This is the second in a series of seven articles profiling the 2005 inductees into the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame.

The record: 32 wins, 20 losses.

Ralph Ifft's won-loss record in four years of professional baseball was solid, but not spectacular.

His association with the game was stupendous.

The 1932 Zelienople High School graduate, who died at age 82 in 1996, played baseball with eventual major league players Whitey Ford, Frank Gustine, Joe Collins and Allie Reynolds.

He met Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner - two of the five original inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

But it was what Ifft did for baseball in the military that is gaining him induction into the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame. He will be inducted during the organization's annual banquet at 6:30 p.m. April 30 at the Butler Days Inn.

Ifft served as staff officer for athletics for U.S. troops in England and other parts of the United Kingdom from in 1942-45 during World War II.

"Those boys loved to play baseball in the service," said his wife, Mary Ellen Ifft. "Ralph planned games for all of the athletes serving in England. It was great for morale."

American servicemen introduced baseball to England and the country was so intrigued that Queen Mary of England attended a game in 1942 and was escorted there by Ifft.

"The servicemen gave her a baseball and she asked Ralph to endorse it for her," Mrs. Ifft said. "He asked her to autograph a baseball for him as well and she did it.

"We still have that baseball."

"For years, he kept that ball in the back of a sock drawer," said Ifft's daughter, Susan Christie. "He was always modest about stuff like that. We didn't find out a lot of things about Dad's life until he was gone."

Numerous pictures of Ifft, who supervised base competitions in baseball, basketball and track and field, appear in a book about baseball and World War II.

He also served as entertainment coordinator for USO shows in England and got to know celebrities, such as Bob Hope, Mickey Rooney, Joe Louis, Billy Conn and Debbie Reynolds.

"He had to coordinate where they stayed and made sure they were taken care of," Christie said. "He befriended a lot of them."

Ifft lettered in football and basketball at Zelienople. He was an all-section center in 1932 when Zelienople's basketball team won its section title.

While attending the University of Akron, Ifft played professional baseball. His best year was 1940, when he put together a 14-4 record and a 2.01 earned run average for Beaver Falls in the Pennsylvania State League.

During his semi-pro years, Ifft pitched for state championship teams in Akron, Ohio, and Dormont in 1936 and 1937, respectively.

"He got to know Babe Ruth in those days and everything you've heard about Babe off the field is true," Christie said. "He'd get himself in trouble somewhere and would call Dad to come pick him up."

After coordinating athletic activities in the military, Ifft went on to work at the Butler Veteran Affairs and Medical Center for 20 years as a recreation coordinator.

"He just loved sports and it amazes me how good he was in so many sports," Christie said.

Christie submitted the paperwork nominating Ifft for the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame 10 years ago.

"I'm very happy he's going in," Mrs. Ifft said. "I wish Ralph was here to see it and hear it for himself, but I'm sure he's very, very happy.

"He worked hard in sports and impacted a lot of people. He deserves this."