National Basketball Association

Gonzo, Barkley headline Arizona HOF class

Published Apr. 8, 2015 3:06 p.m. ET

foxsports

Charles Barkley and Luis Gonzalez highlight this year's inductees in the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame.

Barkley and Gonzalez are joined by Danielle Ammaccapane, Cotton Fitzsimmons and Joe Gilmartin in Class of 2015, which will be inducted Wednesday night at a ceremony at the Scottsdale Hilton Hotel.

"We are thrilled about this year's class as it represents some of the most colorful sports personalities of our modern era and it crosses over the player, coaching and journalism sectors," said Wally Kelly, CEO of the Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission. "As with every class that has been enshrined, these incredible individuals serve as inspiration for us all."

Named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, Barkley followed up his Hall of Fame playing career with an Emmy Award-winning television run and in the process evolved into a pop culture icon. After his trade to the Phoenix Suns in 1992, he led the franchise to their best regular-season record and a trip to the NBA Finals.

Lowell "Cotton" Fitzsimmons receives the honor posthumously after he dies of cancer in 2004. During his storied 21-year coaching run, Fitzsimmons compiled an 832-775record and finished sixth on the NBA all-victory list. Fitzsimmons began his coaching career with the Suns in 1970 and returned to the Suns bench a second time in 1988.

Luis Gonzalez gave the Arizona Diamondbacks the perfect reason to retire his number "20" after his game-winning bloop single sealed the franchise's only World Series title. A five-time All-Star selection, "Gonzo" played 18 seasons for seven different teams. Today he serves the Diamondbacks as special assistant to the President.

Danielle Ammaccapane golfed at Arizona State, earning All-America first-team honors and as who won NCAA National Championship in 1985. Appropriately, she was inducted into ASU's Hall of Fame in 1997. Ammaccapane's professional career began in 1988 and she ultimately earned seven LPGA tournament victories. She also represented the United States on the 1986 Curtis Cup team.

Joe Gilmartin is a well-known name to any sports fan living in the Valley in the 70s, 80s and 90s. An award-winning sports writer and columnist with the then-afternoon Phoenix Gazette newspaper. Gilmartin covered virtually every high school, college and professional sports team throughout the Valley. In 2014, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as the winner of the Curt Gowdy Media Award.