Kansas Sports Hall of Fame announces largest class ever, 32 inductees. What to know
The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame will induct 32 people this summer — the largest class in its 60-plus-year history. The group includes Negro Leagues legends, former Royals general manager Dayton Moore, former NBA player/coach Earl Watson and longtime Bishop Miege girls basketball coach Terry English.
FULL STORY: Dayton Moore, Negro Leaguers highlight large 2026 Kansas Sports Hall of Fame class
Here are key takeaways:
• Seven Negro Leagues players — including National Baseball Hall of Famer Charles Wilber “Bullet Joe” Rogan — will be inducted during a Kansas City Monarchs game on July 18 at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.
• Dayton Moore, born in Wichita, joined the Royals in 2006 as GM and president, helping transform the franchise into 2015 World Series champions. He will be inducted Aug. 16 at Sporting Park in KCK.
• Sporting KC principal owner Cliff Illig, credited with bringing outdoor stadium pro soccer to Kansas and helping land the 2026 World Cup, is also in the class.
• Matt Besler, a Blue Valley West alum and five-time MLS All-Star, is among 10 inductees honored Aug. 16. He played 12 seasons with Sporting KC and appeared in the 2014 World Cup.
• Five members will be inducted posthumously in Kansas City, including English, who won 910 games and 22 state championships in 44 seasons at Bishop Miege, and former NFL player Derrick Jensen of Osawatomie.
• Ten Wichita-area honorees will be inducted July 25, including retiring Wichita State broadcaster Mike Kennedy and Olympic sprinter Judy Dyer.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
