Induction Graduation Sport

2024 1981 Baseball | Football

Dave Wrigley – Dave is a Hoover High School Class of 1981 graduate. During his high school career, he led the football team to a record of 9-1 his junior year and 8-2 his senior year while playing primarily running back and returning punts and kickoffs. Dave was named first team All Stark County and first team All-District in ‘79. He finished fifth among all-time scoring leaders with 141 total points, behind Jeff Logan, Greg Anderson, Dick Snyder and Charlie Grandjean at the time of graduation. A three-year letterman in both football and baseball, in baseball Dave earned All Federal League ’80-’81, Team MVP ’81, and First Team All Ohio in ’81.

Dave attended the University of Akron on a football scholarship. He also played centerfield for Akron’s baseball team. Earned six (6) varsity letters as a collegiate athlete. In baseball, he earned All Ohio Valley Conference honors in 1984-1985, led the team in hitting as a freshman (.360) and Junior (.414). A member of the University of Akron Athletic Hall of Fame, Dave was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1985. He hit a grand slam home run in his first professional at bat and played with Major League Baseball great Barry Bonds.

Upon graduating from the University of Akron, Dave spent 35 years in Marketing Services. He retired in March of 2020, and today is the owner of Little Wrigley Baseball Academy in Wesley Chapel, Florida - a Christian based facility which trains young kids and professionals on hitting/pitching and how to play with character.