These are our recognized great contributors to the game of handball. Each inductee was selected because of his or her on-court accomplishments as well as other contributions to the welfare and development of handball in the state of Minnesota and elsewhere. Inductees are honored at an annual awards banquet, usually held in May following the State Tournaments. Recipients names are added to a plaque on display in the MSHA Handball Hall of Fame display cabinet at the MSHA Office and in the USHA Hall of Fame in Tucson.
See the Rules and the Nomination Form below
Carl Haedge 1993 |
Neal Nordling 1993 |
Edmund Pennig 1993 |
George Quam 1993 |
Steve Subak 1993 |
Paul Turner 1993 |
Al Anfenson 1993 |
Dick Langdon 1994 |
Gail Mayo 1994 |
Dan O'Connor 1994 |
Dick Schaak 1994 |
Wayne Stewart 1994 |
Dick Crouser 1995 |
Jack Hickman 1995 |
Rich Rawlings 1995 |
Jim Tagney 1995 |
Paul Schulz 1996 |
Al Warren 1996 |
Bill Yambrick 1996 |
Terry Muck 1997 |
Gary Rohrer 1998 |
John Nett 1999 |
Tom |
Bob Schaumann 1999 |
Ken Johnson 2000 |
Al |
Jim Turman 2000 |
Larry Klein 2001 |
Rich Ryan 2001 |
Al Abrahamson 2002 |
Tim Labey 2006 |
Jim Carlson 2008 |
Paul Dorland 2009 |
Larry Larson 2010 |
Sheldon Silberman 2010 |
Ray Miller 2013 |
Kris |
Anna Christoff (Engele) 2014 |
Scott Sayer 2019 |
Jerry Jordahl 2019 |
Pete Crouser 2023 |
Matt Hiber 2023 |
Mitchell Lallier 2023 |
Rudy Harris 2024 |
The Minnesota Handball Association Hall of Fame recognizes and commemorates Minnesota’s great contributors to the game of handball with these plaques. Each inductee was selected on the basis of his or her handball success, as well as contributions to the health and development of the game.
Organized handball has a long and rich history in Minnesota. The Amateur Athletic Union acted as the official governing body of the game in the early 1900s. The AAU competed with the YMCA to proclaim national handball champions until the United States Handball Association was created in 1950. Regionally, the Northwest Handball Tournaments crowned champions; the Minneapolis and St. Paul Athletic Clubs and the Jewish Community Centers did so locally. In later years, the Twin City Handball Association hosted tournaments until the establishment of the MSHA in 1977.
The original missions of the MSHA included promotion and development of handball as a sport, and to form a central committee for coordinating statewide dates for tournaments. Creation of the Hall of Fame in 1992 has been the most enduring of the accomplishments and successes of the MSHA Board of Directors and members.
Seven handball greats were inducted into the Hall of Fame during the awards banquet at the Fort Snelling Officer’s Club in May 1993. The inaugural event honored champions and contributors of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. These Hall of Fame members, and those honored since then, are also recognized in the Minnesota display at the United States Handball Association Hall of Fame in Tucson, Arizona.
The Minnesota Hall of Fame has been housed in several locations since its inception. Years of dedicated effort from many passionate handball enthusiasts have culminated in this permanent space at the University of Minnesota, dedicated June 21, 2014.
Carl Haedge won 3 Championships (Regional, National) during the years 1921 to 1930. He won an early National Open Singles Championship in Detroit in 1921. Carl also played football and baseball at the University of Minnesota.
Neal Nordlund was active in handball during the years 1970 to 1992. He was the first National Rules & Referee Chairman and also organized and promoted Pro Handball.
Edmund Penning won 6 Championships (Regional) during the years 1928 to 1932. He was an early Champion and an active environmentalist.
George Quam won 5 Championships (Regional) during the years 1930 to 1950. He was the greatest one-armed player in the world and is a member of the USHA Hall of Fame. George won 140 of 156 matches on a 1932 exhibition tour.
