WOR History

Marty Hogan 2016 outdoor hall of fame inductee and famous pro who played at first outdoor champs in 1974.
He won 13 majors including one at 56 years old in pro doubles in 2015

Craig Clubber Lane 2016 inductee into the Outdoor Racquetball Hall of Fame.

Courtesy of Scott Hirsch. 2016 outdoor Hall of Fame inductee shirtless in back.

Dan Southern 2 time national champ (left vs speedy Bobby Stocker) far right who was a finalist national pro open singles in 1980

Steve Bo Keely who played in the first outdoor championships in 1974 at Orange Coast College in S-California. He is the best-selling racquetball author in history and was a perennial top indoor pro for a decade in the 1970s. And he is the only known player to have turned down the USA Racquetball hall of fame at least once and we believe more than once.

Bo Keely as always making a racquet.

Jaden and Cody Elkins, two junior participants soaking up the tournament events at the WOR championships around 2010 (Huntington Beach CA)

Famous indoor pro and writer Steve “Bo” Keeley holding an early racquet paddle. He played in the first outdoor tournament at the nationals in Huntington Beach in 1974 and never played a major tournament after that. He told the Outdoor Hall of Fame Chair, “I wasn’t very good outdoors-maybe just good looking.” (photo Courtesy of the Racquetball Museum)

Bo Keeley gives an outdoor clinic in Panama and opened up racquetball’s version of the Panama Canal teaching on his exploration of the country. Keeley set up many of the USA and international first clinics and has turned down the USA indoor racquetball hall of fame on at least one occasion. (photo Courtesy of the Racquetball Museum)

This letter allowed Greg and Martha McDonald to play in mens doubles as a mixed doubles team outdoor for several outdoor and indoor championships.

This letter allowed Greg and Martha McDonald to play in mens doubles as a mixed doubles team outdoor for several outdoor and indoor championships.

Jim Carson (back right, long hair and beard) and his partner Rick Kosler (left side). Their opponents are outdoor founders Bob Wetzel (middle front making the shot) and Barry Wallace (left back behind Rick)

Barry Wallace and Bob Wetzel vs Charlie Brumfield and Dr. Bud Meuhleisen in 1975 at the 2nd Annual Outdoor Nat’l finals. This match was won by Wallace and Wetzel (the founders of the Outdoor Nationals Championships). Photo courtesy of Barry Wallace. Part of Brett Elkins’ collection. (1975)

Charlie Brumfield is hitting; Dr Bud Muehleisen is wearing a sweatband at Outdoor Natl’s. (1974 or 1975)

Charlie Brumfield taking a forehand (1974 or 1975 outdoor nationals).Courtesy of Barry Wallace (1974 or 1975)

Barry Wallace, co-founder of outdoor nationals, vs Charlie Brumfield who is swinging. Photo is taken at 1974 or 1975 Outdoor Nationals. Courtesy of Barry Wallace (1974 or 1975)

This is the first draw sheet ever for the 1974 Outdoor Nationals Championships. In the top division-the open doubles it was won Brumfield-Meuhleisen). (1974) (From the collection of Brett Elkins, Outdoor Hall of Fame Chair)

This is the second half of the draw for singles for 1974 Outdoor National Championships won by Charlie Brumfield over Steve Serot. (1974)

Here are the entrant’s lists (page 1) for the first National Outdoor Championships in 1974. You will notice on the next picture that two sets of the entrants were created with both directors or volunteers changing the information as people showed up or cancelled. (Courtesy of Barry Wallace (1974)

A different version of the entrant’s lists for page 1 here is featured for the first National Outdoor Championships in 1974. Two sets were created with both directors or volunteers changing the information as people showed up or cancelled. Courtesy of Barry Wallace (1974)

An historic letter written by Charlie Brumfield to nemesis Barry Wallace about using Charlie’s racquets in the future. More importantly, Charlie acknowledges to his foe whom he lost to in doubles that Wallace and Wetzel had improved 20% and were the better team. Courtesy of Barry Wallace (1974)

A picture from a brochure in 1975 (year two of the National Championships Outdoors) with the results taken from 1974 Outdoor Nationals including the first woman’s outdoor champ Betty Weed.

A classic shot of Steve Serot standing; along with a shirtless Steve Bo Keely and what appears to be bearded Charlie Brumfield in the background in 1974 at the first National Championships (1974).

