The ACBL Hall of Fame is there to single out professional or amateur bridge players who stand out due to their overall contributions to the game of bridge.
It’s a lot like the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, but meant for bridge players instead of bands, guitarists, or crooning vocalists.
Greats such as Ely Culbertson, Alfred Sheinwold, and Fred Gitelman are included. The list of notable bridge players grows every other year, and readers should be aware of the fact that BBO/GIB is the only non-human entry on the list.
What about others?
And then, what about some of their accomplishments reaching outside the world of bridge?
Those who are good at bridge, often put the same amount of dedication into other disciplines of their life.
View the ACBL Hall of Fame at the official ACBL website (https://www.acbl.org/about-acbl/hall-of-fame/members/) and check out this list of Hall of Fame members and their other accomplishments.
1. Fred Hamilton
Bridge player Fred Hamilton was inducted into the ACBL Hall of Fame during 2003.
His own personal favourite bridge accomplishment was his team victory at the 1976 Bermuda Bowl. If you’re new to bridge, that’s one of the really big tournaments – and that turned out to be a really huge year.
Within bridge, he was also the inventor of the Hamilton Convention.
Together with Fred Gitelman, they make up the two most famous Freds that you’ll ever hear of in the game.
His other accomplishment?
Fred Hamilton became a paratrooper for the US Army at the age of 17.
2. Ralph Katz
Ralph Katz was inducted into the ACBL Hall of Fame during 2018, which makes him one of the newer additions to the list of great players.
Great bridge seems to run in the family, and other players include his mother-in-law Chris Benson, his wife, Martha, and his son, Sam.
Katz has noted one of his personal favourites having played on the famous Nickell bridge team.
His other accomplishment?
Ralph Katz is also the CEO of a successful options trading firm. Good with odds, then?
3. Amalya Kearse
Bridgeur Amalya Kearse was included in the ACBL Hall of Fame in 2004, and her list of game accomplishments is hugely impressive. She edited the 3rd Edition of The Official Bridge Encyclopedia in addition to being a championship player – and even if you don’t know it, she has influenced how bridge is played today.
Her other accomplishment?
Amalya Kearse is also a Senior Judge on the US Circuit Court of Appeals, and was the first woman on the Federal Appeals Court in Manhattan.
4. Judi Radin
Judi Radin is the newest addition to the ABCL Hall of Fame found on this list, and was included to the Bridge and Famous in the year 2019. She’s a fierce tournament player, with more accumulated Masterpoints than most can help to gather in a lifetime.
Her other accomplishment?
Judi Radin is also a golf player, and initially started out with a golf scholarship. Eventually, she traded one type of club for another and chose professionally playing bridge. Great choice!