Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.  Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives. Eventually, we are going to get to that of the Division I schools, and conferences.  As such, it is news the University Of Maine has announced seven new individuals and one team to their Hall of Fame, comprising the Class of 2021.

This brings the total to 213 members.  The ceremony will take place on September 17.

Brittney Cheney, Softball:  Cheney is a three-time All-Conference Selection, and led the Black Bears to an America East Regular Season Title in 2004, and a spot in the National Tournament.  She has a career Batting Average of .329 with 18 Home Runs.

Jack Cosgrove, Football Coach:  Cosgrove coached Maine for 23 years, winning 123 Games and winning three conference titles.

Aaron Dashiell, Football:  Dashiell was a two-time All-American at Defensive Back and was named the team MVP in 1998.

Rick Lashua, Baseball:  Lashua helped Maine reach the College World Series four years in a row (1981-84) and was a two-time Regional All-Tournament Selection.  He batted .352 as a Black Bear.

Riley Masters, Track & Field:  Masters was a two-time All-American in the Mile.

Gustav Nyquist, Hockey:  Nyquist played 113 Games and scored 144 Points and was a two-time Finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

Raffi Wolf, Women’s Hockey:  Wolff scored 93 Points and was a two-time Olympian for Germany.

1998-99 Women’s Basketball Team:  The Black Bears had a 24-7 record and became the first Maine squad to win a game in the NCAA Tournament.

We would like to congratulate the newest members of the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame.

Ken Williams was a late bloomer of sorts, some by his own play, some by circumstance.

In the first half of the 1900s, Hank Gowdy was one of the more popular players who arguably was not an offensive star.

When you look through the pages of New York Yankee lore, you don’t see enough on Gil McDougald, who played in the infield for the Bronx Bombers throughout the 1950s.  It should, as the five-time All-Star, be a large part of their success of the decade.

McDougald played all ten of his seasons for the Yankees, first debuting in 1951, winning the American League Rookie of the Year award, and helping the Bronx Bombers win the World Series.  The Yanks and McDougald won the next two titles, and McDougald was a consistent player on the squad.

The infielder helped the Yankees win the World Series five times over his career, and from 1956 to 1959, he was a perennial All-Star.  McDougald was not a power hitter, nor did he hit for exemplary average, but he was a defensive superstar who legitimately earned MVP votes annually from 1955 to 1958. His play helped New York win five World Series Titles.

McDougald might not have been a superstar player, but his overall impact and ability to be in the right place at the right time have few peers.