Retired hurler Cone inducted into Irish Hall of Fame

NEW YORK -- On the 15th anniversary of his perfect game, David Cone was inducted into the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday.

"It means a lot," Cone said. "I grew up in America. I'm American, I feel like an American, but my parents are very proud of their heritage -- as anybody should be."

Cone was part of a class along with Hal McCoy, a Hall of Fame writer who has covered the Reds for decades; Duke Castiglione, a sportscaster for FOX Sports 5; and Pete Caldera, a Yankees beat writer for the Bergen Record. The class was introduced and presented with their plaques at Foley's NY Pub and Restaurant.

"For me, it was a no-brainer," Cone said. "You're going to give me this type of award, I'll be here in a minute for these people because they do so much good in the community."

The Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame honors players, execs, umpires, media and entertainers who have made significant contributions to the game.

"I told my mother and father about this, and especially my mother was very proud. She really was touched by it," Cone said. "So I realize that we try to connect the dots with all of our ancestors, and it means something. It means something to track it, it means something to acknowledge it. And for me, just her reaction when I told her really told me what I needed to know."