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Meet the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame’s star-studded Class of 2024

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Detroit — The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 has a decidedly Michigan flavor.

As in, the University of Michigan.

Former star quarterback and head coach Jim Harbaugh, who led the Wolverines to the 2023 national championship before leaving to coach again in the NFL, is among the headliners of the class, which was announced Friday night. He’ll be joined by legendary Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards, linebacker Larry Foote and offensive tackle Jake Long, among a class of 11 future inductees.

Former Tigers stars Cecil Fielder and Pudge Rodriguez also are a part of the Class of 2024, voted on by current and former sports media members, and sports-industry executives and personalities, as well as thousands of Michigan and Detroit sports fans.

This class is the 70th in the history of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

“We have a fitting class for the 70th anniversary of the Hall of Fame,” said Scott Lesher, chairman of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. “It’s filled with stars and leaders who made memories that will last for generations.”

Said Jordan Field, president of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame: “We appreciate the public’s role, in addition to the volunteers who stepped forward to help make sure this anniversary class is one for the ages.”

The induction ceremony is Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, at the MotorCity Casino Hotel’s Sound Board Theater. Tickets start at $25, and can be purchased at mshof.org.

In addition to the 11 inductees, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame will honor late basketball star Earl “The Twirl” Cureton with the Michigan Treasure honor. Cureton starred at Detroit Finney High School and later at then-University of Detroit, before a long career in the NBA, including three seasons with the Pistons. He has long been a fixture in Detroit, as an ambassador for the Pistons and the city of Detroit, and as the voice of the Detroit Mercy Titans men’s basketball team. Cureton died in February at the age of 66.

Class of 2024

PROFESSIONAL

➤ Tony Esposito, hockey: A standout goaltender at Michigan Tech, where he was a three-time, first-team All-American, and won a national championship, he went on to play 17 seasons in the NHL, winning three Vezina Trophies. He died in 2021, at the age of 78.

➤ Cecil Fielder, baseball: A slugging first baseman who made the All-Star team three times in seven seasons with the Tigers in the 1990s, he captivated the baseball universe in 1990, when he hit 51 home runs, back when 51 homers was a big deal. In 1990 and 1991, Fielder, 60, led MLB in homers and RBIs.

➤ Larry Foote, football: A star linebacker at Detroit Pershing and then the University of Michigan, where he was a first-team All-American, he went on to play 13 seasons in the NFL, including 2009 with the Lions. Foote, 44, won two Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including Super Bowl XL in Detroit.

➤ Pudge Rodriguez, baseball: The Baseball Hall of Fame catcher changed the fortunes of the Tigers franchise when he signed before the 2004 season, and helped lead them to the World Series in 2006. Rodriguez, 52, made four All-Star teams with Detroit, and won three Gold Gloves.

AMATEUR

➤ Braylon Edwards, football: After Bishop Gallagher High, he starred at Michigan, where in 2004 he was named the top receiver in college football and was a unanimous All-American. He’s the only Big Ten player ever with three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Edwards, 41, played eight seasons in the NFL.

➤ Jake Long, football: He’s a legend at Lapeer East High, where he was a standout football and basketball player, and at Michigan, the offensive tackle was first-team All-American and Big Ten offensive lineman of the year, twice. Long, 39, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, by the Miami Dolphins.

➤ Deanna Nolan, basketball: A Flint native, she led Flint Northern High to back-to-back state titles and was named Miss Basketball in 1995. Nolan, 44, was a first-round pick by the WNBA’s Detroit Shock in 2001, and she went on to win three WNBA championships.

➤ Shawn Respert, basketball: He played at Redford Bishop Borgess High before attending Michigan State, where he was a star point guard and remains the Spartans’ all-time leading scorer. As a senior, Respert, 52, was a unanimous All-American and Big Ten player of the year. He played four seasons in the NBA.

COACH

➤ Jim Harbaugh, football: Michigan’s starting quarterback in the early 1980s, he went on to a long NFL playing career, before turning to coaching. Harbaugh, 60, left the NFL to coach Michigan in 2015, and compiled an 86-25 record, including three straight Big Ten crowns (2021-23) and the 2023 national title, before returning to the NFL.

MEDIA

➤ Don Shane: Shane was the sports director at WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) for 23 years, winning 23 Emmys for coverage of all things Detroit sports before retiring in 2012. Earlier in his career, he worked at WDIV-TV (Channel 4) earlier in his career. Shane died in February 2023 at the age of 70.

CONTRIBUTOR

➤ Ken Holland, hockey: An executive with the Red Wings for 36 years, including his last 22 as general manager, he won four Stanley Cups with Detroit, in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008. Holland, 68, now is the president and general manager of the Edmonton Oilers.

Editor’s note: Tony Paul is the co-chair of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame’s Election Task Force.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984

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