Steve Subak won 18 Championships (MSHA, Regional, National) during the years 1953 to 1979. He was the National Chairman of the YMCA Handball Committee and is a member of the USHA Hall of Fame.
Paul Turner won 10 Championships (Regional) during the years 1936 to 1958. He was a great all-around athlete (baseball, football, & golf).
Al Anfenson won 15 Championships (Regional, National) during the years 1938 to 1955. He also served as the National YMCA Handball Chair.
Dick Langdon won 8 Championships (MSHA, National) during the years 1955 to 1962. He attained the #6 National Singles Ranking in the 1950’s.
Gail Mayo began playing handball at age 70 winning 13 Championships (MSHA, National, World) during the years 1983 to 1994. In 1996 he received the first National Hall of Fame Sportsmanship Award. He was a longtime amateur baseball pitcher with a lifetime win/ loss record of 157/ 39. Gail was a generous contributor to handball funding the glass back walls at both the St. Paul Skyway and St. Paul Midway YMCA’s.
Dan O’ Connor won 11 Championships (MSHA, National) during the years 1971 to 1978. He was a Pro Handball Tour Player. Dan was also a 5-time member of the All World Fast Pitch Softball Team and is a member of the Minnesota Fast Pitch Hall of Fame.
Dick Schaak was active in handball as a player and contributor during the years 1977 to 1985. His company, Schaak Electronics, was the first major sponsor of the MSHA.
Wayne Stewart won 22 Championships (MSHA, National) during the years 1959 to 1991. He had a long, distinguished career and helped set the bar for local handball.
Dick Crouser won 8 Championships (MSHA) during the years 1978 to 1990. He was an honorable competitor and promoter of handball.
Jack Hickman won 8 Championships (MSHA) during the years 1972 to 1990. He helped found the MSHA Handball Hall of Fame and served on the initial Committee.
Rich Rawlings won 6 Championships (MSHA) during the years 1974 to 1993. He provided counsel to set up the legal structure of the MSHA.
Jim Tagney won 8 Championships (MSHA, National) during the years 1968 to 1975. He was a champion who bridged the gap from the early years to modern day handball.
Paul Schulz won 19 Championships (MSHA, National) during the years 1962 to 2007. He had a 50 year handball teaching career.
Al Warren was active in handball during the years 1950 to 1970. He was the coach of many handball players, including five MSHA Hall of Fame Members.
Bill Yambrick won 23 Championships (MSHA, National) during the years 1959 to 1970. He won 3 Open Singles and 1 Open Doubles title in the National YMCA tournaments as well as 3 Open Singles titles in National Amateur Athletic Union tournaments. Bill is a member of the USHA Hall of Fame.
Terry Muck won 10 Championships (MSHA, Regional, National) during the years 1966 to 1971. He won an Open Singles title in the USHA Nationals with an additional four titles on the Pro Handball Tour. Terry was Editor of ACE Handball Magazine. He was also a 3-time member of the All World Fast Pitch Softball Team and played two years in the Atlanta Braves Minor League Baseball System.
Gary Rohrer won 80 Championships (MSHA, Regional, National, World) during the years 1958 to 2014. He is the most prolific Champion in state history. 29 of his Championships were National Titles and he was also a Pro Handball Tour player. Gary was a founder of the MSHA and continues serving as an advisor on the Board.
John Nett won 37 Championships (MSHA, Regional, National, World) during the years 1977 to 2014. He won numerous additional local and regional tournaments during that time. John also served as President of the MSHA Board.
Tom Quilling won 11 Championships (MSHA, Regional, National) during the years 1979 to 1994. He was inducted into the Rocky Mountain College (Montana) Athletic Hall of Fame as a quarterback in football.
Bob Schaumann won 13 Championships (MSHA, National) during the years 1967 to 1999. He was a 2-Star United States Air Force General. Bob was a respected, longtime handball coach. His son, Kris is also a member of the MSHA Hall of Fame.
Ken Johnson won 9 Championships (MSHA) during the years 1983 to 1998. He was a gymnast at the University of Minnesota and was also a contributor and promoter of handball.
