Hall of Fame
Bots Nekola was a standout pitcher for the Holy Cross baseball team in the late 1920s, noted for his stylish and smooth delivery.
He was a mainstay on the 1928 team that went 19-3 overall and won the Eastern Championship.
Nekola then went 11-0 on the mound in 1929 as the Crusaders posted an overall mark of 28-2 to win their second straight Eastern Championship.
He signed with the New York Yankees following the 1929 season and went on to have a 10-year professional career, including major league stints with the Yankees and the Detroit Tigers.
After his playing career was over, Nekola became a long-time amateur scout for the Boston Red Sox, signing the likes of Carl Yastrzemski and Rico Petrocelli.
He passed away in 1987.
