The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2026 induction class on Wednesday, a group that includes contributors to professional dynasties, Olympic gold medals and collegiate dominance.
This year’s class spans generations and disciplines, from Jack Clark – the architect of Cal men’s rugby – to Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford, a cornerstone of San Francisco’s championship dynasty in the early 2010s.
It includes Olympic excellence in former Cal swimmer Missy Franklin and sprinter Eddie Hart, and Super Bowl pedigree in Jesse Sapolu, the former 49ers center whose career bridged dominance and durability.
Together, the five inductees make up this year’s class of honored athletes.
“The 2026 class of the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame features five extremely worthy individuals who have made a tremendous impact in their sport and in our region,” Mario Alioto, Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame board chair, said in a news release. “It’s a distinguished group that features Super Bowl and World Series Champions, Olympic Gold medalists, and NCAA National Champions and we are thrilled for them to take their rightful place among the other legends enshrined in the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.”
For Sapolu, the recognition is a testament to his endurance.
“I broke my leg, my left leg. I’ve broken my foot three times. I had open heart surgery and fought back,” he told the Bay Area News Group. “Just shows you, you know that with the human mindset, you can overcome anything. I’m honored that I went through what I went through, and I accomplished enough for the committee in the Bay Area Hall of Fame to induct me into the Hall of Fame.”
Clark is in his 43rd season as Cal’s men’s rugby coach. He has led the Bears to 30 national championships, coached 157 All-Americans and is 2014 inductee to the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame.
Crawford, 38, is a two-time World Series champion, three-time MLB All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner. The former Foothill High School standout played more games at shortstop than any other Giant in franchise history. He retired in 2024.
Franklin, 30, is a 28-time medal winner in swimming, including notching six Olympic medals (five gold, one bronze). While at Cal in 2015, she captured the NCAA Division I swimming and diving team championship. Franklin was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2023.
Hart, 76, a Pittsburg native, is an Olympic gold medalist and two-time world record holder. He helped the U.S. win gold in the 4×100 meter relays at the 1972 Olympics. Hart won state titles in the 100- and 200-yard events at Contra Costa College and later captured NCAA titles in the 100-yard dash and 4×110-yard relay while competing for Cal.
Sapolu, 64, won four Super Bowl titles with the 49ers. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection at center and guard in 1994 and 1995, snapping the ball to legendary quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young. After his playing career ended, Sapolu helped establish the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted to the California Sports Hall of Fame last year.
The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame (BASHOF) Class of 2026 Enshrinement Dinner will be held on Thursday, May 14 at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero in San Francisco.
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