This Friday, the College will add six members to the Garnet Athletics Hall of Fame. The six new members are composed of five individual athletes and one team. One of the most notable members of the class is Lee MacPhail from the Class of 1939.
What is most notable about MacPhail is that he already occupies seats in several other Hall of Fames, including the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame. MacPhail came from a baseball family, and the name continues in baseball even today. His father, Larry, worked in the front office for several Major League teams, and is also in the Baseball Hall of Fame. As a front office executive for the Yankees, Lee helped the Bronx Bombers win seven World Series titles. After working for several teams, Lee moved on to become the president of the American League in 1974. He is mostly credited with the expansion of 1977 that created the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays. Lee’s son, Andy, is currently the President of Baseball Operations for the Philadelphia Phillies. Andy MacPhail graduated from Dickinson College.
A former member of Team USA, Liz Osterman ’77 will also be inducted. Osterman was a three sport athlete, participating in squash, lacrosse, and field hockey. Osterman’s two biggest honors include winning the department’s May E. Parry Award and being named to First-Team all-American. Osterman represented Team USA in lacrosse from 1980-1982.
Michele Fowler-Stewart ’86, one of the greatest soccer goalies in college history, will also be inducted. Fowler-Stewart was also a three-sport athlete, participating in soccer, basketball, and softball. As a goalie, she collected over 160 saves in two seasons. She was equally excellent on the court. She currently holds the record for most field goals made in a career, and ranks well in numerous other stats.
The only football player to be inducted is Robert Ruffin Jr. ’92. Ruffin played both basketball, and the now-discontinued game of football. In basketball, he held school records in rebounds and blocks up until 2008. He helped the Garnet win a conference championship as well. Ruffin was better known for his contributions on the football field, where he played on the defensive side of the ball. Ruffin collected more than 100 tackles in three of his four seasons.
One of the more recent graduates to be inducted is Katie Tarr ’02. Tarr played field hockey, lacrosse, and basketball. She played all but two games in all three sports all four years, and was recipient of the department’s Eleanor Kay Hess and May E. Parry Awards. As a basketball player, she helped the Garnet win both a Centennial Conference Championship, as well as NCAA Tournament game. In field hockey, she earned First Team All-Conference twice. As a field hockey player, she led the Garnet in scoring all four seasons.
The only teams to be inducted are the 1982-1985 men’s lacrosse teams. Throughout those years, the team won three conference titles, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Along the way, the team beat several highly ranked opponents and placed multiple members on the all-Conference teams.
These six inductees are some of the most esteemed athletes to attend Swarthmore, representing the college’s commitment to all student endeavors.