A newspaper article from 1979 with indoor legend Marty Hogan who was the winner over Rich Wagner at Outdoor National Championships. Marty won pro open singles (1979)

A newspaper article from 1979 with indoor legend Marty Hogan a winner over Mark Morrow at Outdoor National Championships. Marty won pro open singles (1979)

A newspaper article from 1979 with indoor legend Marty Hogan a winner over Mark Morrow at Outdoor National Championships. Marty won pro open singles (1979)

Charlie Brumfield is pictured up top on the left. The bottom picture is of Steve Serot. This was taken at first Outdoor Nationals in 1974. Both famous indoor players played in the finals won by Charlie Brumfield. (1974)

Charlie Brumfield is pictured up top on the left. The bottom picture is of Steve Serot. This was taken at first Outdoor Nationals in 1974. Both famous indoor players played in the finals won by Charlie Brumfield. (1974)

This world outdoor champ brochure is from year four (1977) and according to Bob Wetzel, the co-founder of the tournament it features a player named Bill Chadwick who was a big, strong student of Wallace/Wetzel and one who played open singles and doubles at the championships. (1977)

A large crowd watches intently at first or second Outdoor Nationals (1974 or 1975)

Barry Wallace and Charlie Brumfield talking (Charlie Brumfield has a beard) at Outdoor Nationals (1974 or 1975)

Slides of year one at two at the Outdoor Nationals (courtesy of Barry Wallace-Co founder of the event) (1974 or 1975)

A truly beautiful and compelling photo. Barry Wallace, the co-founder of the Outdoor Nationals (with Bob Wetzel) had an idea to make this the biggest event in racquetball from day one and even went overboard here naming a beauty queen Vicki Richardson. Many pictures taken in year one were also used for brochures in the following year. (1974)

Outdoor co-founder Barry Wallace beats indoor pro Davey Bledsoe in the Outdoor National open/pro singles finals. This newspaper clipping was taken from 1976. (1976)

Charlie Brumfield hitting with Dr Bud Meuhleisen, his partner looking on (and this happened more than you know in most of the pictures I have seen). (1974 or 1975 Outdoor Nationals) Identifying left to right: Dr. Bud - Mark Susson - Charlie - Craig McCoy.

The Leach "indoor" pro who is hustling out the door is star Davey Bledsoe who beat Marty Hogan in the 1978 Outdoor finals. The player looking back with the frizzy hair and towel is Bledsoe's partner famous pro Rich Wagner who took 2nd to Hogan here in 1979. As the outdoor founders wallace and Wetzel used to state...many an indoor pros (not necessarily them) found out quickly that the outdoor only players were murder and these indoor stars left early and in droves. (Player identity courtesy of Scott Hirsch who nominated Hogan to the Outdoor Hall of Fame).

The Legends of Racquetball- (L to R) Marty Hogan,,Cliff Swain middle and Charlie Brumfield enjoying a picture and special moment together on a Saturday in July at 2013 Outdoor National Hall of Fame Ceremony. All three have one or more outdoor major pro/open titles (2014).Note: Cliff Swain at 48 just won in 2014 in pro doubles and CPRT doubles proving his outlook is still sunny.!

A handwritten note worth reading showing that Pete Jembs beat another player who hadn’t lost in 3 years. (Believed to have been written by Barry Wallace co-founder) (date unknown)

An early outdoor court as part of the Steve Bo Keely tour in Central or South America where he did several demos. (Believed to have been in the 1970s)

Steve Serot vs Charlie Brumfield in the first Outdoor National finals in 1974 in a match won by Charlie Brumfield who was self-proclaimed as “the people’s champion.”. (1974)

An early Florida picture of several players believed to be in collection of Martha Byrd McDonald. But times here weren’t all happy since one of the trusted coaches here was later charged and served a lengthy jail sentence in a scandal heard round the racquetball community.

Charlie Brumfield is pictured hitting here with Steve Serot looking on presumably at a roll out in the finals of the Outdoor Nationals in 1974 won by Charlie Brumfield. (1974)

Charlie Brumfield in a Brumstar shirt and racquet which was the name of his racquet company) along with partner Dr Bud. This was most likely take at the second nationals where Charlie comes up with his own line of Brumstar racquets (1975 believed)

Outdoor Nationals year one or two with a crowd gathered (1974 or 1975)

A 1975 racquetball magazine featuring Charlie Brumfield hitting his patented overhead against Wetzel and Wallace. Dr Bud is next to Charlie Brumfield. This famous match and upset by the founding fathers of outdoor racquetball- Wallace and Wetzel was the first ever loss for the doubles champions Charlie Brumfield and Dr Bud Meuhleisen (indoor or out) in a shot heard round the world. This shot was taken at 2nd Outdoor Nationals in the finals (1975).

