14TH ANNUAL INDUCTION DINNER

Larry Baer is best known as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the San Francisco Giants. Larry served as the play-by-play announcer for Oakland A’s while attending UC – Berkeley. After graduating, he worked for Westinghouse Broadcasting and CBS. In 1992, Larry helped form the ownership group that kept the team in San Francisco. In 1994, Baer established the first benefit by a professional sports team to fight AIDS. In 1995, Baer received the Sports Torch of Learning Award from the Scopus Society. In 2008, Baer became the Giants’ club president. He now is the Chairman/CEO of the Giants Development Services, which is oversees the construction of Mission Rock, a mixed-use neighborhood near Oracle Park.

Robert Braunstein is in his 31st year covering high school sports in the Bay Area. In 1992, Robert created High School Sports Focus as the first show of its kind ever produced in a major television market. In 2002, Robert started his own production company to produce Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area. A majority interest in the Cal-Hi Sports Show was sold to the San Francisco 49ers August 2017. Robert graduate from San Jose State and earned a Masters in Journalism from the University of Missouri. Robert has won a variety of awards including two Emmys. Many of the high school athletes he has covered are now in the college and the pros – he has maintained his connection with former student-athletes as evidenced by tonight’s guests.

Will Chapman is our first recipient of the Champ Pederson Award, for in the spirit of Champ, Will has overcome great obstacles.

Will began at University-Davis, and played his final two college seasons at Gallaudet University. While at Gallaudet, he was twice named a first team Jewish All-American as an outfielder by the Jewish Sports News; was named to the All-Conference Team both seasons; he played three seasons in the Pecos League and the United League; played professionally in Australia for the Redland Rays; he then played in Europe where he was twice named to an International All-Star team. Will earned gold medals representing Team Los Angeles at the Maccabi Games in 2002, 2003 and 2004. He won the team MVP award in 2003. Will now coaches at the JCC Maccabi Sports Camp.

Lowell Cohn earned his Bachelor of Arts from Lafayette University; and his Masters and Doctorate of Philosophy from Stanford. Retired columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle and the Santa Rosa Press Democrat; he served as an instructor at the Stanford Creative Writing Program; he’s been published in Sports Illustrated and the New York Times; he’s been awarded San Francisco Bay Area Sports Columnist of the Year eight times; and he has won numerous national awards for his work. He is a member of the Writer’s Division of the NFL Hall of Fame. Lowell is the author of the book, Gloves Off.

Champ Pederson, a native of Palo Alto born with Down syndrome, is a motivational speaker and sports fan, especially in support of his brother, Joc, who plays for his hometown San Francisco Giants. While with the Dodgers, Joc won back-to-back World Series titles with the Dodgers in 2020 and the Atlanta Braves in 2021. The Pederson family grew up in Palo Alto as Giants fans. They relish Joc getting to play for his hometown team – especially Champ, whose inspirational journey as an advocate of those with Down syndrome has made him just as big a celebrity as his big league brother. Joc was inducted into the NCJSHOF in 2019.

This past November the NCJSHOF presented the first annual “Champ of the Year” honor to baseball player and coach Will Chapman who is deaf. This new award in Champ’s name honors student athletes in Northern California who exemplify courage and leadership in overcoming physical and mental challenges.

Ted Robinson has been with NBC Sports since 2000, as a play-by-play announcer for tennis and Olympic swimming/diving and with NBC Sports Network calling college football and basketball. He also works for the Tennis Channel, calling the Australian Open, French Open, US Open, Davis Cup, Fed Cup, and US Open Series. Ted was the play-by-play announcer for the San Francisco 49ers from 2009 until 2018. He served as a radio and TV announcer for the San Francisco Giants for nine seasons, as the TV commentator of the Minnesota Twins for 6 seasons, as a TV and radio announcer for the New York Mets for 4 seasons, and as the TV announcer for the Oakland Athletics for 3 seasons. In 2012, he became the lead play-by-play voice for the new Pac-12 Network, working primary football games and other sports.