A local sports legend is among those who will be inducted into the Virginia High School Hall of Fame this spring.
Presented by the Virginia High School League (VHSL) and VAcorp, the hall of fame is dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of outstanding achievements by students and adults in sports and activities within Virginia’s public high schools. The hall includes coaches, athletes or activity participants and contributors. Athletes are eligible for consideration 10 years after completing their high school careers and are primarily judged for their achievements in interscholastic sports. Coaches are eligible after 15 years of experience or upon retirement and are evaluated on the merits of their accomplishments at the high school level. Contributors have rendered services in other capacities including administration, academic activities, officiating, media or sports medicine.
Those named to the hall are nominated for the honor.
The 2026 class includes 11 inductees and are All-Americans, All-State athletes, state champions, coaches and contributors and a sports journalist. Among them is former Orange County High School Athlete Larry Haney. Haney was a four-sport athlete for the Hornets, playing football, basketball and baseball and participating in track. He was selected First Team All-State Quarterback and was named to the National High School All-American Team by the Wigwam Wiseman and Sporting News. In 1960, he was 48 for 74 for 1,259 passing yards with 449 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns, 17 PATs and two field goals. That same year he was First Team All-State in Group II in basketball, a state champion in the hurdles and First Team All-State Catcher. As a junior he batted .400. In football, his career passing totals was 108 for 178 for 2,219 yards and 27 touchdowns. He received a football scholarship to play at Virginia Tech, but opted to sign on to play for the Baltimore Orioles after graduating high school. He received a $60,000 signing bonus.
Haney’s major league debut was in July 1966 for the Baltimore Orioles. He played for two years with the Orioles before playing for the Seattle Pilots, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers. Following his last game in Oct. 1978, he became a bullpen coach for the Brewers until 1989, then a pitching coach until 1991. He worked for the Brewers until 2006.
Haney’s son, Chris Haney, was also in the MLB, pitching for various teams from 1991 to 2002.
The 2026 Hall of Fame Class will be inducted during the 37th annual enshrinement dinner Sunday, April 19 at 3:30 p.m. at the Omni Charlottesville Hotel. Tickets are $35 and are available online at https://gofan.co/event/1389602?schoolid=VHSL.