Davie Bledsoe reaching for the stars at early Outdoor Nationals. (Mid 1970s)

A pro or open singles match featuring a top indoor Leach pro in the mid-1970s at Outdoor Nationals (year unknown)

An indoor Hall of Fame Legend (who rejected the HOF) and famous author named Steve Bo Keely with the daughter of Leach founder who is wearing diapers at the first Outdoor Nationals. I think she liked him more than the trophy. He didn’t win the title so this this could have been a Leach publicity stunt. (1974)

Davie Bledsoe (indoor champ) left vs Barry Wallace (outdoor champ) on the right. Barry as tournament director used to purposely place the outdoor legends vs the indoor pros to see who would win and usually it was the indoor pros. This is believed to be the 1976 Outdoor National Pro open finals won by Barry Wallace Outdoor National Co-founder (1976)

A real racquetball stunt performed at an outdoor tournament. (Year Unknown)

Steve Bo Keely with Leach’s founder daughter. (1974)

An early outdoor photo taken in Central or South America taken on a Bo Keely tour.

A great save by an indoor player trying to play Outdoor racquetball in the early National Championships. (early to mid 1970s)

Charlie Brumfield swinging with referee looking on Outdoor Champs (1974 or 1975)

Davie Bledsoe hitting vs Barry Wallace (shirtless) in Outdoor finals pro/open (1976)

Barry Wallace and Bob Wallace in a huge upset win finals of 2nd Outdoor Nationals over Dr. Bud Meuhleisen and Charlie Brumfield (1975)

An early photo of outdoor racquetball being played on one wall with several walls together to save the balls from being lost-certainly a “creative” use of court space. (year unknown)

Shadows at early outdoor championships giving the advantage to indoor players (year unknown)

Everyone lined up perfectly at Outdoor Nationals (unknown year before 1980)

A wide open shot at Outdoor Nationals (unknown year before 1980)

Shadowy picture (unknown year before 1980)

Chasing down a ball. (unknown year sometime before 1980)

Converse All-Stars certainly didn’t help this player. Converse sponsored some racquetball greats like Keely in the early on (date unknown)

A famous shot of the famous upset in year 2 of the Outdoor Championship. Wallace and Wetzel (with Wetzel’s) fingers pointing up is correct that they are number 1!

The Golden Boy of Racquetball Mr. Brian Hawkes who won 20 open singles titles and is considered by every expert to be the best outdoor player ever is here is looking like the fittest player on the planet. (1984)

The famous Brian Hawkes vs Rocky Carson in Brian’s unequalled comeback at age 42 after a five year layoff. He beats legend Cliff Swain in the semis when a C level player suggested a new serve since nothing Brian tried was working and Hawkes later takes out Rocky Carson here in the finals to prove he is the greatest outdoor champ of all time. (2005)

L-R Sluggers Row Greg Solis Brian Hawkes, Craig “Clubber” Lane and Rocky Carson (believed to be 2005)

Brian Hawkes in 1989 winning as usual (1989)

Martha and Greg McDonald-2013 Hall of Fame Inductees-They were the first mixed doubles team to be allowed to play in men’s doubles citing Title 9. Martha has played in every tournament since 1974 and her streak continues through 2014. The one exception is when she had a baby who now plays the event too.

Martha and Greg McDonald enjoying a special moment together at the original home courts of the National Outdoor Champs-Orange Coast College.

Brian Hawkes-Hall of Fame Inductee 2012- He is shown here in 2005 with his comeback victory winning the Outdoor Pro Nationals at 42 years old after five years of Retirement. Wins over Rocky Carson and Cliff Swain proved he is the best outdoor in history and 20 singles championships at outdoor national championships

Kevin List, one of outdoor racquetball’s most beloved players, tragically passed away on March 09, 2016 in a motorcycle collision. He had recently won the U.S. Open indoor 35 division title and was the proud holder of many outdoor top finishes including the open divisions championship in singles at 3 Wall WOR Vegas in 2015. All of us will miss him dearly and our heart goes out to his family.

Alex Cuartas/Garry Smith Pro 1st place. Taken at 2008 (first) Beach Bash (National Outdoor One-Wall Championship) held in Hollywood Beach Florida.

Arial Acanda/Alex Corrales 1st place A divsion. Taken at 2008 (first) Beach Bash (National Outdoor One-Wall Championship) held in Hollywood Beach Florida.

Danny Bettencourt/Jorge Arias Pro 2nd Place. Taken at 2008 (first) Beach Bash (National Outdoor One-Wall Championship) held in Hollywood Beach Florida.

Larry Wasserman/Marc Landau A second place. Taken at 2008 (first) Beach Bash (National Outdoor One-Wall Championship) held in Hollywood Beach Florida.

Taken at 2008 (first) Beach Bash (National Outdoor One-Wall Championship) held in Hollywood Beach Florida.