SAN JOSE, CA – The San Jose Sports Authority will mark the 28th year of the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame honoring South Bay sports legends when it inducts four new members in November at the SAP Center at San Jose. The inductees hail from the upper echelon of collegiate, professional, Olympic and international competitions. Although from different sports in different eras, they have made a lasting impact both on and off the field of play.
The San Jose Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023 inductees are:
- Lorrie Fair (Soccer): Starred at Los Altos High School and then led the University of North Carolina to three NCAA titles while earning the Honda Sports Award for women’s soccer. Fair earned 120 caps with the USA Women’s National Team winning the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, an Olympic Silver Medal and an Olympic Gold Medal as an alternate in 2004.
- Patrick Marleau (Hockey): The 2nd overall selection in the 1997 NHL Draft went on to become one of the most prolific players in the history of the San Jose Sharks and the NHL. Marleau set an NHL record with 1,779 regular season games played, holds nearly every significant San Jose Sharks scoring record and became the first San Jose Sharks player to have his jersey retired. His impact on the international game includes two Olympic Gold Medals representing Team Canada.
- Dave Stieb (Baseball): From Oak Grove High School and San Jose City College, Stieb went on to become one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball. He won the second-most games of any pitcher in the 1980s, was a seven-time All-Star, and helped transform the Toronto Blue Jays from their expansion years to world champions.
- Chris Wondolowski (Soccer): The De La Salle High School star was a 2005 draft pick of the San Jose Earthquakes where he went on to become the all-time leading goal scorer in Major League Soccer history. The two-time MLS Champion earned a league Most Valuable Player award, MLS scoring titles and is the only player in league history to score 150 or more regular-season goals.
Each inductee will be honored with a bronze plaque of his/her likeness permanently installed on the concourse at the SAP Center at San Jose. With the 2023 inductees, there will be 126 South Bay sports icons enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
The November ceremony kicks off with a reception and silent auction followed by dinner and the induction ceremony. Heritage Bank of Commerce is the presenting sponsor for the 2023 Induction Ceremony and Dinner.
The annual induction is an event of the San Jose Sports Authority, San Jose Arena Authority, SAP Center Management/San Jose Sharks and the City of San José. The event benefits Special Olympics Northern California and high school sports programs.