USA Volleyball announces first 75th Anniversary All-Era Team (1928-52 Men)

by Paul Soriano USA Volleyball Manager, Public Relations & Publications

Seven USA Volleyball All-Time Great Players and three members of the Volleyball Hall of Fame, led by Most Valuable Player Jimmy Wortham, headline the 12 players and three coaches selected to the 1928-52 Men's 75th Anniversary All-Era Team, USA Volleyball announced Thursday.

As part of the 2002-03 Diamond Jubilee Celebration, commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the United States Volleyball Association (USVBA), the Executive Committee of USA Volleyball approved a proposal by long-time USVBA member Glen Davies to select -- and honor -- players and coaches selected as members of five men's and women's All-USVBA/USAV teams representing five different and distinct eras in the history of the organization.

USA Volleyball President Al Monaco approved Davies as the coordinator of the selection and the procedures to be followed in naming the teams.

Davies' responsibilities include: establishing the criteria for players and coaches to meet to have their names appear on the ballots; appointing the members of the five Selection Committees for players; determining the voting procedures; tabulating the results of the voting; and presenting the finished product to USA Volleyball.

Davies appointed Tom Slaymaker and Doug Beal as chairs of the Players Selection Committees and the Coaches Selection Committee, respectively.

The teams -- three men's (1928-1952; 1953-1977; 1978-2002) and two women's (1949-1977; 1978-2002) -- are comprised of 12 players and three coaches from that era and were chosen by five separately appointed Selection Committees. The players who received the highest vote total for each of the five teams were named the Most Valuable Player of that particular team.

The first of these teams to be announced is the 1928-1952 Men's All-Era Team. Since teams from this era used a "three-spiker, three-setter" offensive system, the Advisory Panel to the Selection Committee for this team agreed to name six spikers and six setters to this squad. Five of the honorees played for one team only during their careers -- three for the Houston, Texas YMCA and two for the Long Beach, Calif., YMCA teams. Of the four players who ended their competitive Open careers as members of the Hollywood YMCA "Stars," all began their careers with YMCA teams elsewhere before "migrating" to the "Stars". Members of the committee that selected this team were: Dick Caplan, Len Covello, Burt DeGroot, Lawson Kateley, Dr. Murray Koorhan, Harold Prugh, Carl Scheer and Bob Walker. The Advisory Panel, who were charged with establishing the criteria and presenting the final ballot for voting, were: Bill Baird, Fred Hiapo, Don Krueger, Bobb Miller, Wil Peck and Mel Spejcher.

The following are the 12 players and three coaches selected by the Special Committee as members of the 1928-52 All-USVBA Men's Team.

1928-1952 Men's All-Era Team Players

Spartico Anuzuini Division Street, Larrabee and Wilson Avenue YMCA's of Chicago

A member of two USVBA Open and YMCA National Championship teams and one second-place team. Spartico was a four-time USVBA First-Team All-American and a Second-Team selection once during his WWII-interrupted volleyball career. Spartico was named an All-Time Great Volleyball Player by the USVBA in 1963.

Harold "Holly" Brock Houston YMCA

Holly Brock was a member of the first team in USVBA history to capture four consecutive USVBA Open and YMCA National titles when his Houston YMCA team accomplished this feat in 1933, '34, '35 and '36. Also, Holly was a member of the Houston YMCA teams that won USVBA Open and YMCA National Championships in 1938 and '39 and that finished second in both tournaments (1940 and 1943) before his pre-WWII career came to an end. These feats propelled Holly to be named a five-time USVBA First-Team All-American and a Second-Team selection once and to being named a USVBA All-Time Great Volleyball Player in 1962.

Bernie Holtzman Pasadena YMCA, Hollywood YMCA "Stars" and Hollywood YMCA "Comets"

Another 20-year WWII-interrupted volleyball career limited Bernie Holtzman to one First-Team USVBA All-American selection and three second-place team finishes. Bernie was a member of three USVBA Open and YMCA National Championship teams and he also finished in second place twice in both competitions. In 1963 the USVBA presented Bernie with their Leader in Volleyball Award.

Bjorn "Joe" Johansen Houston YMCA

Joe Johansen earned his place on this All-USVBA men's team thanks to his 14-year WWII-interrupted career that boasts USVBA Open and YMCA National Championships, two runner-up trophies in both national tournaments, four First-Team USVBA All-American honors and a pair of Second-Team selections.

Guy "Buddy" Montague Long Beach YMCA

Buddy Montague's all too brief, but spectacular volleyball career, was cut short when he was killed in action in defense of his country during the Korean War. Buddy's two Open Nationals, 1949 and 1950, resulted in two USVBA First-Team All-American selections; one USVBA Open and YMCA National Championship and one second-place team finish in both of these National tournaments. In 1964 Buddy became the first recipient of the USVBA's Medal of Honor award which is (only) presented to outstanding players whose playing careers were terminated by injury or death. Such players must have demonstrated top-level performance and have given promise of becoming a USVBA All-Time great Player to the ultimate termination of their playing careers. Buddy Montague more than met these criteria.

Sid Nachlas Houston (Texas) YMCA

During Sid Nachlas' six-year post WWII appearances in the National Championships he was named USVBA First-Team All-American on five different occasions and was a Second-Team selection once. The USVBA named Sid Nachlas an All-Time Great Volleyball Player in 1963.

