Since its establishment in 1961, The Florida Sports Hall of Fame recognizes and honors Florida’s greatest sports figures and leverages this collective celebrity to promote fitness awareness, education and sports activities among our state’s youth and adults. Equally important is the promotion of the qualities of discipline and honor among sports participants.
To be eligible, Hall of Fame candidates must have been born in the state of Florida, have significant state ties, or spent a substantial part of their amateur or professional careers in our state. Nominations of potential candidates are accepted from the public at large as well as our Board of Directors and current Hall of Fame members. After a vetting process, eligible and qualified candidates are voted on by an electorate that includes the organization’s Board of Directors and selected current members of the Hall.
To find our members by name, sport, year inducted, team or school, go to MEMBERS and use the search feature at the top of the page.
The Florida Sports Hall of Fame was founded by the Florida Sports Writers Association and the Florida Sportscasters Association in 1961. Through its history, much focus was placed on pinpointing a “home” for the Hall. The first of these was at Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven in 1977. It then moved north to Lake City in 1990 and enjoyed several successful years before it was decided that a move to a Central Florida location would make it more easily accessible by Florida residents. The Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale housed the Hall beginning in 2010 and in 2015 it was moved to the Central Florida’s Visitor Information Center in Davenport.
On March 4, 2021, the Hall’s newest location was opened at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center in Port St. Lucie, FL. Visitors can view the memorabilia on display there from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is free.
In its 62nd year, The Florida Sports Hall of Fame continues its mission to honor our vast sports heritage by taking the inspiring stories of its 289 current members to the people of Florida. This outreach comes in the form of a preview center for housing memorabilia provided by the members, the hosting of an annual enshrinement for the purpose of inducting new members into the Hall of Fame and other outreach programs such as Fame for Fitness which raises awareness about the growing concern of childhood obesity and children’s diabetes).
The Florida Sports Hall of Fame makes a difference in the lives of our youth and honors the struggle, perseverance, and achievement of our state’s best teams, athletes, and coaches. Aside from our campaign to combat childhood obesity and childhood diabetes, our mission also speaks to the promotion of the qualities of discipline and honor among our state’s young athletes. It is our goal to use the life-stories and lessons learned by our Hall of Fame members to encourage and support today’s competitors.
During the last five years, the Florida Sports Hall of Fame has raised nearly $1 million in support of its programs and charities. Among the Hall’s charitable partners are Shriners Hospitals for Children, the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranches, The First Tee, Boys and Girls Clubs and the Florida Citrus Sports Summer Camps.
Statement on Diversity and Inclusion:
The Florida Sports Hall of Fame affirms our commitment to diversity and inclusion and considers them essential elements of a vibrant community and integral to our mission. We are determined to foster an environment of inclusion, diversity, openness, and respect for the many differences that will enrich the FSHOF community, including race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, socioeconomic status, national origin, language, sexual orientation, and disability.