Washington County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2005

The five members of the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame who were inducted in the hall's 19th class in 2005:

Mick Billmeyer

According to the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame: “Billmeyer played football and baseball at North Hagerstown High School and baseball at Hagerstown Community College. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1984 but did not sign. He accepted a scholarship to North Carolina State and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1985.

“He played with the Orioles, Texas Rangers and California Angels organizations, reaching the Triple-A level with the Angels. He made the All-Star team in the Florida State League and the California League.

“He was hired by the Angels in 1994 and resigned in 2000 to accept a coaching job with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2004, he was promoted with the Phillies as the major league catching instructor.

“He hit a pinch-hit home run in 1996 against Montreal in the annual Major League Hall of Fame Game in Cooperstown, N.Y. — the only major league coach to do that.”

Steve Cline

According to the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame: “Cline played baseball, football and basketball while attending North Hagerstown High School. He earned a baseball scholarship to Clemson University and was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in 1974.

“He pitched in the San Francisco Giants farm system from 1974-80 and then became a minor league pitching instructor. He joined the Milwaukee Brewers organization in 1996 and served as a minor league pitching instructor at the time of induction.

“As a youth, he played for American Little League, Hagerstown PONY League, Funkstown American Legion and Hagerstown Community College. He was an All-Star performer at all levels.”

Gary Fahrney

According to the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame: “Fahrney attended North Hagerstown High School and was a member of the 1972 state basketball championship team. He earned a full baseball scholarship to Clemson University in 1975. He played in the College World Series in 1976. The first baseman was a second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, batting .323 with a .978 fielding percentage. He helped the Tigers gain Atlantic Coast Conference championships in 1975 and 1976.

“He played in the 1971 Colt League World Series as a member of Hagerstown's world championship team, and also was a member of the Funkstown American Legion state championship team in 1972.

“He was a cleanup hitter for the Hagerstown Braves each year from 1977-79.”

Harry Parks

According to the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame: “Parks was a four-sport letterman while attending Hagerstown High School (baseball, basketball, football and track and field). He was voted the school's 'Most Outstanding Athlete' in 1953. The Maryland Junior Chamber of Commerce honored him by selection on Maryland's first team for the 1952 football season. He also won the Maryland state pole vault championship in 1953.

“Following graduation, he earned a football scholarship to Western Maryland College and made the football starting lineup his freshman year. Joining the Army, he excelled in basketball and football. He was elected to the 'Rhine League All-Stars' who played in the U.S. Armed Forces championship.

“After his discharge from the Army, he enrolled at Hagerstown Junior College and played baseball and basketball. He later played fastpitch softball and basketball for the Fairchild Packets and started playing golf. He has two career holes-in-one.”

Dennis Reeder

According to the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame: “Reeder signed a professional baseball contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946. At Hazard, Ky., he set a minor league record of 19 strikeouts in one game in 1948 and had a 19-5 record. He was later drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1949 after a 20-win season in Columbus, Ga., and was invited to their spring training camp in 1953.

“His contract was sold to the New York Giants during the winter of 1956. After winning 100 professional games, he went on voluntary retirement at the end of that year.

“Following his years in professional baseball, he pitched for the Boonsboro Yellow Jackets for several years, coached Babe Ruth League baseball for 20 years and assisted various youth leagues.”

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Washington County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2005