Sports in Fort Wayne, Indiana

History

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum (top) and Parkview Field (bottom).

Fort Wayne has been home to a few sports firsts. On June 2, 1883, Fort Wayne hosted the Quincy Professionals for one of the first lighted baseball games ever recorded.^[1]^[2] Fort Wayne has been credited for being the birthplace of the NBA when Fort Wayne Pistons owner Fred Zollner brokered the merger of the BAA and the NBL in 1949 from his kitchen table.^[1]^[3] Also, on March 10, 1961, Wilt Chamberlain became the first player in the NBA to reach 3,000 points in a single season while competing at Memorial Coliseum.^[1]

Fort Wayne hosted two NBA Finals Games in 1955 and 1956, as well as the third city to host the NBA All-Star Game in 1953.^[4] The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum was also venue to the 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Volleyball Championship matches, in addition to hosting the 2000, 2001, and 2002 Mid-Continent Conference men's basketball tournaments. Fort Wayne also annually hosts the U.S.S.S.A. National and Boys State Championships, held at Spiece Fieldhouse.^[5]

On November 22, 1950, the Fort Wayne Pistons defeated the Minneapolis Lakers with a final score of 19 to 18 in the lowest scoring game in NBA history.^[6]

Fort Wayne hosted another major league team in a Big Four sport, the Fort Wayne Kekiongas of the National Association. The National Association was the first professional baseball league and the forerunner of the National League; it is sometimes considered to have been a major league, and sometimes not. The Kekiongas were a founding member of the national association (in 1871), and played and won the first National Association game, but disbanded partway through the 1871 season.

Wildcat Baseball League was a baseball league in Fort Wayne formed by Dale McMillen in April 1960 as an alternative to Little League Baseball.^[7]^[8]^[9] Fort Wayne was rated the "Best Place in the Country for Minor League Sports" in a 2007 issue of Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal.^[10]

Current sports teams

Professional Sports in Fort Wayne
Team	Sport	Current League	Established	Venue	Championships
Fort Wayne Derby Girls	Roller derby	WFTDA	2005	Memorial Coliseum	0
Fort Wayne Komets	Ice hockey	ECHL	1952	Memorial Coliseum	10^[a]
Fort Wayne TinCaps	Baseball	Midwest League	1993	Parkview Field	1
Fort Wayne FC	Soccer	USL2	2019	Bishop Dwenger Field	0

College Sports in Fort Wayne
Program	Classification	Current conference
Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons	NCAA Division I	Horizon League
Indiana Tech Warriors	NAIA	Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference
Saint Francis Cougars	NAIA	Crossroads League Mid-States Football Association (football)

^ The Komets 10 championships are: 4 (IHL), 4 (UHL/IHL), 1 (CHL), 1 (ECHL).

Former sports teams

Professional Sports in Fort Wayne
Team	Sport	League	Existence	Venue	Championships
Fort Wayne Caseys	Basketball	American Basketball League	1925–1926		0
Fort Wayne Chiefs	Baseball	Central League	1917–1935	League Park	2
Fort Wayne Daisies	Baseball	All-American Girls Professional Baseball League	1943–1954	North Side High School Memorial Park	0
Fort Wayne Fever	Soccer	Premier Development League	2003–2009	Hefner Stadium	0
Fort Wayne Fever	Women's Soccer	W-League	2004–2009	Hefner Stadium	0
Fort Wayne FireHawks	Indoor football	Continental Indoor Football League	2010	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	0
Fort Wayne Flames	Soccer	American Indoor Soccer Association	1986–1989	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	0
Fort Wayne Flash	Women's Football	Women's Football Alliance	2007–2011	Woodlan Junior / Senior High School	0
Fort Wayne Freedom	Indoor football	Continental Indoor Football League	2003–2006, 2008–2009	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	0
Fort Wayne Friars	Football	Independent	1909–1917, 1920–1921	League Park
Fort Wayne Fury	Basketball	Continental Basketball Association	1991–2001	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	0
Fort Wayne Fusion	Arena football	af2	2007	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	0
Fort Wayne General Electrics	Basketball	National Basketball League	1937–1938	North Side High School Gym	0
Fort Wayne Hoosiers	Basketball	American Basketball League	1926–1931		0
Fort Wayne Indians	Baseball	Interstate League	1896–1900	League Park	1
Fort Wayne Kekiongas	Baseball	National Association of Professional Base Ball Players	1871	Kekionga Ball Grounds	0
Fort Wayne Mad Ants	Basketball	NBA G League	2007–2023	Memorial Coliseum	1
Fort Wayne Pistons	Basketball	National Basketball League National Basketball Association	1941–1948 1949–1957	North Side High School Gym Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	2 (NBL) 0 (NBA)
Fort Wayne Railroaders	Baseball	Central League	1901–1914	League Park	4
Fort Wayne River City Rhinos	Football	Mid Continental Football League	1998–2001	Zollner Stadium	0
Fort Wayne Safari	Football	Indoor Professional Football League	2000–2002	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	(never played)
Fort Wayne Scouts	Hockey	Continental Hockey League	1978–1979		0
Indiana Kick	Soccer	American Indoor Soccer Association	1989–1990	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	0
Fort Wayne Warriors	Football	Continental Football League	1965	Zollner Stadium	0

