The Shadow
COVINGTON – The Valley Baseball League recently announced their upcoming class of 2024 Hall of Fame inductees.
A top of that list of elected inductees was the Covington Lumberjacks former president and owner, the late Tommy Garten.
Garten, who recently passed away at the end of January, took part ownership of the Lumberjacks in 2009. Just two years later, Garten along with his sons Dizzy and Matt became the full owners of the baseball team. That same season in 2011, their first full year under their new ownership, the Jacks’ won the VBL Championship.
Along with his role with the Lumberjacks, Garten was also an executive board member of the VBL. Garten and his wife Mary Beth also hosted several Jacks’ players and coaches throughout the years.
Joining Garten in the 2024 VBL Hall of Fame Class includes:
Wayne Britton – former VBL player and MLB baseball scout.
Tom Brookens – former VBL and MLB player.
Mike Caldwell – former VBL and MLB player.
Ron Hodges – former VBL and MLB player.
Al Holland – former VBL and MLB player.
Henry “Turtle” Thomas – former VBL and collegiate baseball head coach.
Wayne Tolleson – former VBL and MLB player.
Bill Mitchell – former VBL player and coach.
Jim Moeller – former VBL coach.
Todd Thompson – former owner of Winchester Royals and VBL admin.
Butch Barnes – former VBL coach.
Don Lemish – former VBL commissioner.
The hall of fame induction ceremony will take place prior to the VBL All-Star Game on Sunday, June 30th in Purcellville at Fireman’s Field.
