SHRINE OF THE ETERNALS
2011 INDUCTION DAY
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Pasadena, California

Early arrivals purchase Reliquary memberships and paraphernalia from Terri Metcalf-Yzaguirre (foreground) and Liz Woo.

Reliquarian and Dodger fan Emma Amaya is delighted to spend a few minutes with Maury Wills before the ceremony begins.

Ted Giannoulas, attired in full Chicken regalia, responds to a rousing ovation as he arrives at the auditorium.

Now we’re off and running, as the Baseball Reliquary’s Executive Director, Terry Cannon, rings a cowbell in memory of Hilda Chester to commence the festivities.

Baseball fan, filmmaker, and lead singer and guitarist for The Bluez Express and Johnny Octane & The Carburetors, Jon Leonoudakis presents his versions of the National Anthem and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

Chris Erskine, the popular Los Angeles Times columnist whose wide-ranging observations on the national pastime always come from the perspective of a fan, accepts the 2011 Hilda Award.

Master of ceremonies Terry Cannon greets Paul Dickson as he comes to the stage to accept the 2011 Tony Salin Memorial Award for his commitment to the preservation of baseball history.

A most worthy recipient of the Salin Award, Paul Dickson has authored many important baseball books, including The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the most authoritative and comprehensive guide to baseball terminology ever compiled.

A freelance writer and baseball historian, Jean Hastings Ardell presents the 2011 Keynote Address for the Shrine of the Eternals.

Andy Strasberg, who worked for 22 years for the San Diego Padres in a variety of advertising, marketing, and promotional capacities, introduces Ted Giannoulas.  During his tenure, Strasberg collaborated with Giannoulas for many memorable events and routines.

Nelson Gary, Jr., of Atlanta, Georgia, accepts the induction of the late one-armed outfielder Pete Gray, who played for the St. Louis Browns in 1945 and remains the lasting symbol of baseball and World War II. Like Pete Gray, Gary lost his right arm as a young boy and went on to excel in baseball at the prep and collegiate levels.  Gary became a national celebrity himself in 1944 when, at the age of three, he and his parents, courtesy of the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, traveled by train from Los Angeles to Memphis to meet his baseball hero, Pete Gray, thus beginning a lifelong friendship with the outfielder.

Maury Wills is introduced by Fred Claire, a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ front office from 1969 through 1998 and the team’s general manager from 1987 until 1998.