ABCA Hall of Fame

Elmer Kosub was the recipient of the 1998 ABCA/Wilson Lefty Gomez Award for his contributions to the game of baseball across the globe.

Kosub joined St. Mary's University in 1957 as a teacher, coach, and athletic director. As coach of the Rattlers baseball team for nearly three decades, Kosub's record at the school was 535-358 (.599). He was also instrumental in the construction of V.J. Keefe Stadium, home of the Rattlers and local minor league baseball for 30 years.

Kosub's teams won or tied for 16 Big State Conference Championships and in 1976, St. Mary's appeared in the NAIA College World Series. Kosub was named Big State Conference Coach numerous times and in 1976 he was selected as the NAIA District IV Co-Coach of the year.

Inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame in 1980, Kosub was the first Texas baseball coach to record 400 NAIA victories.

Kosub was inducted into the St. Mary's Hall of Fame in 1987, the same year he was recognized for his part in constructing and maintaining Keefe Stadium with the Diamond/Collegiate Baseball Groundskeepers Award. Kosub is also a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame.

Kosub served as an assistant coach on the U.S. Olympic demonstration baseball team in 1968 in Mexico City and was the head coach of the U.S. Collegiate All-Star team in 1971, 1976 and 1980. Kosub also coached and taught baseball in seven foreign countries.

The 1978 President of the ABCA, Kosub was also a member of the the ABCA Board of Directors.

Named after the great Lefty Gomez, this annual award is presented to an individual who has distinguished himself among his peers and has contributed significantly to the game of baseball locally, nationally and internationally. The Lefty Gomez Award is sponsored by Wilson Sporting Goods.