2020 Induction Class

Announcement

The Class was selected by a statewide task force, comprised of current and former journalists and former sports executives, along with a public online vote. The class was ultimately approved by the Hall’s Board of Directors, which also selected the inductee from the Contributor category. This year’s task force was co-chaired by former National Baseball Hall of Fame and Detroit Tigers senior executive Bill Haase and Associated Press sports journalist Larry Lage.

“Even though we couldn’t gather in person to honor this outstanding class, whose members are among the most revered names in sports in our state, we will be proud to recognize them with an induction ceremony as soon as it’s safe to host an event, hopefully in 2021” said Scott Lesher, Hall of Fame chairman. “We thank the thousands of Michigan sports fans who took part in our voting process this year.”

“Our Board appreciates the contribution of FOX Sports Detroit in hosting a statewide broadcast to announce this class and begin to tell its stories,” added Jordan Field, Hall of Fame president. “Once this class is formally inducted, we will ask fans again to nominate names for consideration for our next class.”

The Induction

Class of 2020

Chauncey Billups

Detroit Pistons championship point guard who won the Most Valuable Player Award for the 2004 NBA Finals.

Virtual Plaque

Calvin Johnson, Jr.

Six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Detroit Lions.

Virtual Plaque

Shane Battier

Basketball star at Detroit Country Day School who earned Michigan’s “Mr. Basketball” award before a career at Duke University and in the NBA…

Virtual Plaque

Jordyn Wieber

DeWitt native and gymnastics national champion who won a gold medal as part of the 2012 U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team.

Virtual Plaque

Margo Jonker

Softball coach at Central Michigan University from 1980-2019, with 10 conference tournament titles.

Virtual Plaque

Pete Schmidt

Record-setting championship football coach at Albion College and Okemos High School.

Virtual Plaque

Tom Kowalski

Longtime Detroit Lions beat writer for the Oakland Press and Booth Newspapers (MLive), who cemented his relationship with fans as a radio and TV pro football commentator.

Virtual Plaque

Mary Schroeder

Pioneering Detroit Free Press sports photographer who captured iconic images of memorable championship moments.

Virtual Plaque

Ralph Wilson, Jr.

Native Detroiter and lifelong Southeast Michigan resident who founded the Buffalo Bills as an original American Football League franchise and owned the team for the rest of his life. His contributions to the game led to his 2009 induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Virtual Plaque