Undersized yet commanding Rich Harden was a study in compact efficiency on the mound with a 59-38 MLB record. Dave Calder was such a graceful rower, yet ruthlessly determined in body and mind, as he won an Olympic silver medal and three world championships among his numerous international accomplishments.
Harden and Calder will lead a starry Class of 2018 into the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. It also includes University of Victoria Vikes great and Canadian Olympic team field hockey goaltender Deb Whitten and four-time Canadian senior women’s golf champion Alison Murdoch.
The Class of 2018 was announced Wednesday with the induction ceremonies to take place Oct. 27 at the Westin Bear Mountain.
“Going into the Victoria Sports Hall is impactful, and a huge honour, because so many unbelievable athletes have come out of this city,” said Calder, now executive director of Rowing B.C.
Calder came out of Brentwood College and competed in four Olympic Games, winning silver with Scott Frandsen in the men’s pair at Beijing in 2008.
“My mind randomly wanders to cities I’ve competed in around the world [14 nations on three continents in more than 40 international competitions]. I cherish the adventures I had with my teammates and coaches,” said Calder.
“That would not have happened if not for this city and Elk Lake. It feels like just yesterday. I miss it. I’m turning 40 this month but still feel like 20-something.”
Harden came out of Layritz Little League and Claremont Secondary. Injuries ended his career far too soon and fans still wonder what might have been if he was able to achieve his full potential on the mound. But Harden still made a notable impact in his nine seasons in the majors with a 3.76 career ERA and outstanding 949 strikeouts in 928 innings, which is the 14th best strikeout-rate-by-innings in MLB history.
Whitten, wonderfully agile in the crease with her tenacity and quick-twitch reflexes, backstopped Canada to two Pan Am Games medals, at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and 1990 and 1994 World Cups. She backstopped the UVic Vikes to the 1989 and 1991 CIUA (now U Sports) national titles and to four Canada West championships.
It all started as a kid when older brother Greg told Deb she would have to go in goal if she wanted to play with the guys in road hockey.
“It’s such an honour and I’m humbled,” said Whitten, now associate superintendent of School District 61.
“I never dreamed I would be part of the Victoria Sports Hall because so many fantastic athletes have come out of this city. The culture and climate of sport in Victoria was conducive to success. We were not individual players at UVic. We were all team players. There was such a sense of community and team. You never felt alone. That got several of us to the next level and translated into success with the national team in international play.”
Also being inducted with the Class of 2018 is legendary judo builder Yeiji Inouye, former MLB umpire Ian Lamplugh, influential swim coach Ron Jacks, who has produced Olympic medallists, and former SportHost Victoria executive director Hugh MacDonald.
The Victoria Sports Hall was established in 1991. Plaques honouring the Class of 2018 will join those of the 223 previous inductees that hang on the concourse walls of Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
“The selection process was particularly difficult, as there are so many outstanding people in the Victoria sports community,” said Lois Smith, chair of the selection committee.
Tickets for the 2018 induction ceremony go on sale Friday at gvshof.ca/events.
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