichole Casilio and Mario Cei. Gio's mother, Nichole, accepted the trophy in her son's absence.

Gio was with his father in Myrtle Beach, S.C., having an awesome time while participating in the Ripken Experience. Gio was unanimously selected by his teammates to represent them in the Home Run Derby competition this summer, and he did not let his teammates down.

Nichole was live-streaming her son's at bat during the competition and kept the HOF crowd updated on his progress during the afternoon. Gio won the Home Run Derby competition! Everyone was excited for Gio and his accomplishments in baseball thus far. Local baseball enthusiasts will undoubtedly be following his baseball career.

The four newest inductees into the Clinton & Centre Baseball Hall of Fame are Joe Walker, Kim Kunes, Bob Rathmell and Wayne Haas. Each was presented with a plaque and their own Hall of Fame membership ring.

Joe Walker was presented his HOF ring by James Gallagher. Gallagher was a bat boy on Walker's team when he was seven years old. Gallagher said Walker "always made people feel good, and that Joe was an all-around great guy."

Walker said he was "very humbled" for being nominated and being inducted into the HOF.

Walker covered Little League games for The Express and then John Lipez got him on the radio broadcasting local games. He spent some 20 years with Randy Dorey as his radio partner. A few years ago after retiring from his full time job, Walker took Michael Frank up on an offer to work as a sports reporter for The Record.

Behind the scenes, Walker kept stats and records, and Gallagher remembered Walker reaching out to athletes to let them know they were getting close to breaking a record or Walker would let the athletes know that they had set a new record.

Walker thanked his wife, Tammy, for putting up with him being away so much.

Howard Hawks player Kim Kunes was the next HOF 2026 inductee and was introduced by Gay Hanley, Jr.

Hanley told of Kunes' 20+ years as a player on the Hawks team. "He was a good catcher, a good hitter and a good teammate, " Hanley said.

When Hanley was little, about seven or eight, he'd tag along to practices with his father, Gay Hanley, Sr., where he'd watch Kim catching -- how he'd set up and how he'd block balls. And Kim would talk to the youngster about catching, solidifying Hanley's respect for the catcher.

Kunes was presented his plaque and HOF ring by long time friend and former Hawks teammate, Curt Heverly.

After playing baseball and then in addition to working baseball and softball games, Kim refereed high school football games on Friday nights and then the Big 10 games on Saturday.

The third inductee in the 2026 Hall of Fame class is Bob Rathmell. Rathmell took the microphone for just a brief moment. "It's an honor," he said of his induction. "I don't know what else to say other than thanks a lot."

The final inductee of the afternoon was Wayne Haas who accepted his ring from long time friend and former Hawks teammate, Curt Heverly.

Haas began his acceptance speech by saying that he was "very grateful for being considered for this honor" and he congratulated the other inductees before sharing a few memories of his baseball days. Haas mentioned he had played baseball with (Kim) Kunes on the Howard Hawks team for a lot of years.

Haas grew up in Howard and played Little League there. When he wasn't practicing or at a game, he'd wander across town to the ball field to watch or chase foul balls for the "Big League" -- what kids called the town team back then.

"There was the Big League, then the Junior League and Little League," said Haas. He then asked the tables occupied by the Kunes family and some of his Howard friends if they remembered what they called the Pee-Wee teams, and he got the desired replies from several along with added chuckles... "the peeny weenies."

Haas talked about watching some of the Howard power hitters — guys like Sam Kunes who could hit those home run balls into the trees in left field (back before the housing development went in) and Bill Gardner who could pound the ball clear into the swings and sand box on the other side.

Haas looked around at those seated at various tables and mentioned playing ball with Jerry Hanley and Bubb (Paul) Pletcher. Haas was a really good pitcher, but he never wanted to pitch to Bubb, because Bubb was a really good hitter. Haas recalled that once he beat Bubb in a home run contest at Blanchard, but added that Bubb said to him after the contest "that if the wind wouldn't have been blowing out to right field you'd have never won... and he was right," said Haas.

Haas thanked his older brother, Paul, who was there for the induction, for teaching him things and letting him tag along with him. "I wanted to do everything like Paul did. One time someone asked me why I threw right handed but batted left handed, and I said because that's what my brother did," Haas said.

Haas shared a humorous memory of his brother Paul's invention of "hose ball" that they played in their back yard in Howard when they were kids. They cut their dad's good hose up into six inch pieces and batted the hose pieces around with an axe handle. "While other kids played whiffle ball, Paul and I played hose ball," he said.

Wayne Haas was instrumental in getting the Howard Hawks team into the Centre County Baseball League, where they've remained for more than 50+ years now. Haas and Curt Heverly went down to Lock Haven in 1974 for a team meeting and there were only two teams represented -- Howard and Blanchard. Interest was dwindling that year and so on their way back to Howard Haas said to Heverly, "maybe I should go see about getting us in the Centre County League, and so I went to Pleasant Gap and they let us in and we've been there ever since," Haas said.

The Howard Hawks won the county league championship last year and were contenders for the championship title this season. However, the Hawks were defeated by the Spike Island Pirates of Philipsburg, so now the Philipsburg team and the Blanchard Bees are battling for the championship title this year.

Haas also spoke of another local baseball legend, (the late) Gay Hanley, Sr. "The first time I ever batted against Gay was when I was 16-years-old and he hit me with a pitch." Years later, Hanley would be a Hawks teammate of Haas, and stats show they were two of the top three winningest pitchers in the Centre and Clinton County area. Hanley was (then) in second place, with 130 wins... with Haas right behind Hanley with 125 wins.

And speaking of baseball legends, Brian Pelka, a pitcher on the Howard Hawks team playing in his 29th season of county league baseball, surpassed both Hanley and Haas and is now recognized as the second winningest pitcher with 135 wins. And Pelka likely has a few more years left of baseball play to add to that number of wins.

Before closing, Haas acknowledged his wife, Glenda; his daughters, Trish and Brooke, who both played high school softball and his grandchildren that were attending the HOF banquet with him.

Justin Kline passed away on Aug. 19, 2021, but his spirit was evident and his presence was felt strongly during the Sunday afternoon induction ceremony. Justin was surely smiling down on these four local baseball 'legends' who now have that special ring and inductee status in his Clinton & Centre Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Clinton-Centre Baseball Hall of Fame museum is open to the public and is located at the Blaine Kunes Memorial Park in Beech Creek.

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