OSLOPRETENDERS
Oslo Pretenders Hall of Fame
We are proud to present our great Hall of Fame. ​The criteria are based on the individual's record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contribution to the Pretender Organization. Only the best of the best will be inducted into the Pretender Hall of Fame.
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The first two members ever were Don Loendorf and Albert Stein. They were inducted at the pre-game ceremony at the Pretender home opener against Sola Challengers in 2005. Since then we have inducted a total of 10 members and more will come in the future.​
Together with Albert Stein, Don has been the main factors behind the birth of Oslo Pretenders. They have both done great wonders as players as well as organizational leaders for the club in the early years and are still doing an incredible job for the club.
Don played 99 games from 1991-1998 and still holds the record and 3rd place for most K's per 9 innings among our pitchers in a single season. We congratulate our first two HOF'ers and thank them for their contribution to the existence of the greatest club in the world.
Together with Don Loendorf, Albert has been the main factors behind the birth of Oslo Pretenders. They have both done great wonders as players as well as organizational leaders for the club in the early years and are still doing an incredible job for the club.
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Albert played 59 games from 1991-1994 and still holds the club's best lifetime batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. We congratulate our first two HOF'ers and thank them for their contribution to the existence of the greatest club in the world.
James, or Jimmy D. was inducted as our 3rd member of the HOF in 2006. He played 50 games from 1994-2000 over 6 seasons, as he came to the Pretenders from Lierbyen.
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​But more importantly, Jimmy stands out as the best catcher to ever have played in the Norwegian Baseball League, and made it impossible for the other teams to advance any bases whatsoever. Before coming to the Pretenders, he was one-half of the Lierbyen battery (the pitcher being Ron) that almost took down the Pretenders in a legendary game at Frognerstadion.
Kirby was inducted as our 4th member of the HOF in 2007. He played 65 games over 5 seasons from 1992-1996 and is still in the top 5 for both best season and lifetime regarding slugging and on-base %.
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Kirby stands out, along with Jimmy D, as one of the best catchers ever in Norwegian Baseball.
Kjetil "Shaq" Johansen was inducted as our 5th member of the HOF in 2008 together with Mark. He played 115 games over 8 seasons from 1991-1998 and is one of the founding members of the club. Shaq's best weapon was his lightning speed. With his 184 stolen bases he is still 4th all time. And, together with Glenn Wells, he holds the single-season stolen base record with 52.
Shaq is involved in several legendary stories for the club - both on and off the field. One of them is from the early 1990's as the Pretenders played a gameagainst Lierbyen. As a true Pretender and teammate Shaq didn't move an inch when the opposing pitcher – Ron Whithead - fired some serious heaters right at him as he got hit three times in that game. One of the pitches hit Shaq's hand, and according to the legend his hand got so big and swollen up that he didn't need a glove for the rest of the game.
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Shaq sadly passed away on January 16th 2017.
Mark was inducted as our 6th member of the HOF in 2008 together with Shaq. He played 34 games from 1991-94 with a lifetime batting avg. of .381. His best season came in 1992 with a strong batting avg. of .469 with 14 rbi's and 2 dingers. Mark also contributed on the mound for the Pretenders in the early days and got 3 wins in two seasons. His stout stature helped him strike out 24 batters in 17.2 IP.
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But stats aside, Mark was the nicest gentlemen and most down-to-earth Pretender ever!
Sadly, Mark passed away in May 2007, way too early at a young 53 years of age.
Eddy was inducted as our 7th member of the HOF together with Ron in 2009. He played 122 games in 11 seasons from 1991-2001. Rather than his bat, Eddy was famous for his speed with 122 stolen bases (6th all-time), his solid D in the outfield and above all his pitching .
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His best season came in 1996 with an ERA of 0.45 - still a single-season record for the club. In addition, he holds the record in a single season for wins (9 - tied with Glenn and Hawk), most games pitched (14) and most starts (11 – tied with Hawk).
Ron was inducted as our 8th member of the HOF together with Eddy in 2009. He played 67 games in 9 seasons between 1991 and 2003. His lifetime batting avg. is .410 (5th all-time) together with 8 bombs (5th all-time).
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Ron was the first flamethrower in Norwegian Baseball history and the opponents had a hard time catching up with his famous “rising” fastball. Ron fanned 120 batters in 69.2 innings with a lifetime record of 12-3.​
Bob was inducted as our 9th member of the HOF in September 2015 in the NM Finals. He played 188 games in 19 seasons from 1991-2009. Bob was the most feared power-hitter in the 90’s and set the tone right away by becoming the first player to hit two home runs in a single game in his rookie season for the club.
Bob Mainardi’s 1995 season stands out as one of the greatest single season ever played by a Pretender – hitting .491 with 5 homers (still tied as a single season record with Håkon Jåtun) with 44 RBIs (2nd best ever) and 55 total bases (3rd best ever). Bob also co-founded the P-kids team and helped coach for several seasons.
Håkon - aka Hawk or the Budda - was inducted in August 2016 as our 10th member. He was a feared power-hitter in the new millennium and he had his glory seasons between 2001 and 2006. Hawks’ 2004 season stands out as one of the best single-season ever by a Pretender – going .439 with 5 homers (tied single-season-record with Mainardi), 45 RBIs (best ever) and 60 total bases (best ever).
On the mound his stats are as equally impressive. In 2005 and 2006 Hawk went back-to-back seasons with Era under 1.00 and Oba. (Opponents Batting Average ) below .100. No one else has ever done this in the Norwegian baseball history.
Who will be our 11th member?