Notable natives and former residents

Athletes

Professional baseball

Manager of the Cleveland Indians from 2003 to 2009, Fort Wayne native Eric Wedge.

Rob Bowen, MLB (2003–2008)^[11] Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics
Dottie Collins, AAGPBL (1944–1950)^[12] Minneapolis Millerettes, Fort Wayne Daisies
David Doster, MLB (1996, 1999)^[11] Philadelphia Phillies
Bill Everitt, MLB (1895–1901)^[11] Chicago Colts/Orphans, Washington Senators
Louie Heilbroner, manager, MLB (1900) St. Louis Cardinals
Butch Henline, MLB (1921–1931)^[11] New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Brooklyn Robins, Chicago White Sox
Ralph Miller, MLB (1920–1924)^[11] Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Senators
Eric Wedge, player, MLB (1991–1994)^[11] Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies; manager, MLB (2003–2009)^[11] Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners
Kevin Kiermaier, MLB (2013–present day)^[11] Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays
Jarrod Parker, MLB (2011–2013)^[11] Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics

Professional basketball

Paul "Curly" Armstrong, NBA (1948/49-1950/51)^[13] Fort Wayne Pistons
Dan Godfread, NBA (1990/91-1991/92)^[13] Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets
Ralph Albert "Ham" Hamilton, NBA (1948/49)^[13] Fort Wayne Pistons
Henry James, NBA (1990/91-1997/98)^[13] Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks
Bobby Milton, player and manager of Harlem Globetrotters
Brad Miller, NBA (1998/99-2011/12)^[13] Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves
Bill Roberts, NBA (1948/49-1949/50)^[13] Chicago Stags, Boston Celtics, St. Louis Bombers
George Yardley, NBA (1953/54-1959/60)^[13] Fort Wayne Pistons/Detroit Pistons
Tiffany Gooden, ABL (1998), Colorado Xplosion
Deshaun Thomas, EuroLeague (2013–present)^[13] Panathinaikos B.C.
Caleb Swanigan, NBA (2017/18-2019/20)^[13] Portland Trail Blazers

Professional BMX

Barry McManus, BMX racer in 1980-'90s
Scott Yoquelet, BMX racer in 1990–2000s
Joey Marks, BMX dirt freestyle 1998–2010
Brian Doty, BMX racer 1980-'90s

Professional football

Pro Football Hall of Famer, native Rod Woodson.

