Bullard Baseball Hall of Fame
“When Bob Wiginton and I decided to start this in 2000, we had no idea that it would grow into one of the finest nights of high school baseball for the entire section. In the past 18 years, we have honored 3 coaches, 60 players, 4 teams, one super fan and one booster.” ~Jim Sandrini
Bullard Baseball Hall of Fame Members:
Class of 2018:
1999 Bullard Baseball Team
NYL and CIF Central Section Champions
Class of 2017:
Aaron Hemple
Alex Huerta
Jacques Lamoure
Holden Sprague
Martin Viramontes
Class of 2016:
Mike Regier
Jeramy Janz
Craig Click
Trent Diedrich
Class of 2015:
1989 Bullard Baseball Team
NYL, CIF Central Section, and California State Champions, Ranked #2 in Nation
Class of 2014:
Kelly Brown
Chad Thornhill
Robert Donnelly
Louis Lamoure
Tommy Shannon
Class of 2013:
1993 Bullard Baseball Team
National Champions
Class of 2012:
Bob Bennett
Bill Harrison
Ron Oliver
Ken Papi
Jim Silvestrini
Walt Byrd Jr.
Class of 2011:
1988 Bullard Baseball Team
Section Champions, Ranked #2 in Nation
Class of 2010:
Craig Campbell
Greg Bicknell
Lance Backowski
Scott Beshears
Jim Sandrini (Booster)
Class of 2009:
1980 Bullard Baseball Team
National Champions
Class of 2008:
Brian Wilson
Jeff Stark
Derek Mills
Bobby Wiginton
Class of 2007:
1977 Bullard Baseball Team
Section Champions
Class of 2006:
Joe Miller
Eric Solberg
Scott Fleming
Tony Sciola
Joey Myers
Class of 2005:
Kevin Hirayama
Steve Ellsworth
Billy Bartels
Ben Tucker
Bob Amendola
Class of 2004:
Phil Flanigan
Bill Hawkins
Daron Akins
Bobby Waits
Casey Rowe
Class of 2003:
Stan Papi
Eric Hardgrave
Craig Wiley
Chris Falco
John Phillips
Class of 2002:
Joe Lamoure
KC Reynolds (Lifetime Super Fan Award)
Richie Gaynor
Randy Asadoor
Lance Shebelut
Todd Johnson (Jersey Retired)
Class of 2001:
Bob Eriksen
Steve Kaia
Dave Meier
Red Hudler (Jersey Retired)
Class of 2000:
Mike Noakes (Jersey Retired)
Bullard Baseball Retired Numbers
#4 Mike Noakes
Bullard Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2000
Emphasizing fundamentals and discipline, Mike Noakes was the “Architect of Bullard Baseball.” In his coaching career that spanned 28 years at Bullard, the Knights were synonymous with baseball success in the Valley and throughout the United States.
Coach Noakes guided the Knights to 16 league championships, five Central Section championships, four #1 California state rankings, and two High School Baseball National Championships.
Bullard High School was named Team of the Decade in the 1980’s by Baseball America after posting an amazing 227-50 record.
In 1989, Coach Noakes was named the American Baseball Coaches’ Association Coach of the Year. USA Today returned the honor in 1993, naming him National High School Baseball Coach of the Year.
After Bullard, Coach Noakes went on to Central High School and guided them to their first TRAC Championship in 1996.
Coach Noakes’s all-time record is 657-223-3. Hundreds of his players went on to have successful college careers, and five (Rex Hudler, Dave Meier, Stan Papi, Randy Asadoor, and Steve Ellsworth) made it to the major leagues.
Coach Noakes is a member of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame, Fresno High School Hall of Fame, and is the charter member of the Bullard Baseball Hall of Fame.
#1 Rex Hudler
Bullard Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2001
Rex Hudler was one of Bullard High School’s great all-around athletes. A tremendous football, soccer, and baseball player, Hudler is the only Knight to be named All Metro Player of the Year in both football and baseball. He turned down full-ride scholarship offers to play football at Notre Dame and Michigan State to pursue his baseball career.
In 1978, Hudler won the Triple Crown in the NYL, leading the league in batting (.574), home runs (5), and RBIs (29). The Knights posted a 72-18-1 record in his three varsity years (1976-77-78).
Hudler turned down full-ride scholarship offers to play football at Notre Dame and Michigan State to pursue his baseball career, and in 1978 was picked in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft as the 18th overall pick by the New York Yankees.
Hudler played at the major league level for 12 years, including one season in Japan. Always a fan favorite for his hustle and hard play, he was dubbed “Wonder Dog” by his fans. He enjoyed his best year in 1996 with the California Angels, with a .311 batting average and 16 home runs.
He worked as a play-by-play announcer for the California Angels for years and is now the play-by-play announcer for the Kansas City Royals. Hudler also is heavily involved in charity work helping those with Down Syndrome.
#20 Todd Johnson
Bullard Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2002
Todd Johnson has been labeled by Mike Noakes as his most complete baseball player. A 4-year letterman in baseball, Johnson was also a standout football player and wrestled for the Knights. His records are still at the top of nearly every hitting and pitching chart at Bullard.
Johnson was a 2-time All Metro Player of the Year and in 1989 was named All District 8 Player of the Year, High School All American, and Cal-Hi California State Baseball Player of the Year.
He was the first Knight to record 100 career hits, and his 32 wins are still tops in school history. Those 32 wins rank #4 all-time in section history. In his senior year, Johnson hit 12 home runs — a feat that still tops the Bullard single season mark.
During Johnson’s time at Bullard, the varsity record was an incredible 101-12, and the Knights won their only back-to-back Central Section Championships and were ranked #2 in the nation twice.
After Bullard, Johnson went on to play at Fresno State for Bob Bennett. Here, Johnson was named a Freshman All American and honorable mention All American in his senior year. He helped Fresno State to a College World Series berth in 1991. In his senior year at Fresno State, Johnson played for Team USA and was drafted by the Cleveland Indians. He played in the Indians organization for four years.
In 1996, Johnson returned to Fresno and served as an assistant coach at Fresno State before being named the head coach at Bullard in 2000. He then became an assistant coach at Buchanan High School, where he helped guide the Bears to a National Championship in 2011.
Johnson is a member of the Fresno State Baseball Hall of Fame and currently serves as Bullard’s Athletic Director.