The Babe Ruth International Board of Directors at their annual meeting held recently unanimously elected Thomas O'Connell into its Hall of Fame.  BRL President/CEO Steven Tellefsen said, "Tom has been involved with our program for over 40 years.  His dedication has helped enrich the experience of many Babe Ruth participants. Tom O'Connell has been a friend of the program for many years and has served on our Advisory Board since 1989.  It is a proud moment to have a person of his caliber inducted into the Hall of Fame."

Tom O'Connell began coaching high school baseball in 1960 and retired in 1998 after spending the final 17 years as head coach at Princeton University.  After 17 years as Head Coach, he compiled a 323-314-6 record, which ranked him second on the Tigers' all-time victory list.

Baseball wasn't just a career for Tom.  It's a magnet that has drawn him to the nearest diamond for many decades.  And although officially retired, he stills finds ways to connect to the game through Babe Ruth League, Inc., whether serving as a camp director or coaching at the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars.  Because of his unique expertise as a coach, the Babe Ruth League team has taken home the "gold medal" from the Tournament of Stars in 2011 and 2010.

Over the decades, Tom has been the recipient of many prestigious honors, which include:

1968 Distinguished Service Award - US Chamber of Commerce; 1985 and 1996 New Jersey Coach of the Year Division 1; 1976 and 1979 District Coach of the Year;  Election into the Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame; 1977 New England Coach of the Year; Election into Braintree High School Hall of Fame; Election into American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame; Founded and directed the Princeton Baseball Camp in conjunction with Babe Ruth League, Inc.; Lecturer and Clinician at "Making Baseball Fun" Clinics held at Princeton University; Director of Babe Ruth Baseball Camp in Newark, Ohio; Has 22 former players drafted or signed to professional baseball.

Tom O'Connell is one of those individuals who have always had an untiring development as a leader and devotion to the game of baseball.

Tom and his wife, Jean, reside in Princeton JCT., New Jersey.  They have two married children, Jo-Anne and Timothy and several grandchildren.