Mike Augustyniak, NFL (1981–1983)^[14] New York Jets
Jason Baker, NFL (2001–2012)^[14] San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers
Roosevelt Barnes, NFL (1982–1985)^[14] Detroit Lions
Bill Boedeker, NFL (1946–1950)^[14] Chicago Rockets, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers
Johnny Bright, CFL (1952–1964)^[15] Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Eskimos, subject of the "Johnny Bright Incident"
Bob Cowan, NFL (1947–1949)^[14] Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts
John Diettrich, NFL (1987)^[14]Houston Oilers
Vaughn Dunbar, NFL (1992–1995)^[14] New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tyler Eifert, NFL (2013–2020)^[14] Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars
Eric England, NFL (1994–1996)^[14] Arizona Cardinals
Trai Essex, NFL (2005–2012)^[14] Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XL champion, Indianapolis Colts
Jason Fabini, NFL (1998–2008)^[14] New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins
James Hardy, NFL (2008–2011)^[14] Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens
Selwyn Lymon, NFL (no professional games played) Miami Dolphins
Le'Ron McClain, NFL (2007–2013)^[14] Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers
Bernard Pollard, NFL (2006–2014)^[14] Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans
Emil Sitko, NFL (1950–1952)^[14] San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Cardinals
Lamar Smith, NFL (1994–2003)^[14] Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers
Anthony Spencer, NFL (2007–2015)^[14] Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints
Rod Woodson, NFL (1987–2003)^[14] Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders, Pro Football Hall of Famer
Rod Smith, NFL (2015–present)^[14] Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders
Jaylon Smith, NFL (2016–present)^[14] Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders
Drue Tranquill, NFL (2019–present)^[14] Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs

Professional golf

Professional hockey

Drake Batherson, NHL (2018-present)^[17] Ottawa Senators
Fred Knipscheer NHL (1993/94-1995/1996)^[18] Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues
Dale Purinton, NHL (1999/2000–2003/04)^[19] New York Rangers

Martial arts

Adam Bobay, UFC
Jon Fitch, UFC
Dave Herman, MMA fighter with EliteXC (Elite Xtreme Combat)

Professional soccer

DaMarcus Beasley, Rangers F.C. of the Scottish Premier League, U.S. national team, MLS Chicago Fire
Jamar Beasley, MLS New England Revolution, Chicago Fire
Bronn Pfeiffer, Fort Wayne Flames, Indiana Kicks, Chicago Power, and Detroit Rockers in the National Professional Soccer League.
Mike Harper, Baton Rouge Bombers of the Eastern Indoor Soccer League.

Olympic swimming and diving

Steve Bigelow, swimmer, 1988 Summer Olympics
Mark Virts, diver, participated in boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics led by President Jimmy Carter
Matt Vogel, swimmer, two-time Olympic gold medalist, 1976 Summer Olympics
Sharon Wichman, swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, 1968 Summer Olympics
Dan Zehr, swimmer, 1932 Summer Olympics

Olympic track and field

LeShundra "DeDee" Nathan, 2000 Summer Olympics

Professional volleyball

Angie Akers, professional beach volleyball player
Lloy Ball, Olympic gold medalist, 2008 Summer Olympics

Other notable individuals

Eugene E. Parker, sports agent, 45th in "Sports Illustrated"'s 101 most influential minorities in sports^[20]^[21]
Art Smith, aviator, invented "loop the loop"
Jessie Lopez, US National Rugby Union Team, 1978^[22]

Northeast Indiana's Top 50 Athletes

The News-Sentinel's Northeast Indiana's Top 50 Athletes of the 20th century are:^[23]

Rod Woodson
Johnny Bright
George Yardley
Everett Scott
Len Thornson
Bobby McDermott
Don Lash
DeDee Nathan
Lloy Ball
Cathy Gerring
Bill Kratzert
Matt Vogel
Sharon (Wichman) Jones
Emil Sitko
Eugene "Bubbles" Hargrave
Dottie Wiltse Collins
Willie Long
Ivan Acosta
Eddie Long
Paul "Curly" Armstrong
Bill Wambsganss
MaChelle Joseph
Steve Hargan
Henry James
Gene Hartley
Bill West
Bernie Kampschmidt
Joanne Weaver
Herm Schaefer
Lionel Repka
Vaughn Dunbar
Walter Jordan
Bruce Miller
Lashanda Harper
Nel Fettig
Terry Pembroke
Steve Platt
Tom Beerman
Cathey Tyree
Jason Fabini
Tiffany Gooden
Lamar Smith
Leslie Johnson
Tom Bolyard
Roosevelt Barnes
Conan Myers
Lee Ann Reed
Tom Kelley
Mike Augustyniak
Colin Chin

