Gary Waslewski’s yearbook referred to him as “Mr. Baseball,” referring to the sport he played for four years. He also played basketball for three years and was captain his senior year. He also sang in the chorus for four years.

Walewski’s assistant high school coach was Roy Fabian, who is also being inducted this year. Fabian said Waslewski is one of the greatest pitchers to come out of Berlin High School.

After graduating from Berlin High School in 1959, Waslewski signed a professional baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates in June of 1960 after his freshman year at the University of Connecticut.

He was drafted from the Pittsburgh organization by the Boston Red Sox in the fall of 1964. After winning 18 games in Triple A in 1966, he was brought up to the parent Red Sox team in 1967. He went 2-2 during an injury-plagued season, which ended with the Red Sox “Impossible Dream Team” winning the American League pennant.

During the 1967 World Series Waslewski pitched three scoreless innings of relief in Game 3 in St. Louis and then started Game 6 in Boston, leaving the game with a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning.

Boston went on to win the game 7-4, but lost the seventh and final game to the Bob Gibson-led Cardinals. Two years later, Walewski went on to the National League, where he pitched for the Cardinals and Montreal Expos.

In his first start for the Expos he pitched a one-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies, facing the minimum 27 batters and winning 5-0 in a game that lasted only one hour and 30 minutes.

Waslewski also pitched for the New York Yankees in 1970-71 and the World Champion Oakland A’s in 1972. During his time in the Major Leagues, Waslewski played with some great players, including Carl Yastremski, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Joe Torre, Steve Carlton, Rusty Staub, Bobby Murcer, Thurman Munson, Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers, and Pete Rose.

Waslewski played against Hall of Famers, including Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, Frank Robinson, and Brooks Robinson to name a few.

When his 14-year professional career ended in 1974, he went to work for Hartford Financial Sevices Co. and retired from there in 1997.

Today he spends his time between Connecticut and Arizona, playing golf, traveling, and visiting his five grandchildren with his wife of 43 years, Nancy.

Gary and Nancy have two sons, Daniel, who works for the PGA in Norton, Mass. And Dr. Gary, a sports orthopedic surgeon who works with professional baseball, football, and hockey teams in Scottsdale, Arizona.