York Town Square

Former major leaguer Gene Crumling inspects his plaque during the recent opening of the York County Sports Hall of Fame.

Sandy Noel left a query on a previous post Lineup full of sports stars with York County links.

It was one of those everyday riddles people like to solve.

Here is Sandy’s query:

“My father, Luther James Brenneman was inducted to the Central York County League, Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. He was an infielder and played for North York. He would have played in the late 40’s, early 50’s. I received a plaque with his name on it, and I am trying to get more information about it.”

If you know, please contact Sandy at sjnwhatever@comcast.net.
But those with sports questions have another resource. The York Area Sports Hall of Fame has a new home. So the museum at Insurance Service United office at 224 N. George St. in York might be a place for Sandy and others with sports questions to start. The folks there might not know it but might be able to point inquirers in the right direction.
A York Daily Record story on the museum follows:

Kevin Costner’s field of dreams was a cornfield in Iowa.
Jeff Lau’s sits on the first floor of the Insurance Services United office at 224 N. George St. in downtown York.
When you visit Lau’s “field” you won’t see any members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox, but you will see some of York County’s finest athletes from the past.
There are currently 95 plaques, representing the members of the York Area Sports Hall of Fame since 1973, covering the walls just inside the Insurance Services United building.
It has taken more than 30 years, but the Hall of Fame finally has found a home, and the members couldn’t be happier.
“It’s fantastic that Mr. Lau has taken the interest and the time and the cost to do something like this,” 2005 Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Jacobs said. “To be on that wall with many other outstanding athletes and coaches, it’s just awe-inspiring. I don’t know if there are words to describe that, it’s a true honor to be a part of that.”
Many of Jacobs’ Hall partners came out to the unveiling of the new home of the Hall of Fame, including the former public address announcer for York’s minor league baseball team, the White Roses, George Trout.
“If this was Cooperstown, I’d be with the founders or management people, because I never swung a bat,” Trout said.
The York Area Sports Hall of Fame will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. The Hall will stay open late at least one night a week during York Revolution home games.
On selected nights that the hall does indeed stay open past normal business hours, an Eagle mascot will be standing outside welcoming guests.
Speaking of mascots, the Baltimore Orioles’ mascot was also in attendance for the dedication ceremony.
It was fitting that the O’s Bird was in the building because the Baltimore Orioles Museum sits on the third floor of the office building.
Lau is also the president of the Central PA chapter of the Orioles fan club, and his museum houses various apparel and memorabilia from past O’s greats like Brooks Robinson to current Baltimore standouts like Erik Bedard.
The cost to enter the Hall of Fame and the O’s Museum is free, but there is one catch.
“The only thing you must do is take my business card, because someday you might need insurance,” said Lau, who is the president of Insurance Services United.
Now that the Hall is up and running, so will the debate as to who is in the hall and who should be.
“People that do come in to visit question why somebody isn’t in the hall of fame,” Lau said. “In the past nobody really knew (who was in).”
The Hall of Fame will have applications available for the public to nominate persons deserving of a spot alongside other York County greats.
As many of the Hall members made their way into the building to take a look around at the bells and whistles of the facility, some members will never have a chance to see all of their accomplishments written on a plaque.
Sue Gault, the daughter of Hall of Famer Gary Gault, who led Spring Grove’s girls’ tennis teams to seven YCIAA Titles in 14 seasons, came out to show support for her late father, who passed away three years ago.
“He would’ve been very pleased and very proud,” Gault said of her father’s reaction had he been able to attend. “He would’ve been very honored.”
Roy Robbins, president of the York Area Sports Night board of directors finished his toast to the dedication of the new home by saying, ‘To the York Area Sports Hall of Fame: may it endure a lasting tribute to the athletic heritage of the York area.’
It’s not quite, ‘If you build it, he will come,’ but for Jeff Lau, dreams do come true.