References

^ ^a ^b ^c (January 19, 2008). Fort Wayne Sports Moments Archived October 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. The News-Sentinel. Retrieved on June 11, 2009.
^ Miklich, Eric, Night Baseball in the 19th century. Retrieved on May 16, 2008.
^ Rushin, Steve, (February 5, 2007). Storming The Fort (wayne). Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on May 16, 2008.
^ NBA All-Star Games – Names and Numbers, Basketball Digest, March, 2002. Retrieved on May 16, 2008.
^ U.S.S.S.A. National Tournament Archived May 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on May 16, 2008.
^ NBA Dateline. Retrieved on February 2, 2008.
^ Lakeland Ledger article
^ "Home".
^ "Sports Illustrated".
^ "Fort Wayne's No. 1". Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Baseball-Reference.com – Major League Baseball Statistics and History
^ All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ NBA.com: Historical Player Search
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u Football Encyclopedia of Players – Pro-Football-Reference.com
^ Canadian Football Hall of Fame – Johnny Bright
^ Sebring, Blake, (June 6, 2009). Duke star, Fort Wayne native ready for Red Coat. "The News-Sentinel". Retrieved on June 10, 2009.
^ "Drake Batherson at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
^ "Fred Knipscheer at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
^ Dale Purinton hockey statistics & profile at hockeydb.com
^ "New World Order: After years of battling for fair opportunities, people of color are finally running the show (in some places) and driving the economics in sports". Sports Illustrated. May 2, 2003. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2009.
^ (February 27, 2007). More than Just a Game Archived July 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Big Ten Basketball. Retrieved on June 11, 2009.
^ "Jessie G. Lopez". ESPNscrum.
^ News-Sentinel.com Archived December 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine

[11] The Komets 10 championships are: 4 (IHL), 4 (UHL/IHL), 1 (CHL), 1 (ECHL).

[sports_moments-1] (January 19, 2008). Fort Wayne Sports Moments Archived October 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. The News-Sentinel. Retrieved on June 11, 2009.

[2] Miklich, Eric, Night Baseball in the 19th century. Retrieved on May 16, 2008.

[3] Rushin, Steve, (February 5, 2007). Storming The Fort (wayne). Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on May 16, 2008.

[4] NBA All-Star Games – Names and Numbers, Basketball Digest, March, 2002. Retrieved on May 16, 2008.

[5] U.S.S.S.A. National Tournament Archived May 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on May 16, 2008.

[6] NBA Dateline. Retrieved on February 2, 2008.

[7] Lakeland Ledger article

[8] "Home".

[9] "Sports Illustrated".

[10] "Fort Wayne's No. 1". Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal. Retrieved May 16, 2008.

[MLB-12] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Baseball-Reference.com – Major League Baseball Statistics and History

[AAGPBL-13] All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players

[NBA-14] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ NBA.com: Historical Player Search

[NFL-15] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u Football Encyclopedia of Players – Pro-Football-Reference.com

[CFLHOF-16] Canadian Football Hall of Fame – Johnny Bright

[17] Sebring, Blake, (June 6, 2009). Duke star, Fort Wayne native ready for Red Coat. "The News-Sentinel". Retrieved on June 10, 2009.

[18] "Drake Batherson at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved January 29, 2024.

[19] "Fred Knipscheer at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved January 29, 2024.

[NHL-20] Dale Purinton hockey statistics & profile at hockeydb.com

[21] "New World Order: After years of battling for fair opportunities, people of color are finally running the show (in some places) and driving the economics in sports". Sports Illustrated. May 2, 2003. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2009.

[22] (February 27, 2007). More than Just a Game Archived July 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Big Ten Basketball. Retrieved on June 11, 2009.

[23] "Jessie G. Lopez". ESPNscrum.

[24] News-Sentinel.com Archived December 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine

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