The national Pickleball Hall of Fame just announced new inductees. But every pickling community could have its own hall, with these inductees.
The Pickleball Hall of Fame announced three new inductees for 2025. They’ll be formally inducted in November during the USA Pickleball Championships and, right about now, I know what you’re thinking …
Good God Almighty, you’re telling me pickleball already has a hall of fame? Yep, it’s in Austin, Texas, and the the Hall of Fame inductions date back to 2017.
What’s next, you might ask. A pickleball TV channel? They have one. A network contract? Yep. A professional tour? Old news, been around for years now. Million-dollar players? Multi-million, actually.
In going from mere curiosity to full-blown takeover, kudzu has nothing on pickleball, which isn’t just gobbling up neighborhood rec centers and tennis courts, but becoming a prized amenity at resorts, planned communities and even cruise ships.
Of course cruise ships.
Every community has its own pickling populace, while many have two or three or even more. The national Hall of Fame inductees include plenty of competitors who attained national fame for their on-court achievements, but also included are a lot of what’s called “contributors,” mostly promoters and organizers who helped feed the beast we see today.
And frankly, every community could have its own hall of fame. With that in mind, here’s a rough rundown of every list of pickleball inductees in every Pickleville across the land …
MARTY: If the courts open at 8 a.m., Marty gets there at 7:30 to squeegee the damp spots and sweep away the pine needles. He’s also a retired EMT, and we’ve lost count of how many times he’s sternly warned a fallen player, “DON’T MOVE!”
EDDIE: “Big Ed,” as he’s known to some, is the guy who always has a ball in his pocket. If Ed is part of your foursome as you’re walking to a court on the other side of the complex, you never have to worry about walking all the way back to your bag for a ball. If you see Ed at the market, that’s not a naval orange in his pocket.
JO-JO: She makes our Hall of Fame because she’s the one, after the game, who always reminds Ed not to forget his ball.
GAGE AND MADISON: Our first dual Hall entry and our youngest enshrinees. “The pied pipers” of pickleball’s current youth movement, their constant presence and mixed-doubles dominance eventually led to a tidal wave of twentysomethings to the local courts, which in turn helped the retention rate with the fiftysomethings, sixtysomethings, etc ...
BOB: “Good ol’ Bob” hasn’t gotten a score wrong since 2018. If a point lasts more than five or six volleys and dinks, players often can’t even remember which side served, much less the correct score. Bob is always on top of it, and not only that, he can tell you the score of a game two courts over. Of course, he’s also an accountant, and we’re not saying he’s dull, but he goes to Hooters for takeout.
SCOOTER: Even at 52, the recently retired PE teacher only plays doubles under personal protest. Even though the vast, vast majority of recreational pickleball is played as doubles, Scooter has been known to go home early if he can’t scare up a game of singles with one of Gage and Madison’s friends. Likes to remind people he still plays tennis three mornings a week. Lifelong bachelor, by the way.
"BANGER" MAIN: Joey Main recently turned 40, still plays adult fastpitch baseball, and yes, still goes by Joey. Fellow picklers call him Banger because he never met a backhand he wouldn't run around in order to see just how hard he can slam his forehand. Nice enough guy, but so far has made five women, out of fear for their personal safety, quit pickleball and join the line-dancing social. Well, that's not entirely true. Two men have also started Watermelon Crawling.
FAYE: While a mid-level player at best, Faye is a Hall of Famer based purely on integrity. In her ninth year of pickleball, she hasn’t yet called a single shot “out.” She leaves it up to her partner to call the out-balls. Some call her passive to a fault, but the Hall of Fame voters agreed to recognize this trait to send a message to those who, you might say, are Faye’s polar opposites.
DOC: He practically invented the supplemental pocket in the modern pickleball travel bag. His is a veritable pocket pharmacy, complete with Tylenol, bug spray, Neosporin and a secret baggy full of what he calls “blue angels.”
EVERYDAY RAY: The Ironman of modern pickleball, Ray hasn’t missed a day since 2017. If it’s raining or freezing, Ray will find an indoor court, often playing in the morning and coming back mid-afternoon and playing through dinnertime. In fact, Ray will miss his induction because he’s at an out-of-town tournament. Nan, one of his three ex-wives, will accept in his honor.
— Email Ken Willis at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Yes, there's already a Pickleball Hall of Fame. Induct these regulars!
Category: General Sports
