Recreation

Hall of Fame Inducts First Pair of Members

Trevor Kupfer |

The Eau Claire Baseball Hall of Fame officially welcomed its first inductees in August, but the honor of joining Hank Aaron in Carson Park did not go to fellow players. It went to Herman White and Randall Bezanson, dedicated enthusiasts of the American pastime that helped keep the local franchises alive. In 1933, Herman White, owner of White Machine Works, provided necessary financial support to the Eau Claire Bears, an organization he would eventually be president of along with the Northern League and Wisconsin State League. “Ran” Bezanson spent 20 years as a volunteer for the city’s minor league organizations, beginning by selling concessions and eventually becoming president of the Bears and Braves. The deceased local heroes now have plaques in the plaza in their honor, joining the statue of Hank Aaron that has stood alone for 14 years.