Al O’Neill was active in handball during the years 1964 to 1998. He was a MSHA Board member and active handball promoter. Al helped establish the MSHA Hall of Fame.
Jim Turman won 17 Championships (MSHA, Regional, National) during the years 1973 to 1998. He co-authored The Handball Book with Pete Tyson. Jim served as director of the University of Minnesota Recreation & Wellness Center and championed construction of the handball courts. In 1980 he started the first USHA Combined (Men & Women) National Collegiate Team Championships.
Larry Klein won 2 Championships (MSHA) during the years 1982 to 1991. He won many additional local and regional doubles tournaments with Rich Ryan.
Rich Ryan won 7 Championships (MSHA) during the years 1982 to 2010. He won many additional local and regional doubles tournaments with Larry Klein.
Al Abrahamson competed successfully in many MSHA and local tournaments during the years 1970 to 2000. He organized many tournaments and has been a major contributor to the success of the MSHA.
Tim Labey won 19 Championships (MSHA, Regional, National) during the years 1984 to 2011. He won an Open Singles title in the National YMCA tournament and was a Top-8 Pro Handball Tour player.
Jim Carlson competed successfully in many MSHA and local tournaments during the years 1970 to 2000. He introduced and taught handball to more than 1,000 players. Jim coached handball at the University of Minnesota for 10 years.
Paul Dorland won 27 Championships (MSHA) during the years 1984 to 2008. He won eleven MSHA Doubles Championships with eight different partners.
Larry Larson competed successfully in many MSHA, local, and regional tournaments during the years 1976 to 2014. He has served for over 34 years on the MSHA Board as Treasurer.
Sheldon Silberman competed successfully in many MSHA and local tournaments during the years 1983 to 2014. He developed and maintained the MSHA website, the longest continually operating handball website in the world. Sheldon served for over 25 years on the MSHA Board as Secretary.
Ray Miller won 10 Championships (MSHA, National) during the years 1992 to 2008. He was a Pro Handball Tour player.
Kris Schaumann won 7 Championships (MSHA, National) during the years 1984 to 2007. He is a United States Air Force Colonel. His father, Bob is also a member of the MSHA Hall of Fame.
Anna Christoff (Engele) won 53 Championships (MSHA, Regional, National, World) during the years 1982 to 2009. Anna is the most decorated Women’s Handball Champion in the world. Her win total includes 36 National Open and 4 World Titles in both 4-wall and 3-wall formats. She also won an additional 16 Pro Championships.
Scott Sayer has been playing handball since 1965. In addition to continuing as a player he has been a regular & generous supporter of the MSHA and other Handball projects. Scott served in Vietnam with the Marine Corps and successfully ran the Warning Lites Business in Minnesota
Jerry Jordahl was active in handball during the years 1962 to 2019. He is a regular & generous supporter of the MSHA. Jerry successfully ran his business, Jordahl Advisory Services, for 40+ years.
Pete Crouser won 14 Championships (MSHA, Regional) during the years 1998 to 2008. He was a Pro Handball Tour Player. He won several additional MN Doubles tournaments. His father, Dick is also a member of the MSHA Hall of Fame.
Matt Hiber won 14 Championships (MSHA, Regional, World Age Group) during the years 1994 to 2018. He was a Pro Handball Tour Player. He won numerous MN Doubles tournaments with 8 different partners.
Mitchell Lallier introduced over 250 adults and 300 kids to handball during the years 2005 to 2019. He recruited players, organized programs and taught at Midway Y, University of MN, Hancock Rec Center and Clayland Park. He also ran the Youth Tournament as part of MSHA State Tournaments
Rudy Harris won the 1938 and 1939 YMCA Open Doubles national titles along with many regional handball events. He won the inaugural USHA 70s national singles title in 1980. Rudy was instrumental in youth handball development and hosted the 1979 YMCA national tournament in Fargo. The Rudy Harris Memorial Handball Tournament has been held annually at the Fargo YMCA since 1977