Binghamton Baseball Shrine Inductions Set For Friday

Three new members will be inducted into the Binghamton Baseball Shrine at NYSEG Stadium before Friday's Binghamton Mets game against New Hampshire.  Former Binghamton Triplets' broadcaster Pete Van Wieren, Triplets' infielder Tom Tresh and  Triplets' catcher Willard Hershberger will be honored in an on-field ceremony prior to the first pitch.

Van Wieren began his storied play-by-play career calling the action for Binghamton Triplets games on WNBF Radio.  He went on to broadcast over 5,500 Atlanta Braves games beginning in 1976.  For 33 seasons Van Wieren called the action and for many of those seasons teamed with the late Skip Caray to entertain Braves' fans.  He was named the Georgia Broadcaster of the Year ten times by the National Sportswriters Association and was honored with induction into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame in 2004. He plans on being back in Binghamton for Friday's induction.

Tresh played for the Binghamton Triplets in 1959 and 1960.  He moved up to the New York Yankees where he played shortstop and was named American League Rookie of the Year in 1962 when he hit .286 with 20 home runs.  He also was selected to the American League All-Star team in 1962 and 1963.  He moved to centerfield  where he won a Gold Glove award in 1965.  Tresh passed away at the age of 70 in 2008.

Hershberger was a catcher who played in Binghamton in 1933 when he hit .304 when the Triplets won the New York-Penn League Championship.  He went on to play three seasons with the Cincinnati Reds in a back-up roll to Hall of Fame member Ernie Lombardi.  His best season was in 1939 when he hit .345 in 63 games.  Hershberger tragically committed suicide during the 1940 season and in the middle of the Reds' run at a pennant.

The Binghamton Baseball Shrine consists of 61 members and was created in 1993.  The Shrine was created to honor individuals who have contributed to the development and growth of baseball in the area.