Bob Apisa highlights Michigan State Hall of Fame 2017 class
EAST LANSING — Michigan State announced on Thursday its five newest inductees into the Athletics Hall of Fame: Bob Apisa (football), Joe Baum (soccer), Bob Cassleman (track & field), Kristin Haynie (basketball) and Dr. Clarence Underwood (administration).
One of just 15 players in program history to earn first-team All-America honors twice, fullback Apisa played an instrumental role in helping the Spartans to a combined record of 19-1-1 during the 1965 and 1966 seasons, including back-to-back Big Ten and national championships.
A three-year letterwinner from 1965-67, Apisa garnered first-team All-America accolades as a sophomore in 1965 by Football News, and repeated as a first-team All-American in 1966 by both the Football News and New York News.
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Baum was a part of Michigan State soccer as a player, assistant coach and head coach for a combined 39 seasons. As a goalkeeper, he led MSU to back-to-back co-national championships. Later, he served as the head coach of the men’s program for 32 years and the women’s program for five years, compiling a combined 389 victories.
Cassleman currently possesses two MSU records, the outdoor 400-meter hurdles record of 49.64 set in 1972 and the indoor 600-yard run, a record that will live on perhaps forever as it is no longer a contested event in college track. He is not only the MSU record holder in the 600-yard run, but he holds the collegiate record, running a 1:08.15 on his home track.
Haynie had a stellar Michigan State career, ranking as the career leader in assists (574) and steals (346). She finished her career ranked eighth in MSU history in scoring (1,199 points) and is currently 14th. At the time of her graduation, she was just the fourth player in Big Ten history to reach career totals of 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists and 300 steals. She is also the Michigan State leader in single-season steals with 117. The point guard is still one of just three Spartan women’s basketball players to record a triple-double.
More:Mason's Kristin Haynie achieved basketball dreams
Underwood received his bachelor’s of science degree in physical education at Michigan State in 1961. His career in education began as a physical education teacher for elementary and junior high schools in the East Lansing school district, while simultaneously pursuing a master’s degree in physical education and counseling from MSU, which he completed in 1965. He was an administrator in 1969, from 1972-83 and against from 1990-2002.
They'll officially be inducted as part of “Celebrate 2017” weekend, which includes the eighth-annual Varsity Letter Jacket Presentation and Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Sept. 28 and then a special recognition of the Hall of Famers during the Michigan State-Iowa football game on Sept. 30.
- MSU Athletic Communications