The Frontier League of Professional Baseball is pleased to announce the inductees for the 2022 Frontier League Hall of Fame. 

"This another wonderful group of people who were not only successful on the field, but were top-quality individuals off the field," Frontier League Commissioner Emeritus Bill Lee said. "They are a great representation of their former teams and of the league." 

The 2022 inductees are: 

Tom Crowley 

Crowley played three seasons in the Frontier League. He was the true leader of the Zanesville Greys. 

He led the team to the inaugural FL Championship in 1993 with a 7-1 record and a 2.05 ERA and garnered the Pitcher of the Year award for his efforts. 

Throughout his career, he proved his versatility. Besides pitching, he played every position other than first base and catcher. 

Perry Cunningham

Cunningham was a workhorse for the Chillicothe Paints for four seasons from 2004-2007. 

He led the Paints to the Championship Series in 2005 and 2006. His statistics in that period place him among the career league leaders in wins (37), games started (78) and innings pitched (497.2). He also had seven complete games and posted a career ERA of 3.56. 

Cunningham was selected for the 2006 All-Star Game. 

Jacob Dempsey

Dempsey was one of the most feared hitters in the Frontier League during his career. He was a tremendous run producer or the Washington Wild Things from 2008-2010. 

In his 257 games played, he had 221 RBIs. Almost half of his 264 hits went for extra bases. He was named to the Frontier League Post Season All-Star Team as the designated hitter in both 2008 and 2009. 

Aaron Dudley

Dudley spent five seasons with the Normal CornBelters from 2013-2017.  

Throughout his career with the club, he was the anchor at first base and the cleanup spot in the order. His 120 doubles, 57 homers, 290 RBIs and OPS of .951 are all Normal team records. 

He was named to the Frontier League Post Season All-Star Team at first base in 2015 and 2016.

Patrick McKenna 

McKenna (pictured above) was a standout shortstop with the Normal CornBelters from 2012- 2015. 

He was a slick fielder and compiled a .962 fielding percentage while in Normal. At the plate, he produced great numbers as well. His 59 home runs is a team record. 

During his career, he played as high as AAA with the Padres. He was a Post-Season All-Star shortstop in 2013 and 2015. 

Steve Ruckman

Ruckman was the most dominant third baseman of his era in the Frontier League.

He played for Newark in 1994 and Richmond in 1995 and 1997. He was a consistent hitter who produced a career .316 average. 

He also was a tremendous defender, compiling a career .940 fielding percentage. He was twice named to the Frontier League Post Season All-Star Team at third base. 

Special Moment

The 25th anniversary of the first no-hitter in league history. 

It took until the Frontier League's fourth season for the first no-hitter, and 2022 marks the 25th anniversary of Christian Hess' performance. 

Hess, pitching for the Richmond Roosters, held the Kalamazoo Kodiaks hitless during the June 8, 1997, game at Mayor's Riverfront Park in Kalamazoo. His Richmond teammates that game included Frontier League Hall of Famers Morgan Burkhart, Joe Pass and Ruckman. 

Hess tied for the team lead in wins with Evansville in 1996, before moving to Richmond for the 1997 season. 

Ruckman and Hess will have their induction ceremony at Evansville's Bosse Field on Thursday. The ceremony will take place prior to the game between the Otters and the Windy City ThunderBolts. 

Crowley, Cunningham, Dempsey, Dudley and McKenna will have their ceremony prior to the Frontier League All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 20, in Washington, Pennsylvania.

The Frontier League Hall of Fame Committee consists of Lee, Windy City Media Relations Director Terry Bonadonna, Washington President Steve Zavacky, New Jersey Jackals Manager Brooks Carey and Evansville Otters Manager Andy McCauley. 

The Frontier League of Professional Baseball is an official Partner League of Major League Baseball and the largest of its kind in professional baseball. The Frontier League features 16 teams and has moved over 1,000 players to MLB teams in its 29-year history.