AFL Hall Of Fame Inductees – 2000

Hall Of Fame Inductees – 20000
Outfield, First Base, Manager
Neal Cobb spent eight seasons in the AFL, where his career batting average is .334. 
In 1954, Cobb lead all of professional baseball with a .432 batting average,
winning the Silver Slugger Award along with major leaguers Bobby Avila and
Willie Mays.  While capable of playing at higher levels, Cobb chose to
play close to his home in the Florida Panahandle, where he performed his regular
duties as Police Chief of Crestview.
President of the AFL : 1936-1938
George Grant was founder and first president of the AFL.  He was elected to
the position after serving as president of the Dixie Amateur League in 1935. 
Grant lead a group of businessmen in the task of creating the AFL from the
remnants of the DAL. He served as league head from 1936 through the 1938 season,
during which, he began a political career, successfully attaining the seat in
the United States Congress left vacant by the resignation of Lister Hill. Grant
served from 1938 to 1965, leaving office after an unsuccessful re-election campaign
in 1964.
The AFL Hall Of Fame Inductees – 2000
Manager, First Baseman
Nobody came close to managing as many seasons in the AFL as Holt « Cat » Milner. 
He managed for 10 years in the league, winning 4 championships (3 with Dothan
and 1 with Graceville).  As a player, Milner had a lifetime AFL batting
average of .339.  In 1939, he led the league with a .381 average.
Joining the AFL after 15 seasons in the minors, Nesbit Wilson was the league’s premier
power hitter.  In 1955, Wilson batted  a league-leading .403 with
32 homers and 108 RBIs.  .In 1956, Wilson set the league’s all-time home
run mark with 40.  He batted .349 that season and drove in 125 RBIs, missing
the Triple Crown by percentage points.  He also managed two AFL teams:
1955 Crestview and 1958 Fort Walton Beach. Wilson AFL career batting average
was .368
Pitcher
Virgil Trucks was simply the greatest pitcher in AFL History. In 1938, his only full
season in the AFL, Trucks set the baseball’s all-time strikeout record for
a season at that time with 418.  Trucks won 25 games and lost only 6, with
a 1.25 ERA.  Six times during the 1938 season, Trucks struck out 18 or more
batters, including a 22-strikeout performance against Panama City on June 30th.
Andalusia
Outfield, First Baseman, Manager
Everett « Yam » Yaryan had already been out of the major leagues for 13 years when
he joined the AFL.  Well into his 40’s when he started playing for Andalusia,
he ending his days in AFL with an AFL career batting average of  .307. 
Yaryan was a durable catcherand successful manager.  The battery of
Virgil Trucks & Yaryan in 1938 was probably the best in league history. 
In 1937, Yaryan lead the league in home runs.
Catcher, Manager