More Than 1,200 People Vote and Select Dodds, Durham, Morillo & Pounder
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Four individuals whose playing careers span from the 1930s to the 1990s – two of them former Bulldogs – highlight the Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame's Induction Class of 2009.
More than 1,200 baseball fans voted online and through the mail and chose former Mt. Pleasant mayor John Dodds, Jr., American Legion legend W.S. “Bull” Durham and former Citadel standouts Donald Morillo and Doug Pounder. Morillo and Pounder are former standout cadet-student-athletes at The Citadel.
Formal induction into the Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame takes place on the field of Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park on Friday, August 14, prior to the Charleston RiverDogs – Lakewood BlueClaws game that begins at 7:05 p.m.
Dodds retired in 1973 as the senior civilian employee of the Charleston Navy Yard and was generally acknowledged to have been the best shortstop who ever played in the old City League in the 1930s. Dodds was offered a major league contract with the Cincinnati Reds but didn't sign. He also served as a youth baseball coach in Mt. Pleasant where he served as mayor from 1976-84.
Durham played and coached Garco (North Charleston Post 59) American Legion teams for many years. He played at Clemson and professionally in the Southeastern Dixie Leagues before coaching Garco Legion teams for 16 years where he captured 13 league championships. His teams won the Lower State title six times, and also claimed state and regional titles in 1954 and '55, but lost in the sectionals each time. Durham coached fellow Charleston Hall of Fame inductees Charley Smith and Ty Cline, both of whom reached the major leagues and many others who signed minor league contracts. He is being inducted posthumously, having passed away in 1994.
Morillo is a James Island native who held The Citadel record for most games pitched in a career and most saves in a season, was the 1995 Southern Conference Tournament most valuable player. He earned 1994 All-East Regional Team honors and was a 1995 American Baseball Coaches Association All-Atlantic Region team member as well as a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Honorable Mention All-American. Also in 1995, Morillo finished first in the league in ERA, saves and appearances. He was signed as a free agent by the Texas Rangers and played for the Charleston RiverDogs in '96.
Pounder is a local product who was one of the first recipients of full baseball grant-in-aid to The Citadel and was one of the top pitchers in school history. He held career records for games, starts, complete games and innings pitched when he graduated in 1971 as he led '71 team to Southern Conference title with 10-1 record and 1.28 ERA. Pounder played for Hall of Fame coach Chal Port and was enshrined in The Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981.
An advisory committee consisting of knowledgeable and local volunteers was created to come up with 12 names as potential nominees. Voting was conducted by the readership of The Post and Courier through an official ballot that appeared in the paper and online.
The Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame is jointly coordinated and operated by The Post and Courier and the RiverDogs. The Hall of Fame is located inside Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
In the Hall of Fame's inaugural year in 2003, James Island's Gorman Thomas and Holly Hill's Willie Randolph were enshrined as the first members. David Cone was inducted in 2004 and John Candelaria received the nod in 2005. Ty Cline, Mike Cook, Gary McJunkin and Coach Chal Port comprised the Hall of Fame's Class of 2006, marking the first time that amateurs and teams were considered for induction.
In 2007, the 1955 Cannon Street YMCA All-Star team and The Citadel's 1990 College World Series team, Modie Risher and Anthony Jenkins were enshrined. In 2008, Bryce Florie, Danny Jones, Charley Smith and Richard Wieters were inducted.
CHARLESTON BASEBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
2009 – John Dodds, Jr.
W.S. “Bull” Durham
Donald Morillo
Doug Pounder
2008 – Bryce Florie
Danny Jones
Charley Smith
Richard Wieters
2007 – 1955 Cannon Street YMCA All-Star Team
1990 Citadel World Series Team
Anthony Jenkins
Modie Risher
2006 – Ty Cline
Mike Cook
Gary McJunkin
Chal Port
2005 – John Candelaria
2004 – David Cone
2003 – Willie Randolph
Gorman Thomas
