Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield, MA

A feast for fans, the Basketball Hall of Fame pictures and memorabilia could keep you there all day long

Springfield, MA home of the Basketball Hall of Fame

1000 W Columbus Ave Springfield, MA 01105-2518

Inside of the Hall showing the pictures of players and video screens

You can play a game of basketball while there, the same as you can play on the baseball field at the "Field of Dreams"

Dr. James Naismith is best known worldwide as the inventor of basketball. He also led an exemplary life, following the values he held dear. He was an educator and leader, dedicated to developing character through sport, and devoted to serving society. His gift of basketball is played in over 200 countries around the world.

James Naismith, invented basketball using two peach baskets and a ball

John Wooden was named All-Big Ten and All-Midwestern (1930–32) while at Purdue University where he was coached by Ward "Piggy" Lambert

Wooden concluded his 40 years as a head coach that season and his 885-203 overall career win-loss record (a percentage of .813) is unequaled. A large part of that success was at UCLA. In 27 years as Bruin coach, his teams registered 620 wins, and only 147 losses while earning far more national honors than any other university.

Under Wooden, UCLA won an unprecedented 10 NCAA championships, including seven consecutive (1966-73). Included in the string is one of the most amazing win streaks in all of sports, 38 straight NCAA tournament victories

Known as “The Baron of the Bluegrass”, Adolph Rupp was one of the greatest to ever coach the game. At 82.2%, his winning percentage still ranks the highest

Pat Riley was and still is one of the most recognizable and remembered Kentucky Wildcats of all time, so obviously that is a great honor . Only 14 players in the last 40 years have had their jerseys retired which shows even more how beloved and how great Riley was at Kentucky.

Donna and I drove to Lexington, KY to see the University of Kentucky where Riley played.

Pat Riley has served as the head coach of five championship teams and an assistant coach to another.

Kareem is probably the greatest player to ever play the game. That's my assessment, I am sure of the 287 inductees everyone has their own favorite or favorites. I have included a few of mine in the next few pictures.

Jerry West "Mr. Clutch" was one of my all-time favorites. Donna and I actually drove to Cabin Creek, West Virginia to hunt down his home and his high school, East Bank High.

Jerry West attended East Bank, West Virginia High School from 1952-1956. He was named an All-State from 1953-56, and an All-American in 1956, when he was also named West Virginia Player of the Year after becoming the state's first high-school player to score more than 900 points in a season (32.2 ppg, 1956). He also led East Bank to a state championship that same year.

We also came close to Bird's hometown of French Lick, Indiana but didn't quite make it.

Magic making the "baby skyhook" to win the game against the Celtics

Kareem the master of the "skyhook"

This is a Kobe’s high school picture. Kobe was a first round draft choice out of high school by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 and subsequently the Lakers (Jerry West-Gen. Mgr) traded Vladi Divac for him.

Wade and Shaq

Below are the 2009 Inductees to the Basketball Hall of Fame, Michael Jordan, David Robinson, John Stockton, Vivian Stringer and Jerry Sloan (no picture)

Michael is among the greatest to ever play the game

"Somewhere there's a little kid working to enhance what we've done. It may take awhile, but someone will come along who approaches the game the way I did. He won't skip steps. He won't be afraid. He will learn from my example, just as I learned from others.

He will master the fundamentals...Evolution knows no bounds. Unless they change the height of the basket or otherwise alter the dimensions of the game, there will be a player much greater than me."

Michael Jordan