150 Years of Tradition, 150 Legends

Santa Barbara High School (SBHS) in California commemorated its 150th anniversary by selecting and honoring its 150 greatest athletes of all time. The ceremony, held on November 10 at the Santa Barbara Club, also inducted 9 athletes and 3 teams into the school's Hall of Fame.

David Bolton (Class of 1981), who organized the event, emphasized that "there are not many high schools that have produced such outstanding athletes as Santa Barbara High School," adding that "the Dons are legendary." Bolton, president of 'Ye Ole Gang' which manages the alumni Hall of Fame, organized the event at the request of the alumni association.

150 Names Selected from 500 Candidates

Bolton and fellow alumnus Mark Alvarado (director of the Downtown Boys & Girls Club) consulted with coaches and journalists to select the final 150 athletes from 500 candidates. The selection criteria included California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) first-team selection or Player of the Year honors.

During the ceremony, each athlete's photograph was projected on a large screen for several seconds. Most photos were sourced from graduation yearbooks.

Dons Alumni Who Changed the World

Baseball Giants

Eddie Mathews (Class of 1949) was considered the greatest third baseman of all time when he retired in 1968. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame after hitting 512 home runs in Major League Baseball and was a key figure in the Milwaukee Braves' golden era.

Jesse Orosco (Class of 1976) holds the MLB record for most games pitched (1,252). Playing until age 46, he was one of the longest-tenured players in modern baseball history.

Golf and Football Legends

PGA Tour legend Al Geiberger (Class of 1955) became the first player in PGA history to shoot 59 in 1977. This record stood for 39 years, and when compared to Jim Furyk's 58 on a par-70 course in 2016, Geiberger's 59 on a par-72 course holds even greater significance.

Sam Cunningham (Class of 1969) broke down racial barriers in Southern college football. In 1970, playing for USC, he delivered a dominant rushing performance against the then all-white University of Alabama, leading his team to victory. This game catalyzed the recruitment of Black athletes by Southern universities.

Birthplace of the Volleyball Emperor

Karch Kiraly (Class of 1978) was named the greatest volleyball player of the 20th century by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). Starting with a CIF championship victory in high school, he went on to win Olympic gold medals and professional beach volleyball world championships, earning the nickname "trophy collector."

An Athlete Who Defied Time

John Whittemore, a 1918 graduate, competed in javelin and discus at a senior track and field meet in 2004 at age 104. He was known at the time as "the world's oldest athlete."

Pride of Excellence

Bolton stated, "It was important to get the names and facts right," adding that "we wanted to show how impressive Santa Barbara High School's athletic history has been over 150 years."

Alvarado added, "Many graduates not on today's list have also made great contributions," noting that "this event proves that our school didn't just produce athletes, but nurtured individuals who impacted the world."

Since its establishment in 1875, Santa Barbara High School has established itself as a powerhouse in Southern California high school sports, and this tribute ceremony reaffirmed the weight of that tradition.