Long Beach State University Athletics
Troy Tulowitzki, George Allen Highlight 2013 Long Beach State Hall of Fame Induction Class
8/13/2013 12:00:00 AM | General
Aug 13, 2013
Long Beach, Calif. - Long Beach State will add nine new members into the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame including Troy Tulowitzki, George Allen, Seth Greenberg, and the 1989 College World Series baseball team as the 2013 induction class was announced by the 49er Athletic Department and the LBSU Hall of Fame Committee. The induction ceremony and dinner will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center on Tuesday, November 12.
Now inducted once every two years, the 2013 Hall of Fame induction class includes former players Cassie Azevedo, Alexis Crimes, Patty Gasso, Jason Hinkin, Troy Tulowitzki, and Shawn Wilbourn, as well as two coaching greats in George Allen and Seth Greenberg, and one great team in the 1989 Baseball team that advanced to the College World Series.
"We're very proud to announce this outstanding class of inductees for the Long Beach State Hall of Fame," said Athletic Director Vic Cegles. "The accomplishments and achievements of this group truly represent the best in what Long Beach State Athletics has to offer."
Long Beach State will recognize two great leaders in football's George Allen and men's basketball's Seth Greenberg.
A Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Allen came to Long Beach State in 1990, coaching the 49ers for one memorable season after 12 years in the NFL. Under Allen's direction, the 49ers posted a perfect 6-0 record at home, and won their final three games in that season before his untimely death during that offseason. George Allen Field, the home of Long Beach State women's soccer, was dedicated in his honor in August of 1991.
Leading the 49ers to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in his six years with Long Beach State, Greenberg posted a 105-70 record with the 49ers, and ranks second all-time in career coaching victories at Long Beach State behind only Jerry Tarkanian. In his time at Long Beach State, Greenberg won the 1995-96 Big West regular-season title, and coached the last two 49ers to play in the NBA in Lucious Harris and Byron Russell.
Three-time Major League Baseball All-Star Troy Tulowitzki headlines the players to be inducted. Tulowitzki played for three years at Long Beach State, starting for three-years at shortstop and being named first-team All-Big West as a sophomore and as a junior before being selected as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft after hitting 20 home runs and batting .310 over his career at LBSU. Making an immediate impact in the majors, Tulowitzki was the NL Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2007, and is a two-time Gold Glove and Silver Slugger as one of the best shortstops in professional baseball.
Long Beach State will recognize their football heritage with the induction of former defensive back Shawn Wilbourn. Wilbourn was an All-Big West selection after his senior year in 1990, when he led the 49ers with 96 tackles while adding an interception, a forced fumble and four fumble recoveries. A two-sport athlete at Long Beach State, Wilbourn set a school record in the decathlon that stood until 2006, and is still the third-highest mark in school history. Wilbourn was drafted by the Buffalo Bills following his career with the 49ers.
2012 NFCA Hall of Fame Inductee Patty Gasso, playing under her maiden name Patty Froelich with the 49ers, was a softball standout in the team's early years during the 1983 and 1984 seasons. Moving into coaching, Gasso spent four seasons at Long Beach City College before taking the head coaching job at Oklahoma, where she has posted a 1032-338-3 overall record, reaching the Women's College World Series eight times and winning two national championships in 2000 and 2013.
Jason Hinkin is one of the most successful individual athletes in Long Beach State Track and Field history. A five-time All-American in the pole vault, Hinkin was the last 49er to win an individual national championship, earning the honor with a school-record 18' 6.5" performance. Hinkin also still holds the school record in the outdoor pole vault, clearing 18' 7.5", and was a two-time Big West Champion in the event.
The 49ers will also induct the highest-scoring women's water polo player in the program's history in Cassie Azevedo. With 209 goals in her career, Azevedo is the school record holder, and led the 49ers in goals in both 2005 and 2006. A three-time All-American, Azeveo was also a four-time All-MPSF selection, and helped the 49ers reach the No. 3 ranking during the 2005 campaign.
Four-time All-American Alexis Crimes will represent women's volleyball in the 2013 induction class. The 2006 Big West Player of the Year, Crimes was one of the most productive hitters in school history, ranking third all-time in career kills with 1,756 behind only Tara Cross and Danielle Scott. Hitting .364 in her career, Crimes was a dominant hitter as a middle blocker, and has continued her career playing with USA Volleyball and internationally.
The class will also include the second team ever honored in LBSU Hall of Fame history. The 1989 Long Beach State baseball team was in a class of itself, and linked itself with every team to follow as the original "Dirtbags." Under first-year head coach Dave Snow, the "Dirtbags", as they came to be known, won a school-record 50 games and advanced the 1989 College World Series, the first Long Beach State team to go to Omaha.
The Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 1986, and includes more than 175 members, recognizing a proud and successful heritage. For more information on tickets and the Hall of Fame Induction Dinner, please contact the 49er Athletic Department at (562) 985-7976.
