Visit Hot Springs Enlists Hot Springs Fans’ Support to Get Al (The Mad Hungarian) Hrabosky Inducted Into St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — Visit Hot Springs has joined an organized effort to get Al (The Mad Hungarian) Hrabosky inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame.
“It would be cool to have a city back the effort to get Al in the Cards’ Hall of Fame,” Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said Wednesday. “Al has helped us over the years spread the word about Hot Springs' baseball history and we could return the favor by helping him get the recognition he deserves. It’s the right thing to do.”
The drive to put Hrabosky into the Cards’ Hall — headlined as “A Red Jacket for Al Hrabosky” — is being led by Todd Godbout (redjacketforal@gmail.com) , who describes himself as “a long-term St. Louis Cardinal fan who believes it's past time for Al Hrabosky to receive a red jacket” signifying his induction into the Hall of Fame.
Godbout urged all Cardinals fans to go to the links below to How You Can Help Support the "Mad Hungarian," one of the most colorful players in MLB Baseball history. The links are:
http://www.themadhungarian.org/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087486887387
Arrison said, “I urge all Arkansas Cardinal fans and Hot Springs residents to get behind this effort. Al has been a mainstay of our Baseball Weekend. He was a great player and is a great representative for the Cardinals. Al has been a featured guest at all five of our Hot Springs Baseball Weekends, and the fans really love visiting with him and hearing his informed talks about baseball history. Let's help get him in the Cards’ Hall of Fame.”
Godbout listed some of the reasons Hrabosky deserves to be inducted:
• For the past 50-plus years Al has been a major contributor to the Cardinals franchise as a player, broadcaster and ambassador to fans in the United States and Hungary.
• He was drafted by the Saint Louis Cardinals in 1969 as their No. 1 pick.
• He became known as one of the most dominant relief pitchers of the 1970s.
• He was named 1975 National League Fireman of the Year by posting a 13-3 record with league-high 22 saves and a 1.67 ERA with the Cardinals.
• He was named the Rolaids Relief Man in 1976, 1978, and 1979. Over eight years with the Cardinals he had a winning percentage of .667 with a W40-L 20 record, a 2.93 ERA, and 59 saves.
• Al has worked 37 years as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals broadcasting team with partners including Joe and Jack Buck, Rick Horton, Dan McLaughlin, Mike Shannon, and more. He was the Jack Buck Media Award Recipient.
• He has a great record as an ambassador and for his charity work: Received the title Hungarian Ambassador to Baseball from the Hungarian Ambassador to the United States. Received the Ambassador's Award for Sports Diplomacy from the American Embassy in Hungary.
Hrabosky was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in February 2003, the Fullerton College Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Savanna High School Hall of Fame in 2011. Away from the booth, he is active in many charities, including the St. Louis Zoo and Angel Arms. He and his wife, June, reside in St. Louis.
For more information call Steve Arrison at 501-321-2027.