![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Catching-The-Wave-upated-logo-800x400.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Dante Estrada | Long Beach Current<\/p>\n
Long Beach State officially welcomed seven new inductees to its illustrious Hall of Fame<\/a> on Wednesday, Jan. 21.\u00a0<\/p>\n In celebration of the rich history of the university\u2019s athletic programs, LBSU\u2019s 2026 Hall of Fame class was headlined by former Beach stars like Abe Alvarez and James Ennis.\u00a0<\/p>\n Abe Alvarez \u2013 Baseball:<\/p>\n Alvarez is a shining example of what makes an LBSU Hall of Famer.\u00a0<\/p>\n While the criteria for induction include both collegiate success at The Beach and post-collegiate success at the Olympic or professional level, Alvarez meets both.\u00a0<\/p>\n The star Dirtbag was a back-to-back Big West Pitcher of the Year in 2002 and 2003, and then went on to win a World Series in the majors with the Boston Red Sox in 2004.\u00a0<\/p>\n James Ennis \u2013 Men\u2019s Basketball:<\/p>\n For The Beach\u2019s men\u2019s basketball program, Ennis was a major needle-mover.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ennis played on an LBSU team that won consecutive Big West titles in the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons, and was named Big West Player of the Year in the latter year.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ennis was then a very successful role player as a defensive wing in the NBA, playing in 395 games over eight seasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n While this year\u2019s Hall of Fame class takes its well-earned bow, it\u2019s not too early to throw a name in the hat for 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n My pick for 2027:<\/p>\n A hometown kid raised in Long Beach before playing for the Dirtbags, Matt Duffy is a name that would fit right into the LBSU Hall of Fame.\u00a0<\/p>\n While Duffy\u2019s most notable collegiate achievement was a Second-Team All-Big West selection in 2011, his Hall of Fame case relies more on his Major League Baseball career.\u00a0<\/p>\n Drafted in the 18th round by the San Francisco Giants, Duffy made an immediate impact when called up to the majors.\u00a0<\/p>\n Duffy played a significant role as the youngest member of the 2014 World Series champion Giants.<\/p>\n As third baseman, Duffy finished as runner-up for the National League Rookie of the Year award.\u00a0<\/p>\n While his career was ultimately shortened by injuries, Duffy\u2019s career accolades cement him as one of the best Dirtbags in MLB history.\u00a0<\/p>\n While there may be several candidates with much more successful collegiate careers at LBSU, inducting Duffy would not just celebrate his own pro career, but also put a spotlight on LBSU\u2019s legacy of producing MLB stars. <\/p>\n A senior at CSULB, Timothy Hessen serves as the Sports Editor of the Long Beach Current. First joining the Current as a copy assistant editor as a junior, Timothy has written about sports in several different publications, including the Long Beach Current, the Coast Report and the Laguna Beach Independent. After graduation, Timothy hopes to pursue a career in journalism or public relations, with the long-term goal of either covering or working for an NFL or NBA team.<\/p>\n![\"Timothy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/bf60672cf2495409e87325f65bf462b6ba50b425ddbb3ebc3aab16fd6305372f.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n