Photos by Kim North TOP: Gordie Longshaw, right, holds a picture of National Wrestling Hall of Famer Bobby Douglas with Reggie Foston, who is a candidate to be inducted into the Bridgeport High School Athletic Hall of Fame next fall. Longshaw took some time Thursday night to talk during a presentation as part of the Belmont County Heritage Museum’s newest exhibit paying homage to the Ohio Valley’s rich history of athletes. The “Ohio Valley Athletic Legends” exhibit is now on display.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Gordie Longshaw loves talking about some of his former Bridgeport High School classmates and childhood friends. You can see the sparkle in his eyes as he recalls story after story after story.

And for good reason. Longshaw, a retired Bridgeport school teacher, long-time Ohio Valley businessman and former Belmont County Commissioner, grew up in the Lansing/Blaine/Bridgeport area back in the 1950s and 1960s.

Those classmates/childhood friends included the Niekro brothers — Phil and Joe — John Havlicek, Bobby Douglas and Bill Mazeroski. Sadly, only Douglas and Mazeroski are still alive.

The late Niekro’s still hold the Major League Baseball record for combined wins at 539. Phil, who pitched mostly for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1997, while Havlicek entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984. Douglas was the first black athlete to enter the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1987, while Mazeroski, who grew up in Tiltonsville and attended Warren Consolidated High School, was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 2001.

Longshaw took some time Thursday night to talk about his “buddies” during a presentation as part of the Belmont County Heritage Museum’s newest exhibit paying homage to the Ohio Valley’s rich history of athletes. The “Ohio Valley Athletic Legends” exhibit is now on display.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for quite some time,” Longshaw said prior to the 1-hour talk. “People in the Ohio Valley don’t understand how many Hall of Famers we had here in this tiny town. They all grew up within a mile or so of each other, with the exception of Mazeroski who I got to know because he dated a girl from Brookside.”

This isn’t counting Martins Ferry’s Groza brothers — Lou and Alex. Lou “The Toe” entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

In the mid-1980s, Sports Illustrated did a story about “The Valley Boys” that was featured on the cover. The photo was taken in front of the old Melody Manor and included the Niekro’s, Groza’s, Havlicek and Mazeroski.

Longshaw has graciously donated a lot of memorabilia to the exhibit, including an autographed Phil Niekro jersey and several old photos; an entire corner of Mazeroski stuff; and some mementos of Douglas and Havlicek.

While there are many more deserving athletes out there, this group from Eastern Ohio stands alone because of the honors they have achieved.

Some others worth mentioning include Warwood’s Chuck Howley (Dallas Cowboys); Toronto’s Clarke Hinkle, an NFL Hall of Famer; Steubenville’s Calvin Jones and Weirton’s Bob Gain (Outland Trophy winners in 1955 at Iowa University and 1950 at the University of Kentucky, respectively; Weirton’s Bob Jeter (Iowa/NFL); Bridgeport’s Bill Jobko (Ohio State/NFL); and Wheeling native Gene Freese (MLB 12-year journeyman).

The Belmont County Heritage Museum is located on Main Street in downtown St. Clairsville, just east of the courthouse in what was the former sheriff’s residence.