Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame

Former Bison and Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Jeff Manto, may have played a role in Dodgers' manager David Roberts approach to the World Series. Hear Jeff Manto Saturday morning at 10 am on the Hall of Fame induction show on WGR550.

Don't miss this year's auction, which benefits the Amateur Sports Development Fund. Great memorabilia and entertainment packages. Take a look at the items today - https://web.dashapp.io/auctions/gbshofauction

Join us this Saturday, October 31 at 10 a.m. on WGR550 for the first in a series of four radio shows announcing the Hall of Fame Class of 2020. This Saturday, October 31 at 10 a.m. as Howard Simon will also be joined by Jeff Manto and Ruben Brown.

It will be a little different this year, but we are ready to induct the Hall of Fame class of 2020. Hope you can make some time to join us.

Fifty years ago on October 14, 1970: The NBA comes to Buffalo as the Braves upend their expansion cousin Cleveland Cavaliers, 107-92 at The Aud. Don May lead all scorers with 24 points and Dick Garrett contributed 20 while becoming the answer to the trivia question Who scored the first basket in Braves history? Attendance was less than a sellout at 7,129.

October 10, 1970. The Buffalo Sabres officially begin their existence with a 2-1 stunner of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Civic Arena. Jim Watson gets the first goal in Sabres history. Roger Crozier is brilliant and Gilbert Perreault nets the game winner. It’s been 50 years since our Sabres were born. Thank you Knox Family for giving us NHL hockey.

We are saddened to hear of 2009 GBSHOF inductee Cliff Robinson’s passing at 53. Robinson was an All-Western New York pick out of Riverside High School, a NIT champion in college at UConn and had a long career in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers and four other teams. He averaged 22.3 points and a dozen rebounds as a senior at Riverside. At Connecticut with the Huskies, Cliff averaged over 15 points during his four year career against stout Big East talent. He led UConn... to the NIT title as a junior and concluded his career ranked fourth in career scoring (currently 8th) with 1,664 points. He was later named to UConn’s All-Century team. Selected with the 36th overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, Robinson became a permanent fixture in the NBA playoffs. He donned that famous headband during his first year in the league, not as a fashion statement but to simply keep the sweat out of his eyes. The rest, as they say, is history. During his 18-year stay in the NBA, Robinson made his own history while playing for five teams and establishing himself as an ironman, a brilliant reserve, an all-star and the originator of the Uncle Cliffy a victory dance he performed during the 1992 Western Conference Finals. Robinson was a NBA All-Star in 1994, the NBA’s top sixth man in 1993 and twice was selected to the NBA’s All-Defensive second team. Robinson ranks 8th all-time in games played, and was the tallest player in NBA history to make 1,000 three pointers until being surpassed by Dirk Nowitzki. He finished his career with 19,951 points, good for 35th all-time in NBA history. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

Catching up with the pride of Cardinal O’Hara and class of 2006 GBSHOF’er Billy Scherrer. https://buffalonews.com//article_84858fd0-c2b4-11ea-80a5-d

While Dick Gallagher has been honored with countless community awards for his work, he would be the first to admit that his efforts are not for personal glory, but for the kids. The mere thought of hundreds of Western New York youths achieving their potential through his efforts is repayment one hundred-fold.

We are heartbroken to hear that our dear friend and Class of 2003 inductee Dick Gallagher has passed away today after battling cancer. Dick was 79 years old. We will miss him very much. https://www.google.com//71-15d39292-572f-457d-882f-9988f07

If you are still looking for a great gift for Dad, pick him up a great book on Buffalo Sports History. Available at buffalosgotthespirit.com or locally at Bases Loaded Sports Collectibles on French Rd. in Cheektowaga!

This day in Buffalo sports history. May 13, 1970. In their last ever game, the Buffalo Bisons win their 5th and final AHL Calder Cup sweeping Springfield in 4 games, 6-2. Bob Jones scores the last Bisons goal and Gilles Villemure wins the Les Cunningham league MVP for the 2nd straight time. A new team begins its stay in Buffalo named the Sabres. This time in the NHL.

We are sorry to hear that one of most accomplished basketball players in WNY history has passed away. Johnny McCarthy who starred at Timon HS and Canisius College passed away over the weekend. Johnny was 86 years old and went to his last Canisius basketball game this past year. Johnny was drafted by the Rochester Royals in the 4th round of the 1956 draft. He played 8 seasons in the NBA including one season with the Boston Celtics where he won the NBA Championship. He would later coach Bishop Neumann HS and then his hometown Buffalo Braves in their 2nd season. He then went on to coach at his Alma Mater Canisius College. Johnny was inducted into our Greater Buffalo Sports HOF in 1996.