CURVE, PA – The Altoona Curve are excited to announce the creation of the Altoona Curve Baseball Hall of Fame, a new honor recognizing the significant contributions of former players, coaches, executives, and other individuals who have been instrumental in the history of Altoona Curve Baseball.
Original franchise founders Bob & Joan Lozinak, along with the rest of the Lozinak Family will make up the Hall of Fame’s Inaugural Class and will be celebrated on Sunday, August 30 at Peoples Natural Gas Field prior to Altoona’s game against the Erie SeaWolves.
In conjunction with the Hall of Fame and Stuckey Automotive, the Altoona Curve will additionally name annual recipients of a new Lozinak Lifetime Achievement Award, which sets out to recognize off the field individuals who have displayed years of service, passion, and an exceptional commitment to the Curve, PA community. This year, the Hall of Fame presents its first awards to Public Address Announcer Rich DeLeo, as well as awarding, posthumously, to Official Scorer Ted Beam and Altoona Mirror Sports Editor Jim Lane.
“The Altoona Curve have had a rich history, sending more than 200 players to Major League Baseball since 1999,” says Curve GM Nate Bowen. “We are excited to announce the creation of the Altoona Curve Baseball Hall of Fame to recognize the contributions that these players have made both on the field and in our community. The Curve would not exist as we do today without the vision of Bob and Joan Lozinak and their family, and we are looking forward to having them back at the ballpark on Sunday.”
The goal of the Altoona Curve Baseball Hall of Fame will be to celebrate its members’ achievements and careers both on and off the field. Criteria for selection will focus primarily on accolades earned while with Altoona, but career excellence will also be taken into consideration. A committee consisting of Altoona Curve Front Office employees and team historians has been formed to assist in creating ballots and electing officials into the Hall of Fame.
There will be a display inside Peoples Natural Gas Field in 2027 for the Hall of Fame, with the first class consisting of players and coaches to be inducted later that season. More information on a ballot and fan voting for the 2027 Altoona Curve Baseball Hall of Fame Class is coming soon.
ABOUT THE LOZINAK FAMILY:
Altoona natives Bob and Joan Lozinak dreamt of bringing professional baseball to their hometown. It was a dream that finally came true on October 5th, 1997, when the Lozinak family’s hard work and dedication to their dream was awarded. After owning the team from 1999-2001, Bob and Joan, along with their three sons, Mike, David and Steve, re-acquired their hometown team on December 30, 2008, and owned the club for the next 15 seasons. All told, the Lozinak family owned the Altoona Curve for a total of 18 seasons across the first 25 years of franchise history.
The Lozinaks first had visions of bringing professional baseball to Altoona in the late 1970s. Prior to returning to their hometown, they operated the Triple-A Albuquerque Dukes from 1979-2000, capturing six Pacific Coast League titles and numerous awards for club operations. Bob Lozinak is among only a handful of minor league baseball owners to have been awarded the prestigious John H. Johnson Trophy twice; annually awarded to the top franchise in Minor League Baseball in the U.S. and Canada. The Dukes were presented the honor in both 1984 and 1991. Additionally, Albuquerque also captured the Larry McPhail Trophy for the country’s top promotional effort in 1987. The Lozinaks sold the Dukes in 2000 so they could focus efforts on their new franchise, the Altoona Curve.
After Bob’s 40th season in baseball in 2019, Minor League Baseball honored the Curve owner with one of the industry’s highest individual awards and crowned Lozinak the King of Baseball for his lifetime of dedication and service to the game. He received the award on December 8, 2019, at the Winter Meetings in San Diego.
Under their stewardship, the Curve have become the premier entertainment destination in Central, PA and made lifelong memories for thousands of Blair County residents and Pirates fans around the region. The Lozinak family set an incredible standard for excellence in Curve, PA and have continued to be great stewards of the game and community even in retirement.
ABOUT THE LOZINAK LIFETIME ACHEVEMENT AWARD RECEPIENTS:
Theodore A. “Ted” Beam
A lifelong resident of Blair County, Ted Beam served as the official scorer for 26 seasons in Curve, PA. A beloved member of the Curve family, Beam scored more games for the Curve than any other official scorer in franchise history until his passing in the fall of 2025.
A 1970 graduate of Bishop Guilfoyle High School, Ted went on to graduate from Penn State University in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He was employed by the Altoona Area School District as an English teacher at Keith Jr. High and at Stevens Alternative School.
Beam served as Altoona City Councilman and a two-term elected Commissioner for Blair County in addition to his teaching roles. He was also a highly respected PIAA Sports Official. He retired from sports officiating after 43 years of service on the hardwood and several decades as a football referee.
In addition to his sports service in Blair County, Ted was a member of the press box crew for Penn State and Saint Francis University. Beginning in 1972, he worked as a spotter in the broadcast booths for TV and radio and later was the game clock operator at both Beaver Stadium for Penn State Football and Men’s and Women’s Basketball at the Bryce Jordan Center.
For Ted, a night at the ballpark was one of the few things that could get him off the golf course with his beloved wife, Cathy. Ted passed away in 2025.
James K. “Jim” Lane
Jim Lane laid the foundation and set the standard for local sports coverage in Blair County beginning in 1960 at the Altoona Mirror. Lane became Sports Editor at the Mirror in 1980 and held that position until his retirement in 2002. His by-line could still be found in the Altoona Mirror with his many part-time assignments over the course of the next 20 years, including as a feature writer for the Altoona Curve’s Game Program.
His weekly column called “Down the Lane” captured the essence of newspaper writing weaving personal experiences into the most important topics in the sports world. Though he covered all Blair County high schools, Lane was affectionately known as “Mr. Mountain Lion” for his lasting impact covering Altoona Area High School sports. His stories and columns were clipped out and saved by thousands of families across the area throughout his writing career.
In 2002, the Curve’s Press Box at Peoples Natural Gas Field was named in his honor. Lane was the first-ever recipient of the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. Lane and his wife Jean were fixtures at Peoples Natural Gas Field until Jean’s untimely passing in February of 2021.
Lane was never afraid to strike up a conversation or tell one of his trademark stories to any and all who would listen on the concourse in Curve, PA, and his early efforts helped to shape the story of Altoona Curve Baseball in the franchise’s early years. Jim passed away in 2026.
Rich DeLeo
One of the most recognizable voices in Blair County, Rich DeLeo has served as the Public Address announcer for nearly every game in the Altoona Curve’s franchise history. Rich has served as the voice of the Curve since Blair County Ballpark opened in 1999.
Every fan who has walked into Peoples Natural Gas Field has heard Rich’s voice echo through the mountains and can remember the delivery of recognizable names said in Rich’s familiar tone, such as Rico Washington, Andrew McCutchen, Paul Skenes and Konnor Griffin. The experience of a game in Curve, PA would not be what it is today were it not for Rich and his voice narrating the biggest moments in franchise history.
Affectionately called Referee Rich, Rich has served as a PIAA official in addition to his radio and public address announcing which began nearly 40-years ago as the voice of Altoona Area High School basketball. He is now the voice of Bishop Guilfoyle football and basketball and can also be heard as the Public Address Announcer for Saint Francis Basketball and Football.
DeLeo’s energy and enthusiasm for sports and recreation and Blair County continues to shine through in his roles as a morning show host on Talk Radio 98.5 WRTA.
-CURVE-