Sam Atcheson won the four-wall National Open singles title in 1933 and 1934. In 1945, at the age of 43, he added the Open doubles title with partner Walter Detweiler.
The slender, wiry and speedy perfectionist was a stellar national Y champion. He won 14 national titles over a period covering 1930-45. In YMCA competition he was virtually unbeatable. He took the singles six times from 1931 through 1937, missing only in 1934 when George Nelson of Baltimore was the victor.
On Nov. 4, 1989, Atcheson was honored as the first inductee into the National YMCA Handball Hall of Fame.
The record book shows that Platak, representing Chicago’s Lake Shore Club, won seven national four-wall singles championships in a row, added two more after Navy service in World War II, and took two doubles titles. Not until Naty Alvarado did any other player win as many four-wall titles in national Open singles play.
Never in his nine singles victories was he pushed to three games and only once did an opponent score more points in the second game than in the first.
In 1937, when Joe was at his peak, he went on an exhibition tour. He played 136 games in 21 days in 17 clubs in 13 cities and nine states, covering some 3,000 miles on the trip. He didn’t lose a game in singles or doubles!
On November 22, 2015 Sheila Maroshick, brilliant one-wall singles star from 1949-1964, was officially inducted into the USHA Hall of Fame in Brooklyn at Chadwick’s Restaurant at 89th Street and Third Avenue, not far from where she lives with her sister, Eileen. Eileen was the celebration’s gracious hostess.
Sheila kicked off the festivities with a beautiful prayer she had written many years ago for an assembly program she directed at the junior high school where she taught. That long ago special program welcomed guest speaker Eleanor Roosevelt, who praised Sheila for her elegant words. After the prayer Sheila spoke briefly of her handball glory days and of her gratitude for being accepted to the National Hall of Fame.
During the evening attention was called to Sheila’s latest book, The Inquisitive Children, from which all proceeds will be donated to the Make a Wish Foundation.
City Councilman Vincent Gentile presented Sheila with on official citation for her Hall of Fame career, indicating her contribution to the City of New York as an athlete.
Whenever there is talk of the all-time best, Al Banuet is mentioned. He won three consecutive titles, in 1929 (at the age of 19), 1930 and 1931. He also won the doubles in 1929 and 1930.
Because Banuet was such a great athlete, a boxing promoter talked him into a short-lived boxing career, which forever banned him from AAU-sponsored handball.
Banuet stories are legendary. Trulio said: “I’ve seen him run up a back wall to retrieve a shot. He could do things that are regarded as impossible.”
W.O. McGeehan, sports editor of the New York Times said: “He is the greatest champion in his chosen sport I have seen. Greater than Babe Ruth in baseball, greater than Bobby Jones in golf, greater than Jack Dempsey in boxing.”
Matt Osburn receives his Grand Master Sweater at the 66th USHA National Three-Wall Championships.
The coveted United States Handball Association Grand Master Sweater.
Every handballer dreams of winning 10 Masters titles and accepting the Sweater. The following is a list of great players who have won at least 10 National Masters titles in USHA one-wall, three-wall, or four-wall play.
