Angels’ Rodgers Wins Hall’s Courage Award

Angel Manager Buck Rodgers, who suffered numerous injuries in a May 1992 bus crash, has been named winner of the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame’s annual Woody Dietch Courage Award for 1993.

Rodgers, who will be starting his third full season as Angel manager in 1994, suffered multiple fractures of the right elbow and a fractured left knee, was in a wheelchair for three months and didn’t return to the Angel dugout until Aug. 28, 1992.

The Dietch award, named for the late Chapman sports information director who remained on the job until the day he died of leukemia, is presented to sports personalities who have overcome serious injury or illness.

Rodgers will receive the award during the Hall of Fame’s 13th annual induction ceremonies Dec. 5 at Anaheim Stadium. The event also will mark the opening of the Hall’s new museum at the stadium.

Former major league baseball players Gary Carter and Bert Blyleven, former Tustin High and Santa Ana College football player Ray Willsey, former Fullerton College football Coach Hal Sherbeck, former Anaheim High football player Jerry Shipkey and the late Red Guyer, former Laguna Beach High coach and athletic director, will be inducted in the Hall’s Class of 1993, bringing themembership to 67.