Published: Saturday, November 21, 2009
Updated: Monday, November 16, 2009 9:04 AM CST

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis has a long sports history, but until now has never had an all-encompassing sports hall of fame to call its own.

On Wednesday, 20 sports legends with ties to the Gateway City will be the first class of inductees into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame. A ceremony is planned for Wednesday night at the Millennium Hotel.

Former players, coaches, managers, sports administrators and media made the selections. To qualify, nominees had to be born or played in St. Louis.

Among the honorees: Cardinals greats Stan Musial, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Red Schoendienst and Ozzie Smith; track star Jackie Joyner-Kersee; tennis star Jimmy Connors; and football standouts Dan Dierdorf and Larry Wilson.