Max Lasskow, Tom Natale, Tom Schoendorf, Al Torres, Artie Reyer, Joe McDonald, Arnie Aguilar, Ron Emberg, Pat Kirby, Neal Manning, Larry Kotal, Irv Simon, Dell Mora, Ken Schneider, Mike Dikman, Joe Joiner, Mike Dunne, Don Chamberlin, Jim Golden, Al Bostrom, Rudy Stadlberger, Ray Barrett, Vic Hershkowitz, Dan Maroney, Skip McDowell, Lee Shinn, Dave Rott, Ben Glenner, Sol Aber, Ed Grossenbacher, John Blair, Joe Danilczyk, Gus Lewis, Rosemary Bellini, Vern Roberts, Alvis Grant, Mike Meltzer, Mike Dunne Jr., Norm Young, Ernie Virgili, Dave Dohman, Jerry Cronin, Alan Sherrill, Graham Palmore, Kevan DelGrande, David Steinberg, Bob Nedd, Sonny Schaefer, Rich Dunne, Doug Glatt, Charlie Wicker, Roger Berry, George Miller, Dave Morones, Jon Charneskey, Chris Roberts, Bob Harris, Gary Rohrer, Max Forcht, Tom Vitale, Mike Driscoll, Greg Raya, Alan Frank, Peter Service, Vance McInnis, Mike Panko, Jim Barnett, Joe Agosto, Dan Zimet, Glenn Carden, Tim Sterrett, Jim Smith, Mark Zamora, Danny Carrillo, Tom Fitzwater, Jim Economides, Fred Chapman, Ray Estevez, John Robles, Rod Gaspar, Marc Penick, Ben Marguglio, Steve Kraft, Phil Kirk, Merv Deckert, Jim Corrigan, Matt Osburn, Joe Lenhardt, Lew Buckingham, Chris Watkins, Ed Campbell, Dan Flickstein, Bob Braine, George Figueroa, Lloyd Garcia, William Cervantes, Ron Cole, Shane Conneely, James Karner, Gary Scogin, Kendell Lewis, Thomas Valenzuela, Bobby Nicholas, Tony Roberts, Vince San Angelo, Rick Graham, Greg Sizemore, Jim Ward, Bob Dyke, Mike Munson, David Munson, Tomas Martinez, Joe Kaplan, Jai Ragoo, Artie Diamant
Timbo Gonzalez (swinging) and Sam Sanford (far left) defeated Carlos Pena and Hector Velez for the Men’s 1-Wall Big Ball Doubles title. Photo by WPH
LAS VEGAS — The 3WallBall Outdoor World Championships at the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino wrapped up on Sunday and brought handball fans some incredible championship finals. Timbo Gonzalez and Sam Sanford won the Men’s 1-Wall Big Ball Doubles title, pulling away from a 19-19 tie to defeat Carlos Pena and Hector Velez, 25-19.
In other action, Juan Santos defeated Boxer Rosales to win the Men’s 3-Wall Big Ball Singles and then teamed with Alfredo Morales to win the 3-Wall Big Ball Doubles, defeating Timbo Gonzalez and Shorty Ruiz. The slam vaulted Santos to the top of the WPH Outdoor Player’s Cup V standings, giving the Southern California star his fourth Player’s Cup in five years.
See the draws and results HERE. Watch the weekend’s action replayed at WatchESPN.com or use the WatchESPN App! Choose the replay tab and scroll to HANDBALL to see the match replay. (Access may depend on your cable or internet provider).
SEATTLE — The Washington Athletic Club and the WAC Handball Club hosted a one-day professional handball tournament, Saturday, Sept. 10, featuring 4 of the Top 10 players in the world: Sean Lenning (#2), Mando Ortiz (#3), Emmett Peixoto (#6) and Luis Cordova (#9). Almost $1,500 was raised at the event which benefited the Seattle Children’s Hospital. Ortiz defeated Cordova in the final with a convincing 15-7 and 15-8 victory.
The event was a big success in terms of the handball talent, competition on the court and fundraising towards a great cause! Sean Lenning, coming off of his slam at the Three-Wall Nationals, gave a great performance in spite of a sore shoulder. Cordova played great ball, beating Lenning in the first match before running into a buzz-saw in Ortiz in the finals. The event was owned by Ortiz who played lights-out in both of his matches, shooting the ball with both hands from everywhere on the court. The match of the event was definitely the match-up of Ortiz and Peixoto in the opening round. Ortiz won a tight first game contest 15-12 only to get thumped in the second to Peixoto, 15-4. The tiebreaker (win by two) was nothing short of amazing, as both players played neck-and-neck before Ortiz pulled out the 16-14 triumph.
Without question, the doubles game that was played after the singles final was spectacular. The crowd loved the action with all the exciting kills, thrilling gets and re-kills which brought most of them out of their seats cheering. At the end, the crowd showed their appreciation for the awesome doubles exhibition. This year marked improved attendance, and the WAC plans to host a bigger and better event next year.
Admission to the matches was a donation of $25 (or more), with 100% of the proceeds going to Seattle Children’s Hospital. Checks payable to Seattle Children’s Hospital or cash will be accepted–no credit cards. Players will be available Saturday evening for a no-host get together down at Hagerty’s on the 2nd floor of the WAC. Pro Handball at the WAC begins at 12:00 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 10! All are welcome. Contact Darin Barr or Randy Multack with any questions.
Read the press release for the Washington Athletic Club’s WPH Pre-Race Invitational and Benefit HERE.
Thanks to Randy Multack for contributing to this story. Photo courtesy of the Washington Athletic Club.