Manny Saenz Los Angeles Athletic Club, Los Angeles Westside Jewish Community Center, Long Beach YMCA, Hollywood YMCA "Stars" and Hollywood YMCA "Comets"

Over a 20-year WWII interrupted volleyball career Manny was a vital cog in leading the above named teams to five USVBA Open and YMCA National Championships. On two different occasions he was a member of the runner-up team in both competitions. During his career Manny was named a five-time USVBA First-Team All-American and a Second-Team honoree twice. Manny and his Long-time partner and Hollywood YMCA teammate, Bernie Holtzman, dominated the southern California beach volleyball scene during the 1940s and 50s. In 1955 Manny was cited by the Los Angeles Times as Los Angeles' greatest volleyball player. In 1976 Manny was selected as an All-Time Great Player by the USVBA.

Bernie Specht Long Beach YMCA

A WWII injury that resulted in the loss of sight in one eye could not keep Bernie Specht from attaining USVBA First-Team All-American honors in 1947 and 1950 and Second-Team selections in 1948 and 1949. Bernie was a member of the USVBA Open and YMCA National Championship team in 1950. His Long Beach team finished in the second-place slot in both of those Championships in 1949. The USVBA presented Bernie with their Leader in Volleyball Award in 1959.

Bill Stratton Larrabee and North Avenue YMCA's of Chicago and Hollywood (Calif.) YMCA

Credentials for Bill Stratton's selection as a member of this All-USVBA men's team includes three USVBA Open and YMCA National Championships, two runner-up finishes in both competitions and two USVBA First-Team, two Second-Team and one Third-Team All-American selections during his WWII-interrupted career.

Jim Ward Pasadena YMCA, Hollywood YMCA "Stars" and Hollywood YMCA "Comets"

Four USVBA Open and YMCA National Championships, plus two second-place team finishes helped Jim earn USVBA First-Team All-American honors. Jim was also a two-time Second-Team selection in yet another WWII interrupted career. The USVBA named Jim as an All-Time Great Volleyball Player in 1966.

Harold "Whitey" Wendt Larrabee and North Avenue YMCA's of Chicago

During Whitey's 16-year WWII-interrupted career his teams captured five USVBA Open and YMCA National Championships and one second-place team trophy in both "Nationals" which helped Whitey's selection as a five-time USVBA First-Team All-American and a two-time Second-Team honoree. The USVBA named Whitey an All-Time Great Volleyball Player in 1962; and in the year 2000 Whitey was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Mass. Whitey passed away just days prior to him being notified of his induction.

Jimmy Wortham (Most Valuable Player) San Antonio and Houston YMCA's

While WWII effectively ended Jimmy Wortham's competitive volleyball career, he accomplished more in his 12-year stint than any other player in our 75-year history. As a result, Jimmy Wortham has been selected as the MVP of this 1928-1952 All-USVBA Men's Team. In 1930 he won his first National Championship as a member of the San Antonio YMCA and was named Second-Team USVBA All-American. In 1931 and 1932 his San Antonio YMCA team captured the USVBA Open and YMCA National Championships. Jimmy was named a USVBA First-Team All-American both years. This was the beginning of 10 consecutive USVBA First-Team All-American selections (1931 through 1940). The two national titles won by the San Antonio YMCA team (1931 and 1932) were the first of six consecutive USVBA Open and YMCA National Championship teams (Houston YMCA won the crowns in 1933-36). In 1964 Jimmy became the first individual the USVBA named an All-Time Great Volleyball Player and he was the first player from his era to be inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Mass., in 1999.

1928-1952 Men's All-Era Team Coaches

Walter Brown North Avenue YMCA of Chicago

Walter Brown, a USVBA All-American player in 1929, 1933 and 1934 at the Division Street YMCA of Chicago and the coach of four USVBA Open and YMCA National Championship teams and one second-place team was selected as the Head Coach of this 1928-1952 All-USVBA men's team. Walter's North Avenue YMCA team were the USVBA Open and YMCA National champs in 1941, 1942, 1945 and 1947 and were the runner-up team in both of these Championships in 1951. During his coaching career Walter coached six players who were named USVBA First-Team All-Americans 10 times and two players who were named to the USVBA's second All-American team three times. After his playing and coaching career Walter became a USVBA certified National referee and scorekeeper and he served in these positions from 1948 through 1965.

Harry Wilson Hollywood YMCA

Harry Wilson of the Hollywood YMCA team was selected as the assistant coach for this All-USVBA men's team. Harry, who spent his entire West Coast volleyball career from the mid-1930s through 1964 with the Hollywood YMCA "Stars" team, led the Stars to three USVBA Open and YMCA National Championships (1948, 1951 and 1952) and a runner-up finish (1950) during this era of 1928-52. Harry coached six players that were named USVBA First-Team All-Americans eight times and he also had five players named as 2nd team All-Americans seven times. Harry was later selected as the USA men's head coach for the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, which were the first Olympic Games to conduct championships for volleyball. In 1996 USA Volleyball bestowed their All-Time Great Coach Pioneer Division Award to Harry. In 1988 Harry became the first coach to be inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Mass.

Clive Graham Long Beach YMCA

Assistant coach and manager is the position assigned Clive Graham, long-time player-coach of the Long Beach YMCA team. Clive led his YMCA team to the USVBA Open and YMCA National Championships in 1950 and to the runner-up positions in 1949. Clive coached three players who were named USVBA First-Team All-Americans four times and three players who were named 2nd team All-Americans four times. In addition Clive was the coach of record of two players who were selected for the 1928-52 All-USVBA men's team, Bernie Specht and Buddy Montague.

Coming up in the December 2002, the announcement of the Men's 1953-1977 and Women's 1949-1977 All-Era Teams.

For more information, go to the USA Volleyball web site.