The bleachers inside Bulldog Arena were lined with photos and memorabilia from the over 100-year history of Turlock High School. From retired mascot costumes to vintage megaphones used by the cheerleaders, each prompted long looks and gave way for bright smiles.

“This is what we did it for,” said Dave Yonan, the all-star fullback that rushed 1,126 yards and 18 touchdowns for the undefeated Bulldogs of 1970. “We were so proud to play for this school and represent Turlock. From the cheer team to the letter girls and the marching band, they were just as big a part of our success.”

School tradition and appreciation for the community were the themes of Saturday’s speeches as the 1970 gridders, Brett Cumberland and Kevin Kramer became the latest inductees to the Turlock High School Athletics Hall of Fame.

This year’s Hall of Fame class marked the first since 2019. It was an even longer wait for the football players, representing the last undefeated team in program history.

“This is still the last undefeated team from Turlock High School, 56 years later. Maybe they wanted to wait 56 years to make sure no one else was undefeated,” joked classmate and longtime TUSD educator and administrator Alice Pollard, who introduced the team.

“Football's the greatest game God has ever created, and it's because of the intangibles,” said running back John Adams. “Of course you need talent and ability, but it's also about heart. This team had so much heart; it was unbelievable.”

That heart was on full display in early November of that year. Dreams of a Central California Conference title began to seem within reach on Nov. 6 after a historic 14-0 upset against an Edison team that had not lost in nearly three years. The next week, the Bulldogs came back from a 27-0 deficit to knock off Grace Davis by a 30-27 score to officially clinch the league crown.

Dave Gonsalves praised teammates Carl Nored, Larry Macedo, Albert Tornquist, Gary Adams, Joel Cockrell and Alan Tate for helping anchor a defense that pitched five shutouts.

All-CCC quarterback Tom Volk then gave a special acknowledgement to Tate for being the only man on stage to be involved in three championship games his senior year as a member of the dominant football, baseball and wrestling teams.

Kicker Jason Hunt also received an ovation after his extra-point in the first quarter in a Week 6 matchup against Tracy, which proved to be the difference in a thrilling 7-6 victory.

After silently making his way up to the podium, linebacker Scott Ricardo began with two words:

“Les Ratzlaff.” Ricardo called the late head coach, as well as teammates, members of the coaching staff and community supporters, his heroes.

Adams was also sure to state the names of the beloved teammates and coaches who have passed away.

“This is the last time any of us will ever be together,” Ricardo told the crowd. “Thank you for bringing us together.”

Longtime baseball head coach Mark de la Motte took the stage next to introduce Cumberland.

After sharing a long list of decorated backstops that have played for Turlock over the decades, including college and professional standouts, the legendary skipper called Cumberland “one of the best catchers we have ever had.”

Cumberland, a three-time all-league selection and the CCC Most Valuable Player his senior season in 2014, went to star at the University of California, where he won 2016 Pac-12 Player of the Year honors and was a finalist for the Golden Spikes and Johnny Bench awards. He was drafted 76th overall by the Atlanta Braves in that year’s MLB Draft, and went on to play eight professional seasons.

De la Motte recalled a 2019 trip to visit family in Maryland, where Cumberland happened to be playing as a member of the Double-A Bowie Baysox in the Baltimore Orioles organization. De la Motte then presented a congratulatory gift to Cumberland, a shirt he had bought from the stadium that was a bit too snug but may be the perfect fit for the newest Hall of Famer.

The first person Cumberland thanked was his older brother, Ryan, a fellow star catcher under de la Motte who graduated in 2012.

“He was really the inspiration,” said Cumberland. He went on to thank his parents, Craig and Leanna, who sacrificed much time and money for ensuring he could achieve his lifelong dream of becoming a professional baseball player.

Cumberland also showed appreciation to Kramer, who had played alongside Ryan on the dominant 2010 and 2011 baseball teams that threatened for Sac-Joaquin Section titles. Cumberland said those teams set a standard he and his teammates tried to play up to, and that he appreciated Kramer’s friendship as they simultaneously navigated the minor leagues between 2016 and 2022.

Kramer was introduced by his wife, Riley. Kramer’s dedication to baseball became clear to Riley in Turlock, when the three-time All-CCC selection would always be the last to leave the dugout and leave his significant other waiting anxiously in the bleachers. She spoke about those times and the middle infielder’s journey through each level of organized baseball.

“When I look back at Kevin's career, I think about how many different uniforms he's worn, how many dugouts he has sat in, and how many people have been part of the journey, from Turlock to Los Angeles, Omaha, Pittsburgh and all the places in between,” Riley said. “There were championships and accolades, incredible highs and undoubtedly difficult days. Through all of it, there was a kid from Turlock who loved the game, loved his teammates, and never wanted to be the first out of the dugout.”

Kramer called it an honor to be inducted alongside Cumberland and the 1970 squad. And like Cumberland, he thanked his siblings for being role models on and off the diamond and gridiron.

“The one thing I kept coming back to when writing this speech was being in the stands as a young kid watching older brothers, Michael and Steven, play, and looking at those players and just dreaming of one day getting to wear the blue and gold.”

Kramer was also a three-year football star, winning league MVP in 2010. That year, he was the Harvest Bowl hero after throwing for a touchdown, running for another, making the tackle on a two-point conversion attempt and recovering the ensuing onside kick in the 21-16 win over Pitman.

After his stellar career at UCLA, Kramer was selected 62nd overall in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He went on to become just the fifth Bulldog to ever appear in Major League Baseball, debuting on Sept. 5, 2018. He played in 43 games for the Bucs between 2018 and 2019, and retired in 2022 after battling injuries.

“Truly, the hardest part about retiring from baseball was the feeling of letting Turlock down,” Kramer said. “The hardest part about not performing when you get a chance at the big league level is the feeling of letting Turlock down. The support kept me going so much longer than I could have ever done myself, and that was not lost on us when we were playing Pittsburgh. It wasn't lost on me when I was playing for Team USA in Taiwan (in high school) or playing for the national championship (with UCLA) in Omaha.

Kramer thanked his parents, Glenn and Maureen, his coaches, teammates and several other family members and friends.

Cumberland and Kramer also took time to show appreciation to Steve Soderstrom, a THS Hall of Famer in his own right. They each personally thanked the former big league pitcher, who was in attendance Saturday, for his mentorship and for always opening the doors to his Backyard Baseball training facility in west Turlock.

Turlock High assistant principal Aaron Mello shared the “Three Ts” of the school’s athletics program — Tradition, Teamwork and Developing Talent.

“That's what I think about when I hear ‘Turlock High School,’ Mello said. “These individuals and this team epitomize all of that, and it’s why they are now in the Turlock High School Athletics Hall of